Best Winter Cocktails to Make at Home

Barentsz Mandarin Martini and Marny

• 55ml Barentz Mandarin Gin
• 15ml triple sec (Grand Marnier)
• 15ml dry vermouth
• Garnish: orange twist

A flavourful twist on the classic gin martini, this cocktail is a Christmassy infusion of mandarin peel and almonds, with a delicate note of jasmine. Pour the ingredients into a shaker half-full of cracked ice. Shake well before straining into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with the orange twist.

Recipe courtesy of Barentsz Gin barentszgin.com

Hot Chocotini

• 30ml Grey Goose l’Orange
• 100ml milk at 65-70º
• 15g 70% hot chocolate
• 20ml espresso
• 10ml Monin gingerbread syrup

The ideal drink for those with a penchant for decadence, this spiked hot chocolate is the perfect, warming nightcap to round off the festivities. Stir all the ingredients in a mug and garnish with a toasted marshmallow. Best served when curled up on a sheepskin next to a roaring fire.

Recipe courtesy of Grey Goose greygoose.com

The Little Yellow Door Mince Pie Whiskey Sour

• 20ml mince pie puree (made by blitzing a jar of mincemeat with 200ml orange juice and 100ml lemon juice)
• 25ml egg white
• 20ml lemon juice
• 15ml Canada Club
• 35ml Balvenie 12
• 10ml simple syrup

What could be more festive than a boozy version of the nation’s favourite Christmas treat? To make, add all ingredients to a shaker along with two cubes of ice and shake vigorously. Add more ice and re-shake. Double strain into metal coupette and garnish with a holly sprig, with a dash of both Angostura bitters and Maraschino cherry brine. Dust with icing sugar and serve with a mini mince pie, for effect.

Recipe courtesy ofThe Little Yellow Door thelittleyellowdoor.com

The Botanist Bramble

• 50ml Botanist gin
• 20ml lemon
• 15ml honey water

One of the more simpler cocktails to make, the Bramble is a classic that never steers out of fashion. Ideal for sprucing up sharp at a last-minute soirée, the Botanist’s concoction only comprises of three ingredients, including lemon and honey, ideal for staving off winter colds. Shake all together and strain, then adorn with bramble, rosemary and a drizzle of Aelder Elixir if you want to add a touch of pizazz.

Recipe courtesy of The Botanist thebotanist.com

Metaxa Hot Sun Mug

• 4cl Metaxa 12 Stars
• Hot apple juice
• Cinnamon stick
• Slice of apple to garnish

If your love for mulled wine has meant you’ve already drank your fair share before December, switch it up with this Metaxa take on the festive beverage. Fill a tin mug or copper mule with 4cl of Metaxa 12 Stars, then add hot apple juice (to taste). Finish with an aromatic cinnamon stick and a sweet slice of apple.

Recipe courtesy of METAXA metaxa.com

Royal Bellini

• 15ml peach puree
• 5ml jasmine syrup
• Real Kombucha: Royal Flush
• Lime and paprika salt rim to garnish

You can indulge in as many of these delightful Royal Bellini’s as you wish and ensure no mishaps are made underneath the mistletoe. Alcohol free, but still brimming with flavour and mixed with fizzy kombucha, (perfect for that post-Christmas health kick), this champagne-esque bellini should be elegently served in a coupe glass, fit for a queen.

Recipe courtesy of Real Kombucha  realkombucha.co.uk

Ketel One Bloody Mary – Beetroot Banger

• 50ml Ketel One vodka
• 10ml lemon juice
• 90ml juice – take a whole beetroot and two ripe tomatoes, and cut into quarters, then put them through a juicer
• One pinch of ground cinnamon, grate a pinch of nutmeg and a small pile of smashed cloves

Add all these ingredients to your glass, stir vigorously & fill with ice. Garnish with a pickled cucumber and beetroot.

Recipe courtesy of Ketel One Vodka ketelone.com 

Three Spirit’s Herbal Stimulant

• 50ml Social Elixir
• 25ml espresso strength coffee
• 7.5ml (a teaspoon and a half) of maple syrup
• 15ml dark rum

An espresso martini at Christmas is nothing new, but this Three Spirit’s ‘Herbal Stimulant’ is giving the coffee-themed concoction a new lease of life with its sophisticated infusion of social elixir, unrefined maple syrup and dark rum. Mix all ingredients with ice in a shaker and serve cold in a snazzy cocktail glass with raw cocoa beans to top. For an alcohol-free version, ditch the dark rum.

