Tag: gin cocktails

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Celebrating Summer with Welsh Witch Craft Spirits

Summer is officially here: grab the beach brollies, some strawberries and cream and pop the Wimbledon on! The UK is revelling in the freedom of summer holidays, al-fresco dining and enjoying all the festivities the hot weather brings. So, let’s give you some ways you can celebrate summer with our inspiration from Welsh Witch Craft Spirits, from garden parties, to seasonal recipes and ways to connect with your loved ones.

Get outside into nature

Use this delightful weather to inspire your senses and inner explorer. Grab a pal or take a solo adventure. Visit a place of natural beauty nearby, whether that’s the beach, some gardens, the mountains, it doesn’t matter! Get outside and enjoy some of the fresh air while the weather is good: studies show that getting outside, even just for a 10 minute walk outdoors, boosts your mental health and mood significantly! Find time to take a dip outdoors, in a river, the sea or even a lake if you have one nearby; this time of year the water is so refreshing and ideal for a soothing dip on a hot day.

Host a garden party or barbeque

Summer is often a time of weddings, parties and celebrations. Grab your nearest and dearest and host a summer gathering to remember. If you don’t have a garden, hit up your nearest park, beach or community garden and host a picnic, a ‘bring a plate’ party or a barbeque (if the community space allows!). Finding time to connect and relax with loved ones is a perfect way to soak up the sunshine this summer and enjoy those memorable moments. Don’t forget to top up your tipple stash with our 3 for £95 spirit deal, and you can check out our blog for lots of summer cocktail recipes to enchant your guests and spread some sparkle.

Try out some new recipes

Summer is such a beautiful time for seasonal fruits and veggies, making it a great time to try out some new recipes, prepare some preserves for the winter months or to just have fun with loved ones. Strawberries are an excellent example of a fresh seasonal fruit on offer at the moment; nothing beats UK strawberries in the summer! Try out a strawberry shortcake recipe, a strawberry and feta salad, or check out our recipe for a Strawberry & Elderflower Smash gin cocktail.

Summer Cocktails

Embrace the beautiful summer energy

The summer is always such a beautiful to go out there and do. Use this time to be inspired by the abundance of nature and tap into your inner magic; this is the time to try out new things, explore a new hobby and do that thing you’ve been putting off! Now is the time to strike, with summer in full flow we are encouraged with the solar energy to find time to play, release our inner child and find wonder in this magical summer season. Try some yoga outside, host a game of rounders with friends or spend a day making recipes you’ve been meaning to. It’s so important to nurture that inner child, so what will you do this summer for fun and play?

The exciting summer times always bring a sense of wonder and joy, the warmer weather is an invitation to step outside and revel in the sunshine and just do. So, embrace that solar energy and dive into something new, host a party or take a long trip out into nature.

Here at Welsh Witch HQ, we are wishing you a magical summer, filled with sunshine, good times with good people, and of course a delicious tipple here and there!

Love and light,

Welsh Witch HQ x

 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Litha Ritual (with cocktails) by Lizzie Burgess

Litha Ritual (with cocktails)

Litha Gin cocktailWitchcraft rituals are always unique and personal to everyone’s individual practice – but I hope you find some fun with this little structure below! If you work with deities, don’t forget to thank them, or if you use elemental energy then you could honour it during your ritual. You can do this ritual on your own, or involve a friend if you’re comfortable, but what’s important really is that it’s fun and meets your magickal intentions.

 

Cleansing the Space:

Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can perform your ritual. Begin by cleansing the area to remove any stagnant or negative energies. Light a bundle of dried herbs, such as sage or rosemary, and let the smoke fill the space. Visualize the smoke purifying the area and clearing away any unwanted energy. As the smoke dances, repeat the following affirmation:
“With the cleansing smoke, I release all that no longer serves. I create a sacred space for joy, celebration, and the turning of the wheel. As this smoke purifies, I invite in the vibrant energy of summer and the blessings it shall reveal.”

