If there’s one part of the British heritage that Malta revels in, this is the ubiquitous gin and tonic as a summer drink. This season, get creative with good quality gin and some cocktail variations.

Gin Buck

1 1⁄2 oz  good quality gin
Juice of half a lemon or lime
Ginger ale

Garnish:
1  Lemon or lime wedge
Glass: Collins

Method

Fill a Collins glass with ice and add the gin and lemon or lime juice.

Fill with ginger ale and stir briefly.

Garnish with a lemon or lime wedge.

Tom Collins

3⁄4 oz fresh lemon juice
3⁄4 oz simple syrup (one part water, one part sugar)
1 1⁄2 oz gin
Club soda

Garnish:
Lemon wheel
Cherry
Glass: Highball or Collins

Method

Add the lemon juice, simple syrup and gin to a shaker and fill with ice.

Shake well and strain into a highball or Collins glass filled with fresh ice.

Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon wheel and a cherry.

Ramos Gin Fizz

2 oz gin
1⁄2 oz Heavy cream
1⁄2 oz Fresh lemon juice
1⁄2 oz Fresh lime juice
3⁄4 oz Simple syrup
3 dashes Orange flower water
1  Fresh egg white
Club soda
Glass: Collins

Method

The secret to this drink is to shake, shake and shake some more.

Add all the ingredients except the club soda to a shaker and shake vigorously without ice.

Open the shaker, fill with ice and shake again.

Strain into a Collins glass.

Pour a little bit of club soda back and forth between the empty halves of the shaker to pick up any residual egg white, and then pour into the glass.

(This will make for a frothier head.)

South Side

2 oz gin
5  mint leaves
1 oz simple syrup
1 oz fresh lemon juice

Garnish:
1  Mint sprig
Glass: cocktail

Method

In a shaker, muddle the mint and simple syrup.

Add the lemon juice and gin, and fill with ice.

Shake, and double-strain into a cocktail glass.

Garnish with a mint sprig.