Peter Dowdall: How to grow your own summer cocktail botanicals and garnishes

You don’t even have to have a large garden — a few well-chosen pots on a sunny windowsill or patio can give you everything you need

There's a 'certain smugness' and joy that comes with growing your own sprig of mint or lemon for your summer drinks, according to Peter Dowdall. File picture

There's something so satisfying about stepping out into your own garden, reaching down to pick a sprig of mint or a handful of lemon verbena, and walking back into the kitchen to muddle it into a summer drink. There’s a unique smugness that comes with knowing that you’ve grown it yourself.

You don’t need a large garden or even a patch of ground to get started. A few well-chosen pots on a sunny windowsill or patio can give you everything you need for fresh, fragrant garnishes and botanicals that will do so much to enhance the biodiversity in your garden, and provide you with fresh herbs for your salads and even some fresh mint for the mojito.

Mint

For me, mint is the king of kitchen herbs. Since childhood, I can remember the smell of mint steaming in with the new potatoes, summer in a whiff. You can add it as a garnish to most anything, and of course, you can preserve it in the form of mint sauce to use throughout the year.

During the long, hot, balmy summer evenings which we are sure to be enjoying for weeks to come, we can enjoy it in everything from mojitos to mint juleps to sparkling lemonade.

Do not plant mint straight into your border; always grow mint in a pot. It’s a vigorous spreader, and if left unchecked, it will run through your garden like wildfire. File picture

But first, a word of warning: Do not plant it straight into your border; always grow mint in a pot. It’s a vigorous spreader, and if left unchecked, it will run through your garden like wildfire. 

There are several varieties worth trying beyond the classic spearmint, chocolate mint, apple mint, and pineapple mint, all offer slightly different flavours, and they’re all just as easy to grow. Just keep them well-watered in a pot, and you’ll have a near-endless supply all summer, depending, of course, on how partial you are to the mojitos.

Lemon verbena

For something a little different, try growing lemon verbena. This is one of my absolute favourites — not for its aesthetics I’m afraid, it always looks a bit unkempt, but for its intense citrus scent. 

The leaves can be steeped to make a really refreshing tea that also has calming properties and they also work brilliantly in cocktails, either muddled fresh or infused into syrups. Lemon verbena likes warmth and very well-drained soil, so if you’re in a cooler spot, keep it in a pot and move it to a sunny, sheltered place.

Basil

Now, we all know basil and its unique flavour for its role in the kitchen, especially with tomatoes or pesto, but it has a place behind the bar as well. A leaf or two of basil added to a gin fizz or a strawberry daiquiri brings an unexpected herbal twist that feels totally summery. 

Except in a particularly hot and fine summer, I would always grow basil indoors in Ireland. Thai basil, though, with its spicy aniseed flavour, will thrive outdoors here. It pairs beautifully with ginger and citrus. Grow it in a pot in full sun with regular watering, and it will reward you all summer long.

Lavender

The fragrant spikes of lavender are a pollinator magnet. Its floral, slightly medicinal flavour makes it ideal for infusions. Try making a lavender syrup or using the flowers as a garnish on the glass. A little goes a long way with lavender in drinks. I have also seen it as a dessert ingredient.

Borage

Borage is one of those traditional herbs that has thankfully come back into fashion. Its vivid blue, star-shaped flowers are edible, and they taste faintly of cucumber, perfect for floating in a G&T or freezing into ice cubes.

You could still sow it now from seed in a sunny corner, and you’ll have flowers by late summer, though ideally you would have started the seed a few weeks ago. It self-seeds generously, so once it’s in, it tends to come back year after year.

Rosemary

Rosemary is practically indestructible once established, and it’s more than just a roast potato or roast lamb herb. A sprig of rosemary makes a striking swizzle stick and adds a savoury note to drinks that pair well with grapefruit, gin, and even sparkling wine. And because it’s evergreen, you can harvest it year-round.

Nasturtiums

If you’re looking to grow something really eye-catching for your summer drinks, consider nasturtiums. Their peppery leaves and vibrant, edible flowers aren’t just beautiful, they’re full of flavour, though be careful, for the taste is strong.

Lemon balm

Another must-have is lemon balm. It’s part of the mint family, too, though far better behaved. It gives a lemony and refreshing zing to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. 

Lemon balm is part of the mint family. It’s also a great pollinator plant. File picture

It’s also a great pollinator plant and a natural stress-reliever, so it earns its place even if you never use it in the kitchen. It will set seed free, however, and you will find it popping up all over the garden, though these seedlings do pull out very easily.

Lemongrass

For those who like something a bit more exotic, lemongrass can be grown here in the summer months, particularly in a pot. It prefers heat and moisture, so treat it like a tender herb and bring it indoors for winter. The stalks can be bruised and added to syrups or crushed into tropical drinks for a burst of citrus.

Strawberries

Don’t forget our native or alpine strawberries. A hanging basket of trailing berries can add a sweet, seasonal touch to your deserts and drinks. Growing your own cocktail ingredients isn’t about being overly precious or perfection, it’s about the experience. 

It’s about the scent of herbs on your fingers, the satisfaction of picking something fresh, and the joy of sharing something you’ve grown with friends. Whether you’re mixing up a mojito or adding nasturtium leaves to a salad, it tastes better when it comes from your own garden.

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