Setting Intentions:

Take a moment to ground yourself and connect with the energy of the summer season. Visualize the warm rays of the sun enveloping you and filling your being with vitality. Hold a clear quartz crystal in your hands and infuse it with your intentions for the ritual. State your intention aloud or silently:
“On this joyful occasion, I set my intention to celebrate the summer and honour the turning of the wheel. May this ritual create a space filled with love, laughter, and the essence of the sun. I open myself to the abundance and blessings that this season brings.”

Creating the Sacred Space:

Arrange your ritual tools and ingredients on a beautifully adorned table or altar. Place a vibrant yellow or orange cloth as the foundation, symbolizing the energy of the sun and the warmth of summer. Arrange fresh flowers, citrus fruits, and herbs like rosemary, elderflower heads or mint as offerings to the spirits of the season.

Gin Cocktail Preparation:
Select your favourite Welsh Witch Litha Edition gin and gather the ingredients for your cocktail. As you mix and prepare the drink, infuse each ingredient with your intention for celebration and joy. Whisper or speak the following affirmation:
“In this glass, I blend the spirits of summer. May this cocktail be a potion of delight, carrying the essence of the sun’s embrace. With every sip, I am nourished, uplifted, and connected to the abundant energy of this season.”
Celebration and Gratitude:
Once your cocktail is prepared, raise your glass in a toast to the summer and the turning of the wheel. Express gratitude for the blessings of the season and the opportunities it brings. Sip the cocktail slowly, savouring each moment and allowing its flavours to awaken your senses.
As you enjoy the cocktail, take a moment to reflect on the intentions you’ve set and the energy you’ve invoked. Feel the warmth of the summer sun within you, filling your heart with joy and inspiration. Offer words of gratitude to the universe, the spirits, and the elements for their presence and support.
Closing the Ritual:
When you’re ready, offer a final expression of gratitude and release the energy of the ritual. Blow out any candles, extinguish any incense, and thank the spirits and energies that have joined you. Close the ritual by saying:
“As I conclude this ritual, I thank the spirits/elements/universal energies that have joined me in celebration. I carry the essence of summer within me, and I embrace the abundance and blessings that this season offers. And so it is!”

Allow the sacred space to remain in place for as long as you desire, or dismantle it with gratitude, knowing that its energy lingers within you.

“Sipping the Sun” cocktail recipe

This is a very special “Sipping the Sun” cocktail for Litha, involving all the flavours you can expect with that little bit of magickal-spice added to it!

Ingredients:

  • 50ml Litha Edition gin
  • 3-4 ripe strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 330ml water
  • 2 black tea bags
  • 1 fresh lemon, sliced
  • 1 small quartz crystal (cleansed and charged)
  • Elderberries or Strawberries sliced, for garnish
  • Ice cubes

Instructions:

Honey-Soaked Strawberries:

In a small bowl, combine the sliced strawberries with honey. Gently stir until the strawberries are coated in the honey. Set aside to let them soak and release their sweet flavours overnight in the fridge before the solstice.

Sun Tea Infusion:

  • Fill a glass pitcher with water and add the black tea bags, lemon slices, and a cleansed quartz crystal. Place the pitcher in a sunny spot outdoors, allowing the sun’s energy to infuse the tea. Absolutely get it covered with cling film or a plate to ensure no insects get in.
  • Let the tea steep for 2-3 hours, depending on your desired strength. Once infused, remove the tea bags and lemon slices. Set the pitcher aside.

Cocktail Prep:

  • In a cocktail shaker, muddle (mush up) the honey-soaked strawberries to release their juices and flavours.
  • Add ice cubes and our Litha gin to the shaker. Shake well to combine and chill the ingredients.

How We Witches Serve:

  • Fill a glass with fresh ice cubes.
  • Strain the cocktail mixture from the shaker into the glass.
  • Top off the glass with the sun tea infusion, pouring slowly to control the desired strength.
  • Garnish with a few elderberries, allowing them to float on top of the cocktail.

Final Touch:

  • Take a moment to appreciate the summery appearance of the cocktail, reflecting the energy of the sun and the magick boost of the quartz crystal.
  • Stir gently with a cocktail stirrer or spoon to combine all the flavours.

