Tea Cocktails

I'm not a big drinker, it's not that I don't like alcohol I just don't find it that interesting or good most of the time. Beer tastes too yeasty and I don't like the harsh burn of most spirits. I do however like Gin and I love tea (see my version of the wonderous Hot Toddy for proof), so I have been happily surprised by the number of pubs that have started serving Tea Cocktails (hot or cold) yet few have actually managed to make something intriguing and tasty.

The first one I had was a Royal G and Tea (Gin and Earl Grey Tea with a dash of lemon and sugar) at The Colonel Fawcett in Camden Town. It sticks in the mind because it was the first Tea Cocktail I had come across outside of my own kitchen, but sadly the tea was not good quality nor properly steeped and honestly the idea was pretty standard fare.

Others trials have regretfully been unmemorable due mostly to lack of imagination. Most seem to think that regular tea with alcohol and sugar added will somehow magically make for an interesting tipple. At best it's soothing. At worst it is a bitter concoction reminiscent of hokey medicinal elixirs.

Then in swoops the Mad Hatter's Tea a wonderful blend of tea, Gin and pink peppercorn syrup. The mix was excellent with no flavour drowned out by the other. I thought the syrup might have more bite but it was sweet and zingy complimenting the Portobello Road Gin well. The tea was good quality and well prepared making the whole a delight to sip.

Mad Hatter's Tea

And the china tea cup was the cherry on top!
I will definitely be going back to the Elk in the Woods and try their other Tea Cocktails and trying to come up with more ideas of my own.