We love Christmas but if we can be a little Grinch-like for a minute, we’re holding our hands up to admit that mulled wine and eggnog are not the highlight of the season for us.
Despite the yearly monotony of seeing these festive drinks on menus across the country, there is still some charm and comfort about the tradition of a seasonal tipple. It’s an excuse to meet up with friends and family, reflect on another year together and reaffirm our place in the world. Rather than ditching all of the traditions because they’ve become a tad over-done, better to refine and reinvigorate them for the modern age.
The esoteric world of cocktail-making is currently obsessed with bitters - every cocktail bar worth their salt will have a full arsenal of their own home-brewed flavour-makers to add something a little different to their list of concoctions. For this time of year though, a quick syrup can make all the difference to add that twist of newness to an old standard.
Here’s our quick guide to breathing new life into your festive cocktail repertoire, to help you celebrate Christmas 2017 with a twist.
Cranberry Mojito
Mojitos are a timeless drinks and arr not just for summers at the rooftop bar. Add a Christmas twist to this classic cocktail with fresh cranberries and pomegranate juice.
INGREDIENTS (makes two cocktails)
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons tap water
- 50g fresh cranberries
- 12-18 mint leaves
- 2 limes cut into six wedges each
- 3 shots of light rum
- 2 shots of pomegranate juice
- Sparkling water to taste
- ice, as needed
INSTRUCTIONS
- First, make your cranberry syrup. Add the tap water, sugar and fresh cranberries to a saucepan and simmer over low heat for 5 or 6 minutes minutes until the cranberries start to break open up and give off some of their lovely colour.
- Let this bubble away until the sauce thickens to a syrupy consistency. Allow to cool slightly (this will get very hot!) then sieve through a fine sieve to remove the cranberry pulp and allow to cool.
- Meanwhile, add mint and lime to each glass. With a cocktail muddler crush together to extract the flavour of the mint.
- Add in the rum, pomegranate juice and a tablespoon of the cooled cranberry syrup. Stir to mix the syrup into
- Top with sparkling water and ice serve immediately.
Citrus Manhattan
One of our favourite Christmas cocktails is the Manhattan, a year-round classic that’s easily adaptable to this time of year with the help of some carefully-placed citrus zest.
Ingredients
- 50 ml rye whiskey
- 12.5 ml Martini Rosso (red vermouth)
- 12.5 ml dry vermouth
- 2 dashes of orange bitters
- 1 orange
Method
- Add three large ice cubes to your cocktail shaker
- Add the whiskey, vermouths and bitters together and stir for a minute
- Strain into a chilled Martini glass.
- Add a strip of orange peel, to garnish.
Pomegranate Rosemary Spritz
The savoury herbal notes combined with the deep pink of the pomegranate is a really simple way to add sparkle to your Christmas dinner or after eight drinks.
Ingredients
- 200ml pomegranate juice
- Sprig of rosemary
- Prosecco
- To garnish - 4 rosemary sprigs (optional)
Method
- Put pomegranate juice in a small saucepan with a sprig of rosemary.
- Bring to the boil and reduce for a few minutes until syrupy.
- Leave to cool, remove the rosemary sprig and chill until ready to use.
- Fill four Champagne flutes with 1 part pomegranate syrup and top up with 3 parts Prosecco.
- Garnish each glass with a rosemary sprig, if you like.
Let us know if you try any of our Christmas twists? Tag us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!
