Hosted Blog

Hosting doesn’t mean stressing – and there’s something effortlessly fun about a games night. No need for a big meal or fancy table setting – just your best mates, a good playlist, and even better drinks. But that doesn’t mean it has to be basic. Elevate your games night into a Martini & Oyster party – hosted by Ink, of course. Here’s how we do it: 1. Simple & Chic Drinks There’s nothing more chic than gin martinis – and luckily, they’re incredibly easy to batch for a crowd.Check out our cheat sheet for batching martinis [link]. For non-martini drinkers, have a couple of bottles of wine and some tonic on ice so guests can mix their own G&Ts. But see if you can convince everyone to try at least one martini. We guarantee someone will convert. 2. The Food? Oysters. Fresh, cold, garnished simply with lemon. That’s it.They look fancy, take five minutes to prep, and pair beautifully with martinis. Snacks? A big bowl of oven chips with dipping sauce. We used a mojito mayo – tangy, herby, and dangerously moreish.Hot tip from a chip addict: cook them for double the time on the packet. Lower the heat and let them crisp up slowly – thank us later. Later in the night? Order pizzas. No one will say no. 3. What to Play Forget Monopoly (unless you’re ready to lose friends). Stick with games that are fast, funny, and a little chaotic:– Articulate – guaranteed to get loud– Cards Against Humanity – classic for a reason– Bananagrams – low effort, high reward– What Do You Meme? – millennial gold– Pictionary – lipstick + mirror = iconic– Or go rogue with charades – homemade categories always win 4. Set the Scene Candlelight. Fire in the background. Music low but vibey.Keep it cosy, keep it playful, and embrace a bit of beautiful mess. The vibe? Relaxed, a little offbeat, and a lot of fun. The kind of night where someone ends up dancing in socks and someone else falls in love with oysters for the first time. Hosting doesn’t have to be hard.Stir the drinks, light the candles, press play. PS: Once you get sick of the games, the night may end in a big ol' boogie - which is what happened to us. You have been warned....

Martinis are the moment. But making them one by one? No thanks. Whether you’re hosting a few friends or a full-blown soirée, batching your martinis means more time sipping, less time stirring. The best part? No pre-prep required, you can just batch as you go.  Here’s how we made our martinis for a recent party we hosted – two ways, both dangerously good. The Dirty Martini – with Ink Gin Salty, silky, sometimes filthy. This one’s a crowd favourite. And yes, it works perfectly with Ink Gin! The all natural botanical colour makes it even more beautiful.  For one serve: 60ml Ink Gin 15ml dry vermouth 15ml olive brine (adjust to taste if you like it filthy) Add everything to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir slowly for 30 seconds until icy cold, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a couple of green olives on a skewer – or plop them in straight from the jar if you’re feeling casual. No strainer? Us neither. We forgot our bar kit for this party (oops). But no worries - a slotted spoon over the rim does the trick. You don't need a proper bar kit to make great drinks.     For a crowd: Got a full house? This recipe multiplies beautifully. You can batch 3–4 martinis in one standard mixing glass. To make 4: 240ml Ink Gin 60ml dry vermouth 60ml olive brine Stir with plenty of ice (you'll need to stir 1-2 minutes, until the alcohol is properly diluted), strain, garnish – and serve like the cocktail Queen you are. Top tip: Keep your bottles and glasses in the freezer before mixing for maximum chill and minimum dilution. 🫒 Dirty Martini Batching Cheat Sheet (with Ink Gin) Serves Ink Gin Dry Vermouth Olive Brine 1 60ml 15ml 15ml 2 120ml 30ml 30ml 4 240ml 60ml 60ml 6 360ml 90ml 90ml 8 480ml 120ml 120ml   Pro tip: Always taste before serving – olive brines vary, so adjust to your preferred level of salty sass.   🍋 Lemon Twist Martini – with Ink Art Gin Silky, citrusy and a little bit fancy. This one’s for when you want to impress with minimal effort and maximum flair. Perfect for the more refined palettes, this really lets the gin shine. Don't use a bad gin! For one serve: 60ml Ink Art Gin 15ml dry vermouth Add both to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir for 30 seconds until icy cold. Strain into a frozen martini glass and garnish with a fresh lemon twist – just peel, twist over the drink to release the oils, and drop it in. No peeler? A sharp knife and steady hand will do just fine. For a crowd: A drier style, perfect for group sipping. To make 4: 240ml Ink Art Gin 60ml dry vermouth Stir over plenty of ice, strain into chilled glasses, garnish with lemon zest, and serve immediately. 🍸 Lemon Martini Batching Cheat Sheet (with Ink Art Gin) Serves Ink Art Gin Dry Vermouth 1 60ml 15ml 2 120ml 30ml 4 240ml 60ml 6 360ml 90ml 8 480ml 120ml   Hosting hack: Pop your martini glasses in the freezer at least an hour before your guests arrive. Icy glass = silky sip. But also, if you don't have freezer space, don't stress. Better to have a martini in a room temperature glass than no martini at all...   

