The Earl of Bombay

Today mother dearest and I wanted a cup of tea, as we always do, but we wanted a cup of tea with a twist this time. And so, with a little thought, the Earl of Bombay was born, supped, and enjoyed thoroughly in this sudden summer heat England is experiencing. I don't know if this 'cocktail' actually does exist and I've just renamed it, but I was pretty proud of how it came out. It's a refreshing, alcoholic iced tea with a hint of rosemary to compliment the gin.

For one beverage, you shall need...

• 150ml of chilled, weak Earl Grey tea (make as normal and then chill rather than using cold water straight away)
• 50ml Bombay Sapphire gin (personally I don't think any other off-the-shelf gin would really work, possibly Hendricks...)
• 3 round slices of lemon (two for the prep, one for the garnish)
• 1 sprig of rosemary (take the leafy things off of the stem)
• 1 stem of rosemary (for the garnish)
• Ice cubes
• A pretty glass or tea cup to serve
• A mesh sieve to strain the drink

It doesn't take that long to make an Earl of Bombay, as long as your tea is chilled before hand...

1. Whilst the Earl Grey is chilling add two slices of lemon to infuse into the drink
2. Put the sprig of rosemary into a cocktail shaker (or a large tumbler if you don't have a cocktail shaker) with some ice and 'muddle' them all together (I used the end of a wooden spoon) for around ten seconds, or until the ice begins to melt into the rosemary.
3. Add the gin, and stir into the rosemary.
4. Pour all of the iced Earl Grey and the lemon into the gin concoction and stir once more
5. Strain through the sieve into the iced up glass/tea cup/vessel that you shall sup from and garnish with a round of lemon and a stem of rosemary.

Enjoy!