GIN & CUCUMBER PITCHER

For a crisp, subtly sweet picnic pitcher, there are few better options than this classic cooler. Melon and cucumber are key summer flavours, and they blend beautifully with gin, lemon and Fever-Tree Cucumber Tonic Water. With a wedge of bright pink watermelon to garnish, this becomes a first-class thirst-quencher.

Makes 4 large drinks in a 2-litre (2-quart) pitcher

• 200ml (7fl oz) premium gin, preferably Hendrick’s or Aviation
• 1 watermelon, deseeded and cut into large slices
• 25ml (5 teaspoons) sugar syrup (see page 15)
• 800ml (27fl oz) Fever-Tree Cucumber Tonic Water
• 2 lemons, halved

Fill a pitcher three-quarters full with ice cubes. Pour over the gin. Add 12 watermelon slices and the sugar syrup. Top up with the tonic water. Squeeze over the lemon halves, then discard the shells. To serve, pour into highball glasses and garnish each one with a wedge of the  remaining watermelon.

This recipe is from Fever Tree Easy Mixing. For another delicious cocktail recipe, try this vodka with pink grapefruit.