A home version of a drink we serve at our new restaurant, Paradise Garage in east in London E2. It’s a lovely aperitif, especially if you have someone over who you want to impress, and dead easy, too. Per serving:
30ml American whiskey (I use Tincup)
30ml sloe gin (Sipsmith, for preference)
10ml lemon juice
10ml sugar syrup (made with 1:1 ratio of sugar to water)
4 basil leaves, plus 1 sprig to garnish
Pale ale, to top (I use Brixton pale ale)
Put everything in a cocktail shaker with ice, hard shake for 30 seconds, then double-strain into a julep cup over fresh ice. Top with pale ale, garnish and serve.
• Imants Zusmanis is bar manager/mixologist at The Manor, London SW4, and at Paradise Garage, London E2.
