I’m in the spirit of trying new cocktails and experimenting with the ingredients I have at home. In an attempt to be inspired I flicked through some of our drinks books and read a couple of blog posts and I was reminded of so many cocktails I love! I decided to compile some of my favourites (I do love a Negroni too, which you can find here.) for you to try too.
Oolong Mojito
This cocktail is adapted from a recipe from Good & Proper Tea by Emilie Holmes.
Cooled Oolong Tea
3 mint sprigs, leaves picked
10ml Sugar Syrup
Juice of 1/2 a lime
50ml white rum
Add the mint, sugar syrup and lime juice to a cocktail shaker and muddle together (you can use the end of a rolling pin). Add the rum and ice. Shake and taste, adjusting the lime or sugar to your taste. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice and top with your cooled Oolong Tea. Give a little stir to combine your ingredients and enjoy!
50/50 Martini
If you’re like me and find a traditional martini a bit much a 50/50 martini could be right up your street. Traditionally you would use dry vermouth, but I really love it with Lillet Blanc, so this is my take on the classic.
30ml Plymouth Gin
30ml Lillet blanc
Garnish: 1 orange twist
Add the ingredients into a chilled mixing jug filled with ice. Stir, tasting as you go until you’re happy with the temperature and flavour. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with an orange twist.
Pear Bellini
I love Bellinis. It’s such an easy drink to make, so if you’re new to cocktails, start with this recipe. The purée can be any fruit you like, so it’s simple to adapt.
25ml pear purée
100ml sparkling wine
To make a pear purée, blend a tin of pears in their juices. Yes, it really is that easy! Then add your purée to a champagne flute, top with sparkling wine and give a light stir to combine.
Let’s get Fizzical by Pippa Guy has some great bubbly cocktail recipes if you’re looking for more ways to use your sparkling wines.
Red Snapper
Just like a Bloody Mary, but with Gin instead of Vodka. The ultimate brunch cocktail that works best when made in large batches. The recipe is for one serving, times it by how many servings you’d like and keep in a big jug.
40ml Gin
120ml tomato juice
15ml lemon juice
3-7 drops of your favourite hot sauce (depends on how spicy you like it)
4 dashes of Vegan Worcestershire sauce
Combine all your ingredients in a jug. To serve, pour into a tall glass with ice and garnish with a celery stick.
Old Fashioned
Got a bottle of Whiskey that you don’t feel like drinking neat, but is too nice to put in a cocktail? Welcome the Old Fashioned.
1 teaspoon sugar
2 dashes bitters (Angostura or Orange work best)
50ml Whiskey
Add the sugar and bitters into a rocks glass. Give a stir to combine. Add an ice cube and a splash of the Whiskey. Stir until the ice cube has almost melted, being sure to get the sugar off the bottom of the glass. Repeat this step, letting the ice cube melt a little less each time. Finish with extra ice and an Orange twist.
You can also make an Old Fashioned with sugar syrup or honey if you want to avoid all that stirring, but I like the ceremony of it.
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