One word. YUM. If you’re looking for a drink that’s vibrant, refreshing, and packed with flavour, this Blueberry Sour made with Ink Gin is your go-to. It blends the tartness of blueberries, the brightness of lime, and the floral notes of elderflower into a cocktail that's as bold as it is smooth. This recipe comes from our friends at Bobby’s. If you’re in the area, pop in for an incredibly delish lunch and Ink Gin cocktail overlooking the water. Everything about this family owned business is on point! Ink Blueberry Sour Cocktail Ingredients: Handful of blueberries 45 ml Ink Gin 30 ml lime juice 15 ml sugar syrup 1 egg white 15 ml elderflower liqueur Ice Toothpick of 3 blueberries for garnish Method: Muddle a handful of blueberries in a shaker to release their flavor. Add 45 ml Ink Gin, 30 ml lime juice, 15 ml sugar syrup, 1 egg white, and 15 ml elderflower liqueur to the shaker. Dry shake (shake without ice) to emulsify the egg white and create a frothy texture. Add ice to the shaker and shake again to chill the mixture. Double strain the mixture into a glass to get rid of any pulp or ice shards. Garnish with a toothpick of three blueberries for that perfect finishing touch. There you have it - a perfectly balanced, beautifully flavoured Blueberry Cocktail that’s sure to impress. Enjoy!  

We teamed up with our neighbours Australian Bay Lobster to bring you a series of gin cocktail and seafood recipes, perfect for entertaining large crowds this summer season.

We teamed up with our neighbours Australian Bay Lobster to bring you a series of gin cocktail and seafood recipes, perfect for entertaining large crowds this summer season.   Prawns & Gin Spiked Seafood Sauce Fresh Parsley - Finely Chopped Fresh Dill - Finely Chopped Fresh Chives - Finely Chopped ¼ cup Kewpie Mayo 1 tsp seeded mustard Squeeze of lime juice Splash of Ink Gin Tabasco sauce to taste Cracked black pepper Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until well combined, and serve with beautiful fresh Australian prawns. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.   Ink & Elderflower Fizz Jug Serves 6 180ml Ink Gin 120ml lemon juice 120ml elderflower liqueur 120ml simple syrup* Soda water Add Ink, lemon juice, elderflower liqueur & syrup to a jug. You can store this in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. When your guests arrive and are thirsty, simply top with ice & soda water, and enjoy! *To make simple syrup, mix equal parts sugar and water in a jar and shake until dissolved.

There’s nothing better than freshly shucked oysters. Except freshly shucked oysters paired with a gin mignonette and spritzes…

The festive season is in full swing, and that means it’s time to indulge in a tipple with the ones you love. Delicious cocktails don't have to be complicated or time consuming! We've put together some of our favourite simple pitcher cocktails for you to make during the season - the perfect summer sips for all to enjoy. The best part about cocktail pitchers? Once they’re made, you can sit back and relax! Forget the cocktail shaker, these recipes don't need fancy equipment. All the recipes here use a 2L jug and serve 6 cocktails.   CITRUS BLISS This beautiful combination of flavours and colours with Ink Gin are sure to impress your guests and keep them coming back for a top up. Ingredients 220ml Ink Gin 1/2 cucumber sliced 1 lime sliced 1 orange sliced 900ml of Elderflower tonic water (can substitute with normal tonic if you can’t find elderflower) Ice Add the lime, orange, cucumber, and Ink Gin to a jug. When you’re ready to serve, top with fresh ice and add the tonic water. Pour servings over ice in individual glasses & garnish with a half slice of citrus.   STRAWBERRY MINT COOLER With the zesty lemon juice and fresh mint, this cocktail becomes the most refreshing pitcher you'll mix this summer. Ingredients 220ml Ink Art Gin 6 strawberries, sliced 2 lemons, sliced 900ml premium tonic Mint sprigs to garnish Ice Method Add Ink Art Gin, strawberries and lemons to a large jug. When you’re ready to serve, fill the just halfway with ice and top with tonic. Add mint and stir gently. Enjoy!   SLOE FIZZ This classic Ink cocktail is fresh, tangy & so delicious. Ingredients 360ml Ink Sloe & Berry Gin 180ml of *fresh* squeezed lemon juice 90ml of simple syrup* 700ml soda water Grapefruit or lemon slices to garnish Ice Method Add the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a jug. Store in the fridge until ready to serve. Just before serving, half fill with ice, add soda water and fruit slices to garnish. *To make sugar syrup, get an old jar with a lid and fill it with half white sugar & half warm water. Shake until all the sugar is dissolved, & store it in the fridge until ready to use.

It’s a beautiful union when convenience and cocktails meet. For some, the concept of jam jar cocktails is new, but for others it’s been their ‘jam’ for years now. Ha ha…

A fun twist on the legendary Aviation cocktail. This delicious cocktail won 2nd place in our Ink Gin 100 competition and it’s still one of our all time favourites.