Packed with vitamin C and considered as to be the leading locally cultivated immunity-boosting foods, amla or the Indian gooseberry has sweet-sour notes, making them a great ingredient to use in cocktails. It’s pronounced tangy-tart flavours are perfect, to use as a foundation for many innovative cocktails. Making a gooseberry cordial base is one of the shortcuts to shake up a drink within a moment’s notice, while also allowing one full control in choosing the flavours according to personal preferences.
Gooseberry Cordial
Ingredients
- 150 grams amla, diced
- 250 grams sugar
- 250 ml water
- 10 grams citric acid
Method
- Mix sugar, water and amla and bring it to a boil in a pan.
- Stir gently and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes before turning off the flame, and letting it cool completely.
- Strain the mixture and add citric acid to mix well until dissolved.
- Store the amla cordial in a glass container and keep refrigerated.
Gooseberry Daiquiri
- 60 ml dark rum
- 20 ml amla cordial
- 15 ml lime juice
- Ice cubes
- Slice of amla, for garnish
Method
- Add all the ingredients to a shaker and shake well until combined.
- Strain the contents into a coupe glass and garnish with a slice of amla before serving.
Gooseberry Coriander Collins
- 45 ml gin
- 15 ml gooseberry cordial
- 10 ml lime juice
- 2-3 coriander leaves
- Soda, to top up
- Ice cubes
Method
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the gooseberry cordial, gin and lime juice to shake well.
- Pour the contents of the shaker into a highball glass filled with ice and top up with soda.
- Garnish with the coriander leaves and serve immediately.
Gooseberry & Chili Margarita
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon freshly chopped coriander
- Sea salt, as required
- 1 shot agave syrup
- ¼ serrano chilli, chopped
- 20 grams gooseberries, chopped
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 30 ml tequila
- 1 shot lime juice
- Crushed ice
- Lime wedges, for garnish
Method
- Mix the coriander and salt in a small plate before dipping a cocktail glass into a little agave syrup, and into the coriander salt to coat the rim.
- Place the chilli in the glass, then fill with crushed ice.
- Muddle the gooseberries and lime juice together in a shaker and add the tequila, agave syrup, lime juice and ice cubes.
- Shake well and strain into the glasses and serve.
Also Read:
Gooseberry & Pomegranate Rickey
Ingredients
- 250 grams amla, chopped
- 100 grams pomegranate seeds
- 350 ml water
- 250 gm granulated white sugar
Method
- Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Strain into a Pyrex glass and add the sugar to mix until it dissolves.
- Bottle the syrup and chill it in the fridge.
For The Cocktail:
Ingredients
- 25 ml gin
- 50 ml gooseberry-pomegranate syrup
- 20 ml lemon juice
- 100 ml soda water
- Pomegranate arils, for garnish
- Mint sprig, for garnish
Method
- Combine all the ingredients, along with a little soda into a highball glass.
- Add ice cubes and top up with more soda before stirring gently.
- Garnish with pomegranate and mint. Enjoy!
Gooseberry Grinch Cocktail
- 45 ml vodka
- 30 ml pineapple juice
- 30 ml gooseberry cordial
- 30 ml Limca
- Ginger beer, to top up
Method
- Combine all the ingredients but the Limca and ginger beer in a shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well and pour into a glass and top up with sodas. Serve chilled.