 

Savouring the sweet floral notes of elderflower gin, the vibrant flavours of honey-soaked strawberries, the refreshing taste of sun tea, and the subtle earthiness of elderberries. As you sip this enchanting summer cocktail, feel the warmth of the sun’s energy, the healing power of the crystal-infused tea, and the joy of the season. Cheers to a magical summer!

The power of any witchcraft practice lies within your intentions and personal connection to the elements you choose to incorporate. Trust your intuition, adapt these suggestions to suit your preferences, and let your witchcraft practice be a reflection of your unique magick and empowerment.

And so it is!

Until next time xox

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Using the Litha Edition Gin by Lizzie Burgess

Gin has always been a staple for many witches in their practice. With its magickal correspondences of cleansing and healing properties, it can be used not just for drinking. Elderflower is a stunning witchy herb staple that can be used to make delicious summery kitchen spells. So why not use some Litha Edition Welsh Witch Gin to add a little extra magick to your Solstice celebrations? Use it for ritual offerings, adding it to your cauldron or crystal balls, or simply enjoy sipping on a gin & tonic at sunset as you watch the sunset over the horizon!

Love Elixir: Create a love elixir by infusing gin with rose petals, lavender, and a touch of honey. Use it to inspire self-love and attract loving energies into your life.

Healing Bath: Add a few drops of gin to your bathwater along with healing herbs like chamomile and eucalyptus. Allow the soothing properties of gin to amplify the rejuvenating effects of your bath.

Cleansing Ritual: In a small spray bottle, mix gin with purified water and a few drops of essential oil such as lavender or sage. Use this spray to cleanse and purify your sacred space or ritual tools.

Celebration Potion: Craft a celebratory potion by combining gin with fresh citrus juices and a sprinkle of edible glitter. Use it to toast special occasions and infuse them with joyful energy.

Love Spell Sachet: Fill a small fabric pouch with dried herbs associated with love, such as rose petals, jasmine, and cinnamon. Add a few drops of gin to enhance the potency of the herbs, and carry or place this sachet near your heart to attract love.

Healing Tea Infusion: Add a splash of gin to your herbal tea blend during a healing ritual. It can enhance the energetic properties of the herbs and help facilitate physical and emotional healing.

Cleansing Smoke Blend: Infuse gin with cleansing herbs like white sage, rosemary, and frankincense. Use it to anoint or refresh your herbal smoke sticks, creating a potent blend for purifying your space.

Celebration Candle Dressing: Mix gin with a few drops of essential oil and use it to anoint celebratory candles before lighting them. This imbues the candles with positive energy and amplifies the intention behind your celebrations.

Love Altar Offering: Place a small dish of gin on your love altar as an offering to love deities or spirits. This gesture symbolizes your openness to love and invites their blessings into your life.

Healing Crystal Elixir: Create a crystal elixir by submerging healing stones like rose quartz, amethyst, or clear quartz in a jar of gin overnight. Sip this elixir to imbibe the energetic properties of the crystals and promote overall well-being.

Cleansing Foot Soak: Add a splash of gin to warm water and soak your feet to cleanse and purify your energy. Visualize any negativity being drawn out of your body and into the water, allowing the gin to dissolve it.

Celebration Anointing Oil: Blend gin with a carrier oil and a few drops of uplifting essential oils like orange or ylang-ylang. Use this anointing oil to bless yourself and loved ones during celebrations, infusing them with joyous vibrations.

Love Divination Bath: Create a love divination bath by infusing gin with rosemary, damiana, and a pinch of sea salt. Bathe in this mixture while focusing on your desire for love, allowing the energy to guide your intuition.

Ancestor Offering: Pour a small amount of gin into a dish as an offering to your ancestors during healing rituals. Express gratitude for their guidance and ask for their continued support in your journey towards well-being.

Cleansing Floor Wash: Mix gin with a splash of vinegar, lemon juice, and water to create a cleansing floor wash. Use it to mop your floors, visualizing any stagnant or negative energies being swept away. Charge the wash with a crystal beforehand, but don’t forget to take it out!

