Make The Most Of Amla Season With These Gooseberry Cocktails

The Indian subcontinent's beloved amla (gooseberry) season is here! The superfood is loved for its sharp and tart flavour that leaves a tinge of sweetness as an aftertaste. Another reason for the gooseberry's popularity is its nutritional value. 

These sweet-sour notes make the gooseberry a great ingredient for cocktails. The robust flavours are perfect, especially for a sunny day out. Let's check out a few delicious gooseberry cocktails you can make at home. 

But First…

Bookmark the recipe for Gooseberry Cordial — it’s a key ingredient for some of these cocktails.

Ingredients

150 gm amla, deseeded, cut into chunks 250 gm sugar 250 ml water 10 gm citric acid (needed for longer shelf life)

Method

In a pan, mix sugar, water and amla and bring it to a boil.  Stir gently and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Turn off the flame, and keep the pan away to cool.  Strain the amla from the mixture. Add citric acid to the content and mix well until dissolved. Store the amla cordial in a glass container in a cool spot.

Gooseberry Daiquiri

Ingredients

60 ml Captain Morgan Dark Rum 20 ml amla cordial 15 ml lime juice Ice Slice of amla, for garnish

Method

Add all the ingredients to a shaker and shake well. Strain the contents into a coupe glass. Garnish with a slice of amla.

Gooseberry Coriander Collins

Ingredients

45 ml Tanqueray No. Ten Gin 15 ml gooseberry cordial 10 ml lime juice 2-3 coriander leaves Soda to top up Ice

Method

In a cocktail shaker, mix gooseberry cordial, Tanqueray No. Ten and lime juice, and shake well. Pour the contents of the shaker into a highball glass. Top with soda and ice, plus a coriander leaf garnish.

Cape Gooseberry & Chili Margarita

Ingredients

1/2 tablespoon coriander, finely chopped Sea salt as needed  1 shot agave syrup A quarter of a serrano chili 20 gm gooseberries Half a lime 1 shot Don Julio Blanco  1 shot lime juice Crushed ice Ice cubes

Method

Mix the coriander and salt. Dip a cocktail glass into a little agave syrup, and then into the coriander salt so it coats the rim. Place the chilli in the glass, then fill the glass with crushed ice. Now muddle the gooseberries and lime together, put the contents into a shaker and add the tequila, agave syrup, lime juice and a few ice cubes. Shake well and strain into the glasses.

Gooseberry & Pomegranate Rickey

To make this cocktail, we need to first prepare a pomegranate and gooseberry syrup.

Pomegranate and Gooseberry Syrup

Ingredients

250 gm gooseberries (amla) 100 gm pomegranate seeds 350 ml water 250 gm granulated white sugar

Method

Take a container and add the seeds, gooseberries and water in it. Bring the mixture to a boil and strain into a Pyrex glass. Add sugar and stir until it dissolves. Bottle the syrup and chill it in the fridge.

For The Cocktail —

Ingredients

25 ml Tanqueray No. Ten Gin 50 ml gooseberry and pomegranate syrup 20 ml lemon juice 100 ml soda water Pomegranate arils and a mint sprig, for garnish

Method

Pour all the ingredients, along with a little soda, into a highball glass. Add ice cubes and top with more soda. Stir gently. Garnish with the pomegranate and the mint.

As always, remember to enjoy responsibly!