The story and inspiration behind my cocktail is based on the caring quilt. Quilts that are handmade and passed down through generations for everyone to add their own story and part of themselves through a piece of cloth. Even when submitting my video I felt this rang true to not only the title of the competition but how I feel the culture of the industry should continue to take form. Although we all may be cut from a different cloth or tartan it is with these pieces that we can put together a quilt. Our shared stories of togetherness, caring and kindness but also struggle, sadness and pain hopefully building awareness of what is needed in terms of physical and mental health needs for the future and the generations to follow. I used cherries, peaches, apricots, ginger and honey to pull from the notes already in the whisky. They also carry medicinal and antioxidant properties that I felt were suited to a drink rooted in wellness and self care. Using mostly stone fruits is a symbol of not only our strength but also our fragility.

• 1.5 oz Deanston Virgin Oak
• 1 oz Peach juice
• 1 oz Apricot Honey*
• 3/4 oz Cherry Ginger Tea**
• 0.5 oz Lemon juice

Garnish: Lemon zest

Glass: rocks

Method: Combine ingredients into a shaker tin. Shake over ice. Double strain into a rocks glass. Add ice. Express lemon zest over glass. Garnish with a braided lemon peel.

*Apricot Honey

• 1 cup Honey
• 1 cup water
• 2 fresh apricots

Slice two fresh apricots, add to sauce pan with 1 cup honey and 1 cup water. Bring to a rapid boil. Let simmer to desired consistency (5-7 minutes). Stir and cool. Pour into a sealable container.

**Cherry Ginger Tea

• 1 1/2 cup pitted chopped cherries
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 1 cup water

Place ingredients into a pot, slowly bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 10-15 min. Let cool and strain out the solids pouring the tea into a sealable container.