Happy Saint George's Day

Quiet Celebration

A Happy St George's Day to all out English readers near and far. Are you doing anything? I know we don't like fuss. We can leave the carnivals to more exuberant nations. To celebrate St George's Day, they had the Feast of Saint George in Trafalgar Square yesterday and English Heritage have a number of events today. My local pub has a special lunch menu and music event. I will probably head down to support it.

If you want to keep your own celebration quiet and simple, why not add a red rose as a buttonhole and join me in spirit with a spirit: our traditional rose martini. You might want to lift a glass for the centuries of countless achievements by your fellow countrymen. Up to you.

We've never shared a recipe for a rose martini. This recipe comes courtesy of Monin (1912), the family-owned French business that makes syrups and liqueurs for cocktails. The recipe is vodka-based and forgoes the typical vermouth.

• 10 ml Monin Rose Syrup
• 45 ml Citrus vodka
• 20 ml Orange liqueur
• 45 ml Cranberry juice
• 15 ml Lime juice

Shake and serve with ice.

The vodka and liqueur should give it enough of a punch, but you can adjust according to taste. If we have any bartenders reading this who think they have a better recipe for a rose martini, drop a line below.

As you (inevitably) recline in your armchair after a shaker-full of martinis before dozing off, you might think this was what Milton meant when he said: 'Let not England forget her precedence of teaching nations how to live.'