Mikkelmas has been noted as a groundbreaking and truly unique gin in various competitions, thoroughly capturing the spirit of the Mikkel Feast - a traditional name for Orkney’s Harvest Season celebrations. Now known as Harvest homes, these are marked with dinner, drinks and dancing long into the night. Mikkelmas can be enjoyed all year round with many different serve combinations. Its warm spiced notes give the ideal flavour for hot drinks, and it’s earthy and smooth profile with citrus lends itself brilliantly to refreshing gin and tonics.
Recipe Difficulty Key:
⟡ Can making a cocktail be this easy and this delicious?!
⟡ ⟡ Could make it during the adverts - tastes amazing
⟡ ⟡ ⟡ Totally worth the time, could do some squats while I wait (maybe)
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Mulled Mikkelmas
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This one’s great for when you feel the need to get cosy! It’s our own take on a traditional hot toddy, which captures the delicious warming mulled spices in our Mikkelmas.
You will need:
50ml of Mikkelmas Gin
150ml water
Juice of half a lemon
Small stick of cinnamon
5-6 cloves
Strip of orange peel
4 teaspoons of honey
Method:
Simmer ingredients except the Mikkelmas for five minutes (do not let it boil), take off the heat and add 50ml Mikkelmas Gin. Serve in a tall heat proof glass with optional cinnamon stick or orange as a garnish and enjoy!
You can also use orange or apple juice in this recipe too!
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Mikkelmas Pear Spritz
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Refreshing with a ginger kick, this cocktail is delightful any time of the year, and that ginger spritz will be sure to get you dancing.
Serves 4
You will need:
100 ml Mikkelmas
Mint Sprigs (3 will do, and some more to garnish)
1 pint of Cold Ginger Beer (we love Bundaberg for it's spice!)
75ml Pear Liqueur
Juice of one lime
Lots of Ice
Ginger to garnish
Mash together the mint with Mikkelmas, add ice and stir (or shake) well. Add ginger beer, pear liqueur and lime to taste. Serve in a tall glass with some mint and a thin slice of ginger to garnish. If you find ginger beer too spicy, try a ginger ale, and a small amount of ginger. If you prefer your long drinks a little stronger, you can use 200ml Mikkelmas, which is equal to two 25ml shots per person. Enjoy!
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Mikkelmas Spiced Chai Latte
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A firm family favourite. One to try! This mischievous take on a spiced chai latte is the perfect drink for when you’ve got in the door after shopping.
Makes 4 servings
You will need:
2 Chai tea bags
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 vanilla pod cut long ways
15g soft brown sugar
1 ½ tbsp honey
200ml unsweetened almond milk
120ml Mikkelmas
4 star anise to serve
4tsp double cream to serve
Add 400ml water to a saucepan and bring to the boil. Add the teabags, cinnamon and vanilla. Turn off the heat and leave to infuse for 5 minutes. Remove the teabags, add the honey and sugar. Stir till they dissolve. Add the almond milk while warming through. Be sure not to let it boil. Take off the heat, then add the Mikkelmas. Pour into your favourite mug or heatproof glass. Add 1 tsp of cream on top of each, and star anise to garnish. Yummy!
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Our Perfect Serves
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Mikkelmas is very versatile because of the mixture of botanicals in it. From a mulled, or earthy taste, to rosehip and orange, it has many flavour profiles which can be matched with a huge variety of mixers. Here are some of our favourites:
Franklin and Sons Plain Tonic – if you enjoy the stripped back warming and smooth gin flavour, this one’s perfect – Garnish with orange peel
Fever Tree Ginger Ale – for those with a sweeter tooth, the ginger in the Mikkelmas is prominent and it compliments the mulled spices – Garnish with cinnamon
Buzzbees Ginger Ale – a lighter take on ginger ale with nice sweet notes really compliments the spice – Garnish with cinnamon or apple
Make your own Spicy Ginger mix - try Soda Water, some slices of ginger and a chilli for a spicy hit - add cinnamon and a squeeze of orange (and a slice to garnish) for a sweetness - this one looks amazing and tastes delicious
Fentimans Valencian Orange Tonic Water – Lovely hints of citrus and spice – Garnish with ginger or citrus
Fever Tree Spiced Orange Ginger Ale – A favourite of ours, warming and delightfully citrussy – Garnish with apple and citrus
Fever Tree Aromatic Tonic – Very dramatic flavour – Garnish with cardamom
Fruity Pairings
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You could try your own ideas based on the Mikkelmas pallet - Here are some of the botanicals (the mulled spice recipe - we prefer to keep some of it a secret):
juniper, heather berries, cinnamon, rose hips, orange peel, ginger... and more mulled spices!
Here are some fruits we would match with Mikkelmas when cooking or making drinks:
pear, apple, orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, blood orange, rhubarb, dried fruits such as raisins, apricots, mango, pineapple and dates
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We hope you've enjoyed reading some Mikkelmas cocktail and serving suggestions. Please let us know which one's you've tried, or show us your new ideas by tagging us @orkneygincompany on Facebook and Instagram, show us your ideas on Pinterest, or tag @orkneygin on Twitter. Cheers!