Summer on the Clyde has a certain magic to it. Long evenings, good company, and the kind of light that makes everything look golden. These are the moments Shipyard Gin was made for.
Here are five of our favourite summer serves — three using Shipyard Gin Original, two with Hale Moku. A mix of shaken sours, tropical builds and long refreshing tonic serves. Simple to make, stunning to drink.
1. The Plater's Sour 🌿
Shipyard Gin Original
Named for the skilled tradesmen of the Clyde shipyards. A proper sour — citrus forward, with heather honey adding a distinctly Scottish sweetness.
- 40ml Shipyard Gin Original
- 20ml fresh lemon juice
- 15ml heather honey syrup (2:1 honey to water, pre-batched)
- 10ml elderflower cordial (St Germain or Belvoir)
- Garnish: lemon wheel and thyme sprig
- Glass: rocks / lowball
Method: Shake hard with ice, then strain into a rocks glass over cubed ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel and thyme sprig.
Batch tip: pre-mix the honey syrup the night before — it keeps for two weeks refrigerated.
2. Pacific Drift 🍍
Shipyard Gin Hale Moku — created for the Helensburgh Beer & Gin Festival
Born on the festival circuit, Pacific Drift is a full-on tropical experience. The dirty pour creates a beautiful natural foam — as good to look at as it is to drink.
- 40ml Shipyard Gin Hale Moku
- 100ml coconut water
- 15ml passionfruit syrup (Monin or Funkin)
- 15ml fresh lime juice
- Garnish: pineapple wedge on the rim
- Glass: highball or large rocks glass
Method: Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake hard to create a lovely foam, then dirty pour straight into a rocks glass — ice and all. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and serve.
3. The Perfect Shipyard G&T
Shipyard Gin Original
Sometimes the classic is the best. Our Original was built for this.
- 50ml Shipyard Gin Original
- 150ml premium tonic water (Fever-Tree Indian or Mediterranean)
- Garnish: slice of grapefruit and a twist of black pepper
- Glass: large copa or balloon glass
Method: Fill a large copa glass with ice. Pour over the gin, then add tonic slowly to preserve the fizz. Add garnish and enjoy.
4. The Falls 🍍
Shipyard Gin Hale Moku
Inspired by the Falls of Clyde — the hidden waterfall that gave Hale Moku its story. Ginger brings warmth, lime cuts through the tropical fruit, and soda keeps it light.
- 40ml Shipyard Gin Hale Moku
- 20ml fresh lime juice
- 15ml ginger syrup (2:1 sugar syrup with fresh ginger, or Monin)
- 60ml soda water
- Garnish: pineapple leaf and lime wheel
- Glass: highball
Method: Shake gin, lime and ginger syrup with ice. Strain into a highball over ice and top with soda water. Garnish with a pineapple leaf and lime wheel.
Batch tip: pre-squeeze lime juice into bottles before service — speeds things up significantly at events.
5. Estuary Mist 🌿
Shipyard Gin Original
A long, fragrant serve that lets the Original's hand-foraged botanicals breathe. Fast to build, elegant to look at — ideal when you need volume without compromising quality.
- 40ml Shipyard Gin Original
- 15ml elderflower cordial
- 100–120ml cucumber tonic (Fever-Tree or Cawston's)
- Garnish: long cucumber ribbon and an edible flower (pansies work beautifully)
- Glass: highball or balloon
Method: Pour gin and cordial over cubed ice. Top with cucumber tonic and stir once gently. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon and edible flower.
No shaking needed — a fast, elegant serve ideal for festival volume.
These recipes are starting points — the best cocktail is always the one you make your own. Adjust the measures, swap the garnishes, experiment with what's in season.
Tag us in your summer serves on Instagram. We'd love to see what you create.