A giant ice cube has today been unveiled on London Embankment by Greenall’s Gin, offering free ice-cold gin and tonics to thousands of Londoners to help them beat the summer heat.

Designed to answer the age-old problem of warm drinks this summer, the original handcrafted British gin brand will be giving away thousands of ready-to-drink gin and tonics* from the Greenall’s Ice Cube – perfectly chilled to the optimum G&T serving temperature of 5C.

The head-turning installation boasts an Instagrammable reflective design to mirror the scenic backdrop of the city, as well as providing a cool oasis for the capital’s drinkers.

Open between 12:00pm – 4:00pm for today (Thursday 22nd July) only at Queen’s Stone, Londoners will need to get there quick to claim their free gin and tonic in the sun. To redeem a complimentary tipple, drinkers just need to capture a shot of themselves in the reflection of the ice cube and share to their Instagram Stories using the hashtag #GreenallsIceCube and tagging @greenallsgin.

The ice cube installation is part of the brand’s mission to help Brits enjoy the coolest drinks and get into the spirit of summer, alongside a series of top tips and simple hacks for making ice-cold tipples at home.

From reducing the standard fridge temperature to perfectly clean glassware and [insert home hacks tips], these tips from Greenall’s Master Distiller, Joanne Moore, will help Brits serve up the best G&Ts for a summer of socialising.

· Fridge temperature: While a standard fridge at home is set to 7 degrees Celsius, it is actually proven best to reduce to 5 degrees Celsius to account for opening and closing of the door. Essentially by chilling the drink at this temperature, you are helping to reduce the alcohol perception on the tastebuds, therefore allowing the flavours of the gin to shine through – making for a more enjoyable and refreshing drinking experience

· Timing: Based on a single measure of Greenall’s Gin (25ml) vs. 7.5 parts tonic and chilled at 5 degrees Celsius, a G&T will stay perfectly carbonated for approximately 25 minutes – therefore when having a drink at home, consider this the optimum time for enjoying the perfect refreshing G&T after you’ve made it

· Type of glass: Balloon glasses may be all the rage, but a traditional hi-ball is actually just as good for maximising coldness. Chill the glass itself in the freezer, and once removed, the length of the glass will help keep the drink cooler for longer, reducing the amount of air into the drink

· Amount of ice: While ice is the obvious go-to for keeping drinks cold, too much of the wrong-sized or even cracked ice can actually dilute the drink as it melts quicker and so therefore limits the flavour profile of the gin. Three quarters of a glass full is the optimum amount – and if the gin and tonic themselves are already chilled to the best temperature, the ice should take longer to melt

· Freezing garnish: While the gin and tonic are obviously the most important parts of the serve, garnish also plays a vital role in maximising coldness and flavour too. For our Greenall’s Gin, we recommend using lemon and lime, so slice these up and place in Tupperware (to limit freeze burn) and place in your freezer up to 24hrs in advance of enjoying your drink

· Chilling the bottle: Although most people store their gin in a cupboard, a handy tip is to store the bottle in the fridge. This will help to keep it refreshingly cool

· Pouring expertise: If enjoying a tipple from a can at home, consider pouring into glassware slowly so not to lose any of that important fizz – just as you would when pouring a beer

Boasting a blend of eight botanicals from around the world, the cans served at the Greenall’s Ice Cube are made using the brand’s London Dry Gin which is available to buy in selected stores nationwide**, alongside its range of flavours such as Pink Wild Berry, Blueberry and Blood Orange and Fig, as well as the latest addition to the range, Black Cherry.

*Greenall’s Ice Cube will open on Thursday 22nd July at Queen’s Stone London between 12:00pm – 4:00pm. Drinks will be limited to one can per person, aged 18+ with ID only and will be subject to availability. Please drink responsibly. #GreenallsIceCube