They don’t call it the silly season for nothing! The festive season is the perfect time to kick back and relax with friends, family and your favourite cocktail (or if you don’t imbibe) a tasty mocktail.
Some of these recipes are classics, others are non-alcoholic twists on the original.
1. Aperol Spritz Cocktail
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 100ml Aperol
- 150ml prosecco
- soda, to top up
Method
Put a couple of cubes of ice into two glasses and add a 50ml measure of Aperol to each. Divide the prosecco between the glasses and then top up with soda, if you like.
2. Pimm’s Cup Cocktail
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 100ml Pimm’s
- 50ml fresh lemon juice
- 20ml fresh ginger extract
- 20ml sugar syrup
Method
Shake ingredients over ice, strain into an ice-filled cup, top with a splash of soda water. Garnish with cucumber, citrus slices, fresh fruit in season and a mint sprig.
3. French Martini Cocktail
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 100ml vodka
- 60ml Chambord
- 180ml pineapple juice
Method
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and ingredients. Shake well, and when frothy, pour into two chilled martini glasses. Garnish with a zest of lemon or lime, a chunk of pineapple or a raspberry skewer.
When drinks are poured, add a small amount of vodka and a small amount of pineapple juice to the remaining ice in the shaker for the ‘crème’ on top of the martini – purely for presentation.
4. Watermelon Margarita Mocktail
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 1/2 medium seedless watermelon, cut into chunks
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons agave (or sugar syrup)
- dash of sparking water
Method
Using a blender, puree the watermelon chunks so that you have enough to fill two large glasses. Add lime juice and agave and pulse together again. Pour into the glasses and top with sparkling water.
5. Cucumber Gimlet Mocktail
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 100ml club soda
- 4-5 slices of muddled cucumber
- 60ml fresh lime juice
- 60ml agave or sugar syrup
Method
In a cocktail shaker, combine ingredients and shake with ice. Serve in a short glass over crushed ice and garnish with a cucumber slice.
Also read: Coffee Cup Brownie