Celebration Cleanse Spray: Infuse gin with celebratory herbs like basil, cinnamon, and cloves. Transfer the mixture to a spray bottle and use it to energetically cleanse and bless your space during festivities.

Love Charmed Jewelry: Anoint your love-focused jewelry pieces with a drop of gin to infuse them with loving vibrations. Visualize the jewelry as a talisman for attracting and nurturing love in your life.

Healing Moon Water: Charge a jar of water under the full moon and add a splash of gin to enhance its healing properties. Use this moon water for various purposes like cleansing, healing rituals, or simply to imbibe lunar energy.

Cleansing Bath Bomb: Combine gin with baking soda, citric acid, and your choice of cleansing herbs or essential oils to create a fizzy bath bomb. Drop it in your bathwater to cleanse and rejuvenate your body and spirit.

Celebration Spell Jar: Create a spell jar filled with dried flowers, glitter, and a splash of gin. Seal the jar and use it as a visual representation of celebration and joy in your sacred space.

 

Read about Lizzie here

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Welsh Witch Cocktails to Celebrate World Gin Day

We don’t all need a reason to celebrate, but if you did – it’s World Gin Day! What better way to spend the weekend than to enjoy a refreshing tipple? If you’re looking for some inspiration, join us in our celebration of the magic and diversity of gin as we reminisce on some of our favourite gin cocktails.

 

  1. When the Viking Met the Witch

 

Feast your tastebuds on a delightfully decadent floral and aromatic cocktail this World Gin Day, perfect for those summer evenings with cherished souls. This is a summer version of our favourite winter warming cocktail ‘When the Viking Met the Witch.’ We’ve switched out the hot rooibos tea for cold by letting it cool and make sure to add an abundance of ice before serving. This floral cocktail is perfect for any garden party and feels like a sophisticated twist on fruity iced tea. For this recipe, you’ll need to mix together:

 

1.5oz Welsh Witch Beltane Gin

0.5oz fresh lime juice

0.5oz homemade honey syrup (or just normal honey!)

4oz freshly brewed rooibos tea which has been left to cool

 

You can see this delicious tipple demonstrated by Oli at Oli’s Drinks on Instagram here.

Check out Oli’s Instagram reel on how to make ‘When the Viking Met the Witch’

 

  1. Welsh Witch Strawberry & Elderflower Smash

 

With Wimbledon right around the corner and British strawberry season in full swing, why not try out our delightful Welsh Witch Strawberry & Elderflower Smash? Our Litha gin is packed full of Welsh-inspired floral ingredients, with elderflower the star of the show. Perfect to sip while enjoying a spot of tennis in the sunshine!

 

Muddle a handful of fresh strawberries in the bottom of a cocktail glass.

 

Pour in:

1.5oz Welsh Witch Litha Gin

0.5oz fresh lime juice

0.5oz Simple syrup

…And mix.

 

Fill the glass with ice, then top with:

4oz Soda water

Sprig of basil to garnish

 

Stir well and enjoy! We think this winning combination will be our drink of choice this summer.

 

  1. Simple and Refreshing Cucumber Gin Cocktail

 

A perfect pair for our Original Dry Gin is refreshing and cooling cucumber and zesty lime juice, delightful and delicate for those that prefer a less sweet cocktail.

Mix together the following ingredients for the perfect tipple to remedy a hot summer’s day:

 

Muddle a handful of mint and cucumber pieces in a cocktail shaker.

 

Add 1.5oz Welsh Witch Original Dry Gin and shake, shake shake!

 

Serve with your tonic of choice and garnish with a slice of lime and cucumber.

Enjoy a delightfully refreshing cucumber gin cocktail this World Gin Day!

Which One is Your Favourite?

 

We think they all sound delicious! Let us know if you make any of these and tag us in your creations on Instagram @welshwitch_craftspirits; similarly, if you come up with a new recipe we’d love to see it!

 

Here’s to a magical World Gin Day and hope you get a chance to try some of our magical potions brewed in North Wales.

 

Love and light,

Welsh Witch HQ x