Three simple gin and rosé cider cocktails that are perfect for brunch! (And the brunch dishes to pair them with!)

Move over prosecco, champagne and cava, gin has a new brunch partner: Magners Rosé Cider! That’s right, this pink cider, which we sent to lucky Craft Gin Club members in their February 2022 Gin of the Month box, is fast becoming our new favourite thing to enjoy with gin, especially in cocktails over brunch.

Just give these three fabulous pink cocktails a go and you will know exactly what we mean. Each one combines Magners Rosé Cider with gin and is oh-so-quick and easy to make at home. We’ve even paired them with some of our favourite brunch dishes for you to try - you will not be disappointed.

Give them a go this weekend!

A sumptuous and vibrant mix of Magners Rosé Cider, gin and lime juice, with a touch of simple syrup to round everything out nicely, this cocktail is scrumptious. 

The crisp and subtly sweet blush apple taste of Magners Rosé works so well with the zest of the lime and the rich complexity of a citrus-forward gin like Ludlow Triple Citrus and Pomegranate Gin No. 2. The result is a cocktail that’s bright, citrusy, fruity and effervescent in all the right places. 

It’s the perfect thing to cut through and complement the buttery Hollandaise sauce and salty ham of an Eggs Benedict. 

This unique cocktail recipe is simple to make yet has a delectably complex flavour profile. It mixes gin (we recommend a classic London Dry like Pennington’s Lakeland Moon Snowfell Gin) with herbaceous rosé vermouth and Magners Rosé cider. 

The cocktail is rich and decadent, yet the fantastic bubbles from the cider add an elegant, uplifting touch that works so well with the doughy, sweet, often-fruit and syrup-laden French toast. Yum! 

The bitter-sweet citrus notes of grapefruit juice in this simple yet effective cocktail recipe really pair perfectly with the slightly contrasting and uniquely sweet elements of Magners Rosé against the backdrop of a bold and rich gin. As the grapefruit and cider flavours are strong here, we recommend using a Navy Strength gin like Rock Rose Gin Navy Strength.

Grapefruit, apple and juniper, the key flavour features of our Grapefruit G&C are all fantastic partners to the mouthwateringly woody and salty umami tones of smoked salmon and the freshness of the cream cheese it sits on. We can not get enough!

So, what is it exactly that makes Magners Rosé so special?

It all starts with the ingredients. This light blush-coloured cider is made from a blend of only the finest Irish apples which, in turn, create a subtly sweet, juicy and moreish flavour, with an appealing apple aftertaste. 

Behind the exquisite layers of flavour lie well over 100 years of expertise. Ever since 1935, when William Magner first started crafting authentic Irish cider at an orchard in Clonmel, patience has played a key role in the journey from blossom to bar. 

We spoke to Holly MacDonald of Magners and she had this to say:

It was their desire to adapt to an ever-changing world that inspired the folks at Magners to create Magners Rosé, a marvellously modern take on classic flavours – and a prime example of how the brand moves with the times. 

Developed to appeal to gin and wine lovers as well as fans of classic ciders, it’s fabulous in cocktails, as well as on its own, served chilled over ice.