Finally! Summer is here. Pack some fabulous treats, a One G&T can or two, and head to the park (or your back garden!)

 Here at One Gin, we love putting our own unique twist on some of our favourite picnic recipes. We’ve created the perfect gin-based treats that will take your picnic to the next level.

This is a condiment that will upgrade your sandwich game forever. We know that there are hundreds of different chutney recipes out there, but this one is absolutely the best.

One Gin Chutney

Ingredients

3tbsp olive oil

6 onions

300g dark muscovado sugar

200ml red wine vinegar 

3tbsp balsamic vinegar 

3 garlic cloves, crushed

1tbsp wholegrain mustard

½ tsp paprika

¼ tsp crushed chillies

100ml One Sage Gin

Method

Heat the oil in a large saucepan & gently fry the onions over a medium-low heat for 25-30 minutes, stirring regularly. The onions should be softened but not browned, and reduced by around half.

Stir in 3 tbsp of the sugar, increase the heat, and cook for around 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are just starting to colour. Lower the heat, add the remaining sugar and all the other ingredients. 

Simmer so it bubbles gently on a medium-low heat for 30-40 mins, or until the chutney has reduced and thickened to a dark caramel colour, stirring occasionally to check it isn’t sticking to the bottom of the pan. To test if the chutney is ready, drag a wooden spoon across the bottom of the pan – it should take a few seconds for the juices to re-cover the bottom of the pan.

Spoon the hot chutney into cooled, sterilised jars, then seal and label. The chutney will keep for up to 6-12 months.

Once you have your chutney, you simply must try it in this ploughman’s sandwich. The perfect balance of sweet, savoury, soft and crunchy. Everything you need in a sandwich.

 

One Gin Ploughman’s Sandwich 

Ingredients

1 Medium Baguette

2 tbsp Mayo

1 heaped tsp Wholegrain Mustard 

½ Braeburn Apple 

3 Slices Smoked Ham 

50g cheddar, Sliced 

2 tbsp One Gin Chutney 

Handful Rocket 

Method

Slice the baguette in half, lengthways. In a bowl, mix the mayo with the mustard, then thinly slice the apple. Spread the mayo mixture over the baguette base, then layer the ham, cheese, apple slices, and the One Gin chutney mixture. Finish with the rocket and baguette top. Slice into desired portion sizes and serve.

 

For all the vegetarians out there, this cucumber sandwich is made for you. Soaking the cucumber in our One Sage & Apple gin adds a unique, subtle flavour to this classic sandwich. 

 

Cucumber Sandwich 

Ingredients

250g cream cheese

25ml One Sage & Apple Gin 

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

8 slices white bread, crusts removed

1 English cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

1 handful of rocket 

 

Method

An hour before making the sandwiches, use a vegetable peeler to thinly slice the cucumber. Transfer the cucumber slices into a bowl, add 50ml of One Sage Gin, and leave to soak until. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, salt and pepper. Spread about 1 tablespoon of cream-cheese mixture onto 1 bread slice. Layer cucumber and rocket. Top with a second slice of bread. Cut each sandwich into 3 rectangles. 

After your sandwiches, obviously you’ll need a sweet treat! These gin-y lemon drizzle slices are the perfect mix between a desert and an aperitif.

 

One Gin Lemon Drizzle Slices 

 

Ingredients

For the cake: 

70g softened, unsalted butter

120g caster sugar 

2 medium eggs

140g self raising flour

1tsp baking powder 

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

1 tbsp lemon curd

2 tbsp full fat milk 

 

For the drizzle topping: 

30g granulated sugar

Juice of 1 lemon 

50ml One Sage Gin 

 

For the Icing:

250g icing sugar 

3 tbsp water 

Yellow food colouring 

 

Method 

Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Line a square or rectangular baking tray with parchment paper. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, add the eggs and then mix again. Add the flour, baking powder, lemon zest, lemon curd and milk. Mix until thoroughly combined. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 25-30mins, or until a skewer comes out clean.

Mix the sugar, lemon juice and One Sage Gin together, pour over the cake whilst it’s still warm. Gradually add water to the icing sugar until it creates a runny, but not watery, consistency.

Put a small amount of icing into a separate bowl and add some yellow food colouring so it turns a light yellow.

Remove the cake from the tin and peel off the baking parchment. Place a wire rack in a baking tray, and place the cake on top. Spread the white icing all over the top of the cake. Spoon the yellow icing into a piping bag and draw lines across the width of the cake. Using a cocktail stick, drag through the lines in opposite directions to create a feathered effect.

Add fresh fruit, a cheese and meats board, and of course, your One Gin & tonic cans, and there you have it : picnic made in heaven (or your kitchen).