Now that we are well on our way to patio season, I thought it would be fun to introduce a regular series on how to be your very own mixologist; covering everything from the classic to the unexpected. So what are we waiting for? Let’s skip right to happy hour!

On the scale of ultra British – right between the Union Jack and Kate Middleton’s baby – lives this fabulous and refreshing beverage based in the flavours of my personal fave, Earl Grey tea. This cocktail is spot on for spring; not so fruity that it screams summer, but definitely introduces the lighter sips of the season. With just a few simple steps and a limited list of ingredients, you’ll wow your garden party or girls’ night guests with a pitcher of what I have dubbed, Earl Grey Tea 2.0.

You’ll Need:

– 6 Earl Grey tea bags

– 1 tablespoon brown sugar

– crushed ice

– 200 ml gin or vodka

– juice of 1.5 lemons

Now what?:

– boil 200 ml of water and steep 6 tea bags for about 5 minutes

– remove the tea bags and stir in sugar until dissolved

– add 300 ml of cold water to the tea (mixture should now total 500 ml) and allow to cool in the fridge for at least 1 hour  *NOTE* do this in a plastic jug or container that you know will not crack with the mixture of hot and cold (learned this one the hard way).

– remove from fridge and add gin/vodka, lemon juice, and ice

– serve in glass tea cups or mint julep cups for an extra hint of Britishness

Not a drinker? Skip the alcohol and this drink is a perfectly lovely thirst-quencher on a hot day!

And while you’re sitting back and enjoying, take this fun British Class Calculator created by the BBC to see if you rank in the upper crust of British society, daahhling!

xo Ali