Pink cocktails have a bit of a reputation for being overly sweet, and it is easy to see why. A lot of them get their colour from sugary mixers, flavoured liqueurs or brightly coloured syrups rather than fresh fruit. Think grenadine in a Tequila Sunrise, cranberry juice in a Cosmopolitan, or strawberry liqueur in a frozen daiquiri. They can look fun and glossy in the glass, but those ingredients often bring a lot of sweetness with them, which can make the drink taste a little heavy.

This raspberry and rosemary gin cocktail takes a fresher route. It gets its soft blush pink colour from real raspberries, so you get natural berry sweetness, a little tartness and a proper fruit flavour rather than a syrupy one. That slight sharpness from the raspberries works beautifully with fresh lemon, keeping the cocktail bright and balanced.

Rosemary adds the grown up twist. Its fragrant, piney note sits so well with gin, especially because gin already has that botanical base from juniper and other herbs, spices or citrus peels. It gives the drink a subtle herbal edge without overpowering the raspberry. The result is still pretty and pink, but it feels crisp, fresh and far more interesting than the usual sweet pink cocktail.

Ingredients

• 60ml gin (a floral gin works particularly well)
• 8-10 fresh raspberries (plus one or two for garnish)
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary, plus an extra sprig for garnish
• 20ml fresh lemon juice
• 15ml rosemary syrup (if you have it)
• Chilled lemonade or sparkling water, to top
• Crushed ice, to fill
• A lemon wheel, to garnish

Method

1. Add the fresh raspberries and rosemary sprig to a cocktail shaker and muddle well until the raspberries break down completely.
2. Add the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to the shaker along with a handful of ice.
3. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.
4. Double-strain into a tall glass filled with crushed ice to remove the raspberry seeds.
5. Top gently with chilled lemonade or sparkling water.
6. Garnish with a lemon wheel, one or two fresh raspberries and a fresh rosemary sprig.

Tip: Swap the lemonade for soda water if you prefer a drier drink, or use tonic water if you want a sharper, more bitter finish.