You gin-uinely can’t beat an Old Fashioned Christmas

If there’s one thing guaranteed to get tongues wagging over the festive period it is the undermining of and perceived looming threats to beloved Christmas traditions.

Debates about dining times, the festive spread, games and cracker jokes, the King’s speech and now…gin in an “old fashioned” cocktail?

That’s the controversial suggestion of artisan gin specialist Golden Road Gin, who have suggested a twist on the all-time cocktail classic by pairing their copper-pot distilled tipple with honey (their own “raw” Preseli Hills Honey) and the classic orange oils, bitters and garnish.

‘It is a tad controversial,’ admits co-founder Phil Wheeler, who along with wife Jennifer began producing the gin this summer after 18 months of painstaking research, trial and error ‘but sometimes traitions are there to be stirred up a little. Just gently, no need to shake it!’

Despite its nascent status, Golden Road Gin has already secured a Great Taste Award and exhibited at the Speciality and Fine Food Fair.

It is named after the historic “Golden Road” route which dates back some 5,000 years and is now a well-trodden, 7-mile moorland route for ramblers and fans of the great outdoors and lies a stone’s throw from the distillery in Pembrokeshire.

Here’s the recipe, as devised by Phil and Jen in a moment of shameless rebellion:

Golden Road Gin – 60ml

Preseli Hills Honey – 1 Barspoon

Angostura Bitters – 2 Dashes

Orange Bitters – 1 Dash

Orange Oils

Orange Twist Garnish

‘Place the ingredients (except the garnish) into a jug or something similar, you just want to make sure you have enough room to give everything a good stir,’ advised Jennifer.

‘Add ice and stir until cool, then sieve into a glass and serve with a garnish of an orange twist.’

If this zesty gin cocktail sounds “ap-peeling” to you, visit Phil and Jen’s online shop where you can get your hands on a 70cl bottle of Golden Road Gin and a 251g jar of pure, raw honey courtesy of the bees buzzing around the couple’s farm in rural Pembrokeshire.