Is it just me? Is it old age? Or are Canadian winters getting evermore impossible to tolerate? I mean, here we are, into May, and I’m still wondering if taking my winter tires off was a good idea. Anyway, who cares if Mother Nature is in a pissy mood, I’ve got a bottle of gin – really good gin, as it turns out – and I intend to mix up a few cocktails and officially ring in spring.

I’ll come clean and admit I’ve been a huge Sipsmith London Dry Gin fan since trying it several years ago. Produced by the first copper still distillery to encamp in London for something like 200 years, it’s infused with 10 botanicals (no concentrates) that have macerated 15 or so hours. It really is the gin lover’s gin. with a barrage of (dare I say) summer-like aromas of meadow flowers, juniper, and citrus. Dry on the palate, with forward juniper and lemon that segue into a dry, slightly peppery finish.

I actually like this stuff served neat and chilled, but you might want to gussy it up with a dollop of dry vermouth and an olive (or three, depending on the size) for a perfect martini. Or combine an ounce and a half or so (okay, sorry about the Imperial measure, but that’s how us old folk work) with some tonic – thanks to Fever-Tree, we actually have some good stuff available – and a lemon or lime wedge/twist. A G&T doesn’t get much better. But you can shake it up a bit….

Try a G&T with Sipsmith LDG and Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic garnished with rosemary. Or maybe swap the Mediterranean tonic with Fever-Tree Elderflower tonic and strawberry, basil and peppercorns (nice!). Or maybe even a “liquid caprese salad” (Sipsmith LDG with F-T Premium Indian tonic with tomato and basil). Sipsmith LDG with F-T Aromatic tonic and lemongrass? Same deal but with F-T Premium Indian tonic with pink grapefruit?

Get it going. And raise a toast to Mother Nature to encourage her to send some warm weather our way.

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You’ll find Tod Stewart’s Sipsmith London Dry Gin full review and a couple recipes in this Things article.