Recipe courtesy of Three Spirit threespiritdrinks.com

Rhubarb Cream

• 40ml Slingsby Rhubarb Gin
• 75ml Nutmeg and Clove spiced 50:50
• Cream & Milk Mix
• 1 Egg White
• 15ml Simple Syrup
• Cinnamon Dust

A deliciously pink winter cocktail infused with Slingsby’s Yorkshire-crafted pink gin, the Rhubarb Cream takes a little longer to make than most, but is most definitely worth the wait. Simply combine the spiced milk and cream and place in the fridge for 3 hours (use within 2 days), then combine all ingredients in a shaker and strain into a coupe glass. Sprinkle with cinnamon dust for all the festive feels!

Recipe courtesy of Spirit of Harrogate spiritofharrogate.co.uk

The Botanist Mulled Gin

• 150ml cloudy apple
• 10ml spiced syrup
• 50ml Botanist gin

Spiced syrup:

• 500ml sugar
• 500ml boiling water
• Half orange
• 10 cloves
• 4 cardamom
• 1cm ginger
• 1 cinnamon stick

Ginger, cardamom and cinnamon; it doesn’t much more Christmassy than this warming mulled gin from the Botanist. Heat all the ingredients in a pan, then add 40ml of Botanist’s Islay Dry gin. Decorate with a clove studded apple wedge if you’re feeling festively fancy.

Recipe courtesy of The Botanist thebotanist.com

Rose Snowball Winter Cocktail

• 75ml Advocaat
• Top with Rose Lemonade
• Garnish with cinnamon sprinkles

Creamy Advocaat and pink lemonade fuse together with a hint of cinnamon to form the most fantastic of festive beverages.

Recipe courtesy of Fentimans fentimans.com

Russian Standard Vodka – Christmas Blossom

• ¾ cup Russian Standard Vodka
• 2 cups fresh or frozen peach slices
• ¼ cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons peach schnapps
• Ice cubes
• Fresh mint springs, for garnish

Process first 4 ingredients in a blender until smooth. Add ice cubes to the mixture in a blender (to 5 cup level) and mix until smooth. Pour into a coupe glass and garnish with fresh mint.

The Sexton Whiskey: The Night Before Christmas

• 60ml The Sexton
• 10ml rhubarb syrup
• Few dashes of angostura bitters.

To create The Night Before Christmas – the first in the range of exclusive Noctails from The Sexton which utilise consumables that flourish under the cover of darkness – simply pour over ice, stir and garnish with fresh rhubarb (if desired). Those who intend to follow the path to darkness can expect the aroma of nuts, marzipan and dark chocolate with a pinch of spice.

The Sexton Single Malt

The METAXA Blue Blazer

• 5cl METAXA 12 Stars
• 2cl Cointreau
• 3cl Water
• 2cl Amaretto
• 1 Dash of black walnut bitter

A fiery concoction starring METAXA, flame roll the Greek spirit with amaretto and bitters, then add water and syrup before serving. Garnish with orange zest and a burned cinnamon stick on the side.

Recipe courtesy of METAXA metaxa.com

Cointreau Christmas Margarita

• 30 ml Cointreau
• 50 ml Blanco Tequila
• 20 ml  Fresh Lime Juice
• 6 drops Aromatic Bitters

For a seasonal take on the classic Margarita, try this delicious Christmas cocktail courtesy of Cointreau. Make a cinnamon-sugar rim on your glass, then combine the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass, then garnish with a rosemary sprig to finish.

Recipe courtesy of Cointreau cointreau.com

Zombie

Ingredients:

• 25ml BACARDÍ Carta Blanca rum
• 15ml BACARDÍ Spiced rum
• 10ml Triple Sec
• 20ml Orange Juice
• 10ml Lime Juice
• 10ml Simple Syrup
• 10ml Grenadine

Method:

Shake over ice, pour over crushed ice. Stir and garnished with a cherry & orange.

Recipe courtesy of BACARDÍ bacardi.com

Tanqueray No. TEN Dirty Martini

• 50ml Tanqueray NoTEN
• 10ml Dry Vermouth
• 15ml Olive Brine

Stir the Tanqueray NoTEN, Olive Brine and Dry Vermouth together, and pour it into a chilled martini glass.

Recipe courtesy of Tanqueray tanqueray.com

Lettice Events Christmas Spiced Sidecar

• 35ml of spiced Brandy
• 35ml of Cointreau or Grand Marnier
• 35ml of fresh lemon juice
• Ice
• Fresh spices, cranberries and dehydrated orange segments

Add cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, stem ginger & star Anise to a bottle of brandy and let them sit at least overnight – the longer the better! Stir all of the ingredient together over plenty of ice. Garnish with fresh spices, cranberries and dehydrated orange segments.

Recipe courtesy of Lettice Events letticeevents.com

Roasted Amaretto Negrotto

Ingredients:

• 50ml ADRIATICO Roasted Amaretto
• 50ml Gin
• 50ml Campari

Method:

Pour all ingredients into a rocks glass over ice and stir well. Garnish with a pair of cherries.

Recipe courtesy of ADRIATICO amarettoadriatico.com