THE LAST few weeks have been very hot, and the weather change has left my appetite suppressed and with a desperate need to quench my thirst using refreshing liquids.

The drink I have really enjoyed consuming whilst relaxing in the sun has been a good old fashioned gin and tonic.

I have always enjoyed gin, especially in the summer months poured over ice and served with a wedge of lime and topped with tonic water. It's so refreshing, light and tastes great.

I like all varieties, brands and flavours, but mostly my favourite is Hendricks, served poured over cucumber of course!

After sipping many gin and tonics this summer already, I have developed a taste for it. So much so that I decided to devise a recipe for a gin and tonic cake!

Cake made with gin and tonic I felt, sounded amazing! The flavours would fuse well, but it also meant combining a few of my favourite things together and making something wonderful.

The cake itself is light and fluffy, but very much like a lemon/lime drizzle: it encompasses an oozing syrup inside, only on this occasion that ooze is rather gin heavy!

It's a very moist cake, that will become a favourite with any gin lover, I can assure you!

I decided to include lime in the cake because gin and tonic is traditionally garnished with a slice or wedge of lime, often slightly squeezed into the drink before being placed in the glass. Personally I love the lime twist with my gin, so a twist in the cake it was to be too!

History wise the quintessentially British drink of gin and tonic actually started its life in the 16th century as a medicine for kidney problems thanks to Dr. Franciscus Sylvus!

Despite its beginnings though, the drink’s past wasn’t always so worthy. Gin became notorious as the drink of the poor bringing madness and starvation to the streets of England in the 18th century.

However times changed quickly and the distribution of gin passed to large distillers and retailers which improved not only the quality of the drink but also raised its profile and gradually gin became known as a 'gentleman’s drink'.

Now enjoyed by millions all over the world, gin is a popular spirit, made in many different variations and flavours.

The successful combination of gin to tonic is thanks to the British colonisation in the Indian subcontinent in the 1700s.

Due to Malaria being problematic, adding quinine to tonic water for prevention and treating of the disease may have helped, but the taste was vile so the addition of gin helped mask the flavour, enabling it to be consumed much easily!

Since it is no longer used as an antimalarial, tonic water today contains much less quinine, is usually sweetened, and is consequently much less bitter thankfully.

This gin and tonic cake is fresh, fragrant and beautifully moist. Why not give it a go? Decorate with slices of lime to capture some gorgeous colour and serve in squares, accompanied with an iced gin and tonic of course!

Keighley's Clandestine Cake Club is going to be one year old this August. So to celebrate we shall we holding a 'Birthday Cake Party' on Sunday August 17 at 3pm in Keighley.

All welcome, just bring a homemade birthday cake with you after booking a place in advance by emailing m_crowther@ymail.com.