The Abbey Cocktail

My love of all things gin is just one of my many grandmotherly attributes, despite not having any children of my own. If you're on the fence about my favorite spirit, this bright cocktail flavored with fresh orange juice and citrusy Lillet Blanc is almost certain to win you over to the Cardigan Side. The Abbey cocktail might be old fashioned, but y'all? It's as elegant as Maggie Smith playing Wendy Darling.

If you're looking for a way to celebrate the end of this wild and crazy year, do yourself a favor and go grab a few ingredients to make this bright and delicious cocktail. I can almost guarantee it'll be love at first sip.

Near the beginning of quarantine, Joe may or may not have walked in on me sipping a gin cocktail while doing a cross stitch, wearing a knitted cardigan with an A-line skirt and watching Sister Act 2. By that, I mean he absolutely did. In that moment, my old lady proclivities were in full swing. And the cocktail I had in hand? The Abbey, one of my all-time favorites.

Most often for us, drinking at home is limited to inexpensive wine or vodka/gin with some kind of flavored seltzer water (whatever was on sale). Now that we're coming up on over 9 months since we set foot into a bar or restaurant, I'm taking celebratory cocktail making into my own hands.

Why I Love This Cocktail Recipe

While my love of food leads me to daydream about all kinds of flavor combos throughout the day, my inner bartender isn't nearly as adept. This bright gin and citrus cocktail is simple enough for even a noob mixologist like me.

I tried my hand at making it near the beginning of the pandemic on that fateful day Joe walked in, and it has been my favorite "fancy drink" to make ever since. It requires just four ingredients and uses simple proportions that make it easy to freehand.

Oh, and it's GIN based. Did I mention that? I LOVE GIN.

How to Make the Abbey

This gin cocktail recipe is as simple as 1-2-3! Simply fill a shaker with ice, pour in your gin, Lillet Blanc, orange juice and bitters. Shake vigorously for about a minute, then strain into your cocktail glasses. Clink your glasses and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Soooo, I'm at the liquor store and there's a WHOLE BUNCH of gins. Which should I reach for?

Botanical-forward gins like Hendrick's or Old Val are my favorite, but I even have a soft spot for London Dry, Plymouth and even Old Tom style gins. In this particular recipe, you can reach for any so long as you note that each will impart its own flavor profile. For a bit more knowledge about each kind of gin, check out this informative post.

Can I turn this into a big batch cocktail?

While you certainly could mix all of your ingredients together ahead of time to make it easier to pour into your cocktail shaker, don't forget to actually shake the cocktail. This interesting article explains why!

Can I use bottled orange juice instead of fresh squeezed?

Since orange juice is one of the primary ingredients in this simple cocktail, and since citrus is in season right now, I highly suggest you use the fresh stuff. That said, if you're going to use bottled stuff, try and treat yourself to juice that isn't from concentrate.

Need more celebration inspiration? Check out these other special recipes:

• Salmon with Minty Pea Purée and Caramelized Carrots
• Spiked Christmas Coffee with Amaretto Whipped Cream
• Homemade Banana Pudding with Coffee Rum Fudge
• Mom's White Clam Chowder

If you made The Abbey cocktail, let me know how you liked it by commenting below!

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