Save yourself from the Prosecco shortage by mixing the sparkling wine with gin!fr

Sparkling wine lovers have cried an agonising cry of anxiety this week as an Italian Prosecco producer announced that bad weather caused a very poor harvest of the grapes used to make the bubbly. The producer announced that production in some parts of the region near Trieste from where Prosecco hails was down 50% and expected that with the growing demand for the Italian all-purpose drink wine that a stock shortage will result this year. 

The Drinks Business has reported that UK sales of the sparkling wine reached £1 billion in 2014, up 75% and even surpassed Champagne sales. With the growing love of the Italian answer to champagne, we take a look at the best strategy of saving Prosecco while still enjoying it - mixing it with gin!

French 77

The subtle-ish difference from the classic French 75 recipe is the addition of elderflower liqueur. The original recipe calls for champers but prosecco’s sweetness can hold up even better against the tart lemon juice than a brut champagne. Holding true to the cocktail’s name, the best elderflower liqueur to use is the French liqueur St. Germain

• 2 oz London Dry Gin
• 1⁄2 oz St. Germain liqueur
• 1⁄2 oz Simple syrup
• 1 oz Lemon juice
• 2 oz Processo 

Forager’s Fizz

With Prosecco invading the UK and sloe gin at the top of everyone’s faourite farm-made spirit, this could become the national drink!

• 1/2 oz. sloe gin
• top up with Prosecco
• garnish with blackberries
• Serve in a flute

Pimm’s Prosecco Royale

Adding champagne to just about any cocktail makes it a royale. In this case, switching out the champers for some prosecco softens the bitterness of the Pimm’s better than the original recipe’s Brut Champagne. And it’s the perfect drink for summer picnics!

Serves 1

• 1 1/2 oz. Pimm’s No. 1
• 3 oz. Prosecco
• garnish with whatever you normally garnish your Pimm’s with - mint, cucumber, strawberries, orange slices…
• scale up ingredients as required to make a pitcher for picnics!

Lemon, gin and Prosecco

This drink is especially useful if you’re looking to make that Prosecco - and your gin - last a bit longer. The only danger is that you enjoy the first one so much that you have to make two or three more! Kinda defeats the purpose of saving your Prosecco:-)

• 1 oz. London Dry Gin
• 1 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• top up with Prosecco
• garnish with lemon peel
• serve in a flute glass