We've packed all kinds of cocktail-loving goodness into this issue. We start with a review two of fruity (ish) cocktails: one, Apples, a refreshing, super delightful cocktail in cans from the clever team at Coupette in East London; the other, the unmistakable taste of Jaffa Cakes, distilled into a trio of spirits. Bear with us here, we are very much aware that it sounds like a gimmick but we were pleasantly surprised by the taste.

Our books review takes in Beautiful Booze by Natalie Migliarini and James Stevenson and we head over to A Bar With Shapes For A Name to discover how the Bauhaus movement translates into an artfully conceived venue and equally creative drinks.

Jim Meehan speaks to us from Portland, Oregon where we check in with him to talk all things Punch, from the ingredients to the glossary and how and when to serve. Last but no means least, JJ Goodman from the London Cocktail Club shares his invaluable cocktail hack for making kitchen cupboard triple sec (file this one under 'essentials')

What we're mixing:

A Mojito (in celebration of National Mojito Day on 11th July)

Ingredients:

Approx 10 fresh mint leaves

25ml freshly-squeezed lime juice

20ml sugar syrup*

50ml white rum – we use Bacardí Superior

Lime sprig to garnish

Method:

Add fresh mint leaves, freshly-squeezed lime juice and sugar syrup to a Collins glass. Half fill glass with crushed ice and stir to combine ingredients. Top up the glass with more crushed ice. Place the mint sprig in in the palm of your hand and 'clap' together to release the oils, then place in the side of your glass along with a paper or better still, metal straw. (No plastic straws allowed!)

*To make sugar syrup, combine equal parts caster sugar and water in a sterilised bottle. Shake to dissolve. Store in the fridge.

The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' Watson

For more from The Cocktail Lovers, including signing up for our digital and print magazine, visit our website, thecocktaillovers.com

To see the products featured in this episode, check out our Instagram page @thecocktaillovers and see their websites below:

A Bar With Shapes For A Name

Apples

Beautiful Booze – Stylish Cocktails To Make At Home

Jaffa Cake Spirits

Mixography Inc

Tabiki, Portland

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Making the perfect Punch with Jim Meehan

The Cocktail Lovers