For our third version of the Queen Elizabeth Cocktail, I turn to the Absolut version, as featured on their website. It’s different from any other version I’ve found, and it works well.

Combine

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz triple sec
• 1 oz lemon juice

shake well, and strain into a cocktail glass. Here, I have used a small wine glass, and the effect is good.

It’s an interesting drink that is most similar to a margarita, with the substitution of gin for tequila. The substitution seems strange to the modern drinker because the flavors of tequila and gin are so different. Instead of the strong taste of tequila, we have a very mild gin flavor that isn’t strong enough to penetrate the orange and lemon flavors. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t work, though. It does. But it’s almost too simple and a bit too much like lemonade to appeal to those who like strong margaritas, like me.

If you want a variation on the margarita and want to offer something very simple, then this one is a good choice. The taste is sour with lots of citrus coming on top of everything else. In the back of the throat, it has a nice tingling effect that leaves just a tad of gin ending each long-lasting taste.