Gin & Tonic - My Measure

I'm going to need some serious fluid replacement - and what better way to replace one's lost juices than via the fruit of the lime tree - liberally paired with Gin & Tonic, and consumed in front of the cricket.

Here is how I do it:

1. Grab some limes, a couple of bottles of Gin, a zester, two pitchers (one must be quite capacious) and a juicer - then grab yourself a small whisky - you should be rewarded for your labour.

2. You will need roughly four limes per bottle of gin. And roughly one bottle of gin per adult male - you can probably skimp a little on the kids. It is unlikely that they would need more than a third of a bottle, unless they have particularly virile livers. Zest the appropriate number of limes into the bottom of the small pitcher.

3. The limes need to be a ripe and verdant green in order to access the pungent oils that are emitted from their skin. Try to minimise the amount of white pith that you remove as it is very acidic. Use a reasonable gin - but there is no need to go top shelf - Bombay or an equivalent is fine. Pour the requisite amount of gin into the pitcher.

4. As I mentioned - in this example we are making only enough for one male to get through during Sunday's 20-20 cricket game (4 hours or so). This requires roughly 700mls (24 fl oz) of gin. If you are a serious drinker, then perhaps another half a bottle is advisable. Once the gin is added to the lime zest, allow it to stand for a moment or two (perhaps have a tumbler of scotch - a man is not a camel), then macerate the lime zest vigorously.

5. The key with macerating the zest is to make sure that all the citrus flavour that one can smell from the surface of a lime is infused into the gin. Allow it to stand for approximately 3 hours - during this time, you may wish to treat yourself to a glass or three of your favourite tipple. It should look like this

6. When the three hours have expired, remove the zest. If you leave it too long, the acidic base of the rind will make your drink ridiculously bitter - as bitter as your ex! So check it as regularly as you would check your new born child. It - not the child - should end up a greenish hue. Smell it - it should transport you to the sultry climes of a citrus orchard.

7. When you are ready to commune with your drink you will need to juice a lime or two. Then strain the lime juice to get rid of the pulp. You only need a minute amount of lime juice as the flavour has been infused by the macerating process - but it makes me feel healthy. Certainly no more than 60ml (2 oz) of lime juice per bottle of gin.

8. Add the lime juice to a large pitcher filled with ice. Cut a few limes and toss them in too - this counts as your fruit consumption for the week and it should keep you scurvy free, should you intend on spending significant amounts of time at sea.

9. Pour the Gin into the ice-filled pitcher and add a bottle (1.25L) of tonic. Garnish a glass, then enjoy one of God's great gifts to humankind.

10. All that remains is grabbing a comfy chair and flicking on the cricket

NB. After you have finished the pitcher - you may wish to wait an hour or so before operating heavy machinery or driving.