Pickle-Garnished Cocktails to Make at Home

It's Negroni Week, which is normally somebody else's moment to shine… bitter, boozy, not exactly our department (or maybe it is). Except we couldn't resist gatecrashing, because it turns out the humble pickle has quietly been a cocktail world staple for decades. We're just here to remind you.

Here's how to get brine into your glass this week, whichever way you take your drink.

The Pickleback. The one that started it all: a shot of whisky, followed immediately by a shot of pickle brine. Sounds mad, tastes brilliant, the acidity cuts the burn and leaves you with a weirdly clean finish. Use the leftover liquid from a jar of Dill & Mustard pickles for the classic version.

The Dirty Martini, Sylt-ified. Swap your usual olive brine for a splash of Juniper & Sage liquid; the botanicals in the brine practically do the job of the gin's own aromatics for you. Garnish with a pickled onion instead of an olive if you're feeling bold.

The Spicy Pickle Margarita. A rim of chilli salt, your usual tequila and lime, and a spoonful of brine from Scotch Bonnet & Lemon pickles stirred through. Garnish with a pickled Scotch bonnet slice if you dare.

Non-alcoholic: all of the above work as mocktails too,  soda water, a good squeeze of citrus, and a spoonful of whichever brine you fancy. The vinegar brings the acidity a cocktail usually needs, so you're not just left with flat squash-and-lemonade energy.

You can have fun and be sustainable because you're not throwing anything away. That brine sitting in the bottom of a jar you thought was empty is doing more work than you gave it credit for. This Negroni Week, don't tip it down the sink, tip it into a glass instead.