Photo Hugh Stewart
A Toast to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The Thames Festival Trust and other River Thames organisations laid on the Reflections Flotilla on 24th September 2022 as a tribute to Her Late Majesty. Over 150 boats took part including Gloriana, the beautiful 90 foot royal barge powered by 18 oarsmen that was commissioned in 2012 for the late Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. This photograph pictures Gloriana just after she passed under Chelsea’s famous Albert Bridge on her passage downstream to Tower Bridge.
Now that Her Majesty has been laid to rest we can celebrate the life of an extraordinary person. Even staunch republicans might accept that ! What better way to do so than with a Cocktail (or Kicktail !).
So here it is – The Lilibet.
The Lilibet
The Lilibet’s ingredients combine the colours of the United Kingdom’s flag: red (strawberries), white (gin) and blue (curaçao) with lime juice representing the Commonwealth and Champagne to give the party a royal fizz.
Gin was chosen as the base because of HM The Queen Mother’s enthusiasm for gin, which she probably continued to down during pregnancy thus introducing the young Elizabeth to it before birth. Blue curaçao reflects the Royals’ “blue-blooded” pedigree.
1 part gin
1 part blue curaçao
0.5 parts lime juice
2 parts Champagne
Mix and chill the gin, curaçao and lime juice in a shaker, pour into a chilled cocktail glass, add the Champagne and garnish with a strawberry sliced vertically.
Photo www.freepik.es
And here’s a wee poem to tickle your fancy while you sip The Lilibet:
Oh dearest Bess
I love your dress
Oh dearest Liz
I love your phizz
Oh dearest Queen
I’ve never seen
A head of state
Who’s more serene
Adapted from the poem written by prolific author Anon. and reproduced in that wonderful volume of light-hearted poetry Verse and Worse, compiled by Arnold Silcock.
A seriously frivolous book – now available, along with its sister App Shaker
The above recipe is an extract from Shaker, a brilliant App containing “over 400 cocktail and mocktail recipes in the palm of your hand”. It also has handy features that will help you to plan your party with panache. Shaker is a sister to Cocktails & Kicktails – Life-saving Recipes and Rhymes to Lift Body and Soul, a seriously frivolous book of anecdotes, recipes and rhymes, with beautiful photographs and cartoons that are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. It is published by Rowan Books and priced at £13.99. Shaker is downloadable as a stand-alone App for £3.99 or is free if you buy Cocktails & Kicktails from Rowan Books. Learn more from the Rowan Books website.
Responsible Drinking
The Shaker App and the Cocktails & Kicktails book contain recipes for cocktails, most of which are alcoholic (by the way, the non-alcoholic ones are delicious). They often contain more than one alcohol. So please enjoy these cocktails but don’t let alcohol become your master. Stay within your limits and within prescribed guidelines, be aware of the risks and if you’re worried that you’re becoming dependent seek advice for example from Drinkaware.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS: The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that adults do not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week. A single pub measure of spirit equals 1 unit. Drink responsibly.
