Chris McLean

I committed to making this today following a request for a 'something different' drink. I knew my version would involve improvisations but I wasn't expecting to have use guava juice in lieu of pineapple! Nevertheless I pressed on: (all in mls) 50 Edinburgh Gin, 20 Wild Kirsch, 10 Cointreau, 2.5 Becherovka, 15 lime juice, 2.5 agave syrup, 60 guava. Surprisingly good, perhaps more Pratapgarh, than Singapore, Sling, but I'd do it again!

Italicus is rather nice! Goes well as an addition to champagne (as indeed does St. Germaine) and can be used as Aperol for a more monochromatic experience. With Gin & Mediterranean tonic it is excellent. Going half and half with Suze seems to work as well. Currently I'm enjoying (appx measurements) 40 mls London Dry Gin, 20 mls Italicus, 5 mls of agave syrup, 100 mls soda water and 20 mls guava juice. Needs refining but maybe, in the absence of Mezcal, it could be called Cinco de Mayo Falso!

Many thanks, I'll have a dabble in due course and might start with a teaspoonful or two and see how it goes. I indulged in a stout with a separate shot of Becherovka over the weekend for a bit of Prague nostalgia to reacquaint myself with the stuff.

Thanks, great tip, and please let me know how you get on, I'm not sure I'm going to get the chance this weekend.