Cocktails for a lovely, er, spring day

The sun is shining, the birds are singing... oh wait. It ISN'T and THEY AREN'T.

It's meant to be spring. There are meant to be daffodils lining the roadside, and lambs frolicking in green grass. Instead, the majority of the country is being pounded with hail and snow and sleet and frost and smog. Maybe not smog.

However this shouldn't stop you from breaking out the picnic blanket and pretending it's spring anyway. Because imagination.

So, clear your front room up a bit and whack the heating on full power. Lay the blanket. Pack a hamper, and make a few sandwiches. Forget the Pimms because that's so two thousand and whenever, and go for one of these fresh and fruity juicy cocktails instead.

Doctor’s Prescription

Rittenhouse rye whisky
Green Chartreuse
Fresh cucumber juice

Shaken and served on the rocks. Freshness with a bite.

One Foot on the Grass

40ml Martin Millers Westbourne Strength
20ml Elderflower Cordial
20ml Cucumber Juice
20ml Lemon Juice
Tsp Gomme Syrup

Shake all ingredients, serve in old fashion glass on the rocks. Garnish with a cucumber slice.

Odd Fashion

50ml Maxime Trijol Cognac VS
15ml Cocchi Di Torino
10ml Crème de Cerise
Dash of Charlotte's no.1, but you'll  have to use another citrus-based bitter from like Bitter Truth of Fee Brothers

Build like a old fashion in a old fashion glass over ice. Garnish with a orange twist.

Southend Pier

25ml Abhela Cachaca
25ml Warner Edwards Harrington Dry Gin
20ml Crème de Cerise
20ml Lemon Juice
Tsp Rhubarb Jam

Shake and serve in a jam jar.

If you'd prefer a pro to make them for you, then these deliciously light cocktails are available at Charlotte's Bistro.

Laura is the editor of six out of ten. She has a background in journalism and PR, and loves nothing more than writing. Well. Maybe she loves Eddie Vedder a bit more (a lot more). She lives with her boy and her boycat in a house in Essex. Her favourite things are red lip stains (lipsticks never last), sweet cocktails and fresh, new notebooks.