A brief post from our gin correspondent, bringing a delicious, but little-known cocktail to wider public attention. Invented by the inimitable Arthur Lowe, and named after his own personal floating bar - the 1885 steam yacht Amazon - the cocktail is, like a true gentleman, extremely elegant and very refreshing.

Amazon, circa 1889

Recipe

Take an Old Fashioned Glass, and add a couple of large cubes of ice. Over this, pour a liberal measure or two of good Gin (Tanqueray, Plymouth and especially Hendricks are excellent in this) and top up with dry ginger ale (not ginger beer). One should aim for roughly the same proportions as for one’s preferred gin and tonic. Garnish with of a wheel of cucumber.

    More important than you might think!

The cucumber garnish may seem to be an affectation, but it really does change the flavour of the cocktail for the best. Try it, even if you don’t normally like cucumber in salads or sandwiches (this classy gent doesn’t either, but the drink genuinely isn’t as good without it).