Gin della Nonna

• 50ml Old Tom Gin
• 150ml infused milk

Shake with ice and strain into a tall chilled glass. Float thin strips of lemon zest and a couple of toasted pine nuts on the surface.

What’s the idea?

This is basically a slight variation on Gin and milk, using milk infused with vanilla, lemon zest, and pine nuts.

The inspiration is the delicious Torta della Nonna, an Italian dessert.

For the infused milk you’ll need:

• 500ml Whole milk
• Zest of half a lemon
• Half a vanilla pod (split)
• 1tsp sugar or honey
• A handful of toasted pine nuts

Add everything to a saucepan, bring to a fast simmer, then turn the heat off and leave for at least 30 minutes to infuse. Strain and store in the fridge until needed.

  

The drink

Like Gin & Milk, the shaken whole milk gives this an amazing smooth fluffy texture. 

The infused milk is sweet, fragrant, and biscuity; and the gin just cuts through to make this a proper grown-up drink.

 

Gin and Milk

 

• 50ml Old Tom Gin
• 200ml Whole Milk

Shake with ice and strain into a Collins glass. Sprinkle on some ground nutmeg.

Since I’m working on a variant of this, I thought I’d share the classic gin and milk.

Simultaneously louche and comforting, this is a drink that deserves revival.

The ingredients are simple, but there’s not much room for variation. Old Tom gin is essential because of its softer, sweeter, profile. I like Hayman’s or Jensen’s.

Whole milk is a must as well. If you’ve never experienced the cool velvety fluff of whole milk shaken with ice then you’re in for a treat!