Sláinte! The cocktail to drink this Whisky Month

Whisky Month is officially upon us and it would be rude not to enjoy a dram or two. But if cocktails are more your scene, try this potent Islay in Bloom...  

A blend of lavender flavoured honey, smoked lemon puree and orange blossom water with Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie, Octomore edition 07.4 Virgin Oak, it’s a good after-dinner cocktail with smoky and peaty notes perfectly balanced by the delicious citrus and florals.

Recipe by: Alessandro Rezzonico, bar manager at Dine

Method

To make the lavender flavoured honey (100ml worth) 

Infuse 1 table spoon of dry lavender with 100 ml of boiling water for 15 minutes. Fine strain the infusion and pour 30 ml into a metal jug. Add 70 ml of clear honey, stir well until the honey dissolves completely and leave to chill.

For the smoked lemon puree 

Remove the pulp from 3 lemons, add 100 ml of water and 50g of sugar, boil at low heat for 10 minutes. Pour everything into a kitchen blender adding water if needed.  Fine strain the blended content and leave to chill. To make it smoky use a food smoker. just pour the lemon puree into a bottle, fill the bottle with smoke, put a cap on it and leave to rest for 10 minutes. 

Place all the ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and strain the drink into an old fashioned glass.

Islay in Bloom is available for £10.50 at Dine on 10 Cambridge Street this month.