1. Spice 75
A spiced and aromatic twist to the sophisticated French 75.
- 60g golden caster sugar
- 1 tbsp allspice
- 200ml rum
- 90ml lime juice
- 600ml champagne
- orange twist
METHOD
Step 1: Gently warm 60g golden caster sugar in a pan with 30ml water and 1 tbsp allspice. Cook gently until the sugar has dissolved, then leave the mixture to cool. Strain through a sieve lined with a coffee filter (or a double layer of kitchen paper).
Step 2: Pour 60ml of the spiced syrup into a cocktail shaker along with 200ml rum and 90ml lime juice. Shake with ice and strain between six flute glasses. Top up with 600ml champagne and garnish each with an orange twist.
2. Sherry Sour
No Christmas day is complete without Sherry. Serve in an original and exciting way, this is sure to impress even the most scrutinising of in-laws.
- 100g caster sugar
- 120ml oloroso sherry
- 60ml lemon juice
- 1 egg white
METHOD
Step 1: Combine the sugar with 100ml water and gently bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Cool. This will make more sugar syrup than you need but will keep for a month in the fridge.
Step 2: Put 40ml of the sugar syrup, the sherry, lemon juice and egg white in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
3. Winter spiced pear cocktail
This warming and silky cocktail is a celebration of winter flavours and will leave you destined for the nice list.
- 50ml gin
- 25ml lemon
- 25ml pear syrup
- 1 egg white
For the Spiced pear syrup
- 4 pears, cored and cubed
- 1 star anise, plus more to serve
- 1 stick cinnamon, broken in half
- 250g caster sugar
METHOD
Step 1: To make the spiced pear syrup, put the ingredients in a pan with 250ml water and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the flavours have infused. Leave to cool.
Step 2: To make the cocktail, put all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker without ice and shake vigorously. Open the shaker, fill with ice and shake again, then strain into a chilled coupe. Place a star anise on the foam to serve.
4. Cranberry Royale
A festive Apéritif to serve as a guise of sophistication over the underlying chaos of your Christmas or New Years celebrations.
- 250g sugar
- 240ml water
- 250g halved fresh cranberries
- 1 ½ tsp Vanilla extract
- 4 bottles Champagne, prosecco, cava, or any dry sparkling wine.
METHOD
Step 1: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and water, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, then add cranberries and vanilla extract; refrigerate at least 12 hours.
Step 2: To mix cocktail, add 1 tablespoon of the cranberry simple syrup to champagne flute, as well as an additional 4 cranberries from the syrup, then top with sparkling wine.
5. Orange Espresso Martini
A zesty version of the classic coffee cocktail to get you through afternoon charades.
NGREDIENTS | Serves 1
- 40 ml orange vodka or gin
- 40 ml freshly made espresso
- 20 ml Kahlúa
- Garnish: Orange twist
(add 15 ml crème de cacao for a thicker and chocolatey version).
METHOD
Step 1: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously to combine.
Step 2: Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with orange twist.
Exquisite Cocktails wishes you a very Merry Christmas!
