Waitrose brings you some choice Christmas cocktail recipes for the festive season.
At this time of year many of us stick to old favourites when it comes to festive beverages, from Whisky Macs and Buck’s Fizz to eggnog and mulled cider—but are we stuck in a rut?
Christmas can be the perfect opportunity to inject some extravagance and imagination into your cocktail routine, using premium spirits and ingredients to ring in the festive season with style. Happily, Waitrose’s mixologists have obligingly whipped up some new recipes that are sure to cater for every palate. From spins on old classics to new inventions, read on for a fresh take on the Christmas tipple.
Cranberry Gin Fizz
Serves 10-12
Ingredients
250ml Martin Miller’s Gin
2 sprigs fresh thyme
500ml cranberry juice
2 tbsp fresh orange juice
1l tonic water
Fresh cranberry to garnish
Method
Pour the gin into a bowl. Add the thyme and muddle to bruise the leaves and release their flavour. Remove the thyme leaves with a slotted spoon and discard. Add the cranberry and orange juices to the gin, then stir in the tonic water. Pour into a punch bowl or jug filled with ice. Garnish with lots of fresh cranberries.
Winter Spritz
Serves 1
Ingredients
50ml Aperol
75ml Champagne or Prosecco
Ginger beer, to taste
Orange slices and basil leaves, to garnish
Method
Pour the Aperol and fizz into a glass full of ice. Top up with ginger beer. Garnish with slices of orange and basil leaves.
Manchester Bee Fizz
Serves 1
Ingredients
40ml Thomas Dakin Gin
2 level tsp clear honey
20ml lemon juice
Champagne
Orange wheel, to garnish
Method
Fill a coupette glass with ice to chill. In a cocktail shaker, stir the gin and honey until dissolved. Add ice and lemon juice. Shake for 10 seconds. Empty the glass and strain the drink, leaving the ice behind. Top with Champagne. Garnish with orange.
(Recipes and image courtesy of the Waitrose Christmas Drinks Guide 2016. For more inspiration, you can find the guide in all Waitrose shops now.)
These Christmas cocktail recipes are a great accompaniment to any festive party. Click here for more gourmet recipes on The Master Chefs.