The Vanessa cocktail (with or without alcohol)

De Vanessa is the refreshing drink everyone knows from the golf course: buttermilk and bitter lemon over ice. Add a shot of vodka or Licor 43 and you have an adult cocktail that tastes like a liquid split ice cream.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 cl Licor 43 (optional, as a substitute for a splash of vodka)
• 1 lemon slice for garnish (optional)
• 125 ml bitter lemon (cold)
• 125 ml buttermilk (cold)
• 3 cl vodka (optional, for the cocktail version)
• Handful of large ice cubes

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Make your ice cubes ahead of time using an ice cube tray. Large cubes melt more slowly and dilute your cocktail less, so they're ideal.Fill a highball glass generously with ice cubes.Want a cocktail? Pour a shot of vodka (about 3 cl) over the ice now. Want to really treat yourself? Use 3 cl Licor 43 for that vanilla note.Then pour in the bitter lemon, well chilled and straight from the fridge. Fill the glass halfway.Top up the rest of the glass with cold buttermilk. Make sure the ratio of buttermilk to bitter lemon is roughly fifty-fifty.Stir gently but thoroughly with a long bar spoon so everything mixes well without breaking all the carbonation.Garnish optionally with a slice of lemon and serve immediately. Cheers!