Brew-tiful Blends: Elevating Cocktails with the Power of Tea

Cuppas and cocktails, is there anything we like more? Well, how about them together? We’ve been exploring tea-infused cocktails and boy can they elevate a creation to that next level. From floral refreshment to soothing spice, these are some of our favourite tea cocktails, hot and cold, that you should definitely experiment with if you haven’t already! Let’s get the kettle on...

Jasmine Fizz

The Jasmine Fizz just gets more and more delicious with each ingredient. Delightfully refreshing, it combines the floral notes of jasmine tea with the effervescence of sparkling wine. Elderflower continues this natural and aromatic profile, with fresh lemon to cut through and add some zip. One of those cocktails that you feel invigorated drinking.

Ingredients

60ml jasmine tea-infused gin
30ml elderflower liqueur
15ml fresh lemon juice
15ml simple syrup/honey
60ml sparkling wine
Lemon twist (garnish)

 Method
Okay, so the gin. We recommend testing on a smaller amount first, but you’ll need to sit the jasmine teabags in the gin for at least 1 hour. After this, just shake everything with ice and strain into a chilled glass. Lemon or beautiful jasmine flowers for garnish and voila, a cocktail that will really impress.

Aperol Tea Spritz

Sparkling teas like these stunners work wonderfully well in place of sparkling wine in cocktails, and this Aperol Tea Spritz is a perfect example. LYSERØD is one of the driest sparkling teas out there, and those Rosé notes and smooth White Tea pair nicely with the Aperol. There are so many combinations you could try, so experiment with sparkling teas in your favourite Spritzers.

Ingredients
100ml Aperol
150ml sparkling tea (something like LYSERØD by Copenhagen)

Method
Pour both over ice – there really is nothing else to it. Relax and enjoy.

G&Tea

Adding teabags to Gin and Tonics has been a bit of a thing in Scandinavia for a while, but adding an elegant sparkling tea instead of the tonic and teabag separately makes a hell of a lot more sense if you ask us. This is a really fresh way to mix up the usual G&T for something just as clean and pure, but with more botanical depth. Just pick a tea with mild flavour and mix with your favourite gin.

Ingredients
50ml gin
100ml sparkling tea (something like Jing Jasmine Pearls)
Angostura bitters (optional)
Honey (optional)

Method
Make it as you would a regular G&T, simply combining the two. Obviously tonic is more neutral than tea, so if you want some bitterness add Angostura drops, or if you want a dash more sweetness go for a touch of honey.

Hot Chai Toddy

The addition of spiced black chai to the winter warmer that is the Hot Toddy adds deliciously comforting warmth and deep spice, complementing the whisky well. With the earthy tea, fresh lemon and touch of honey, there is an almost medicinal quality to this cocktail that harks back to the Hot Toddy’s roots.

Ingredients
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp honey
100ml-150ml hot water
1 black chai teabag
35ml whisky
1 clove (optional)
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
Lemon wheel (garnish)

Method
Grab your favourite mug or handled glass and pour the hot water over the tea. Mix in the honey, whisky, and lemon until everything has merged. Chuck in the clove and the cinnamon for even more warmth. Cup in your hands and let it soothe your soul!

Birds and Bees

From Juan Coronado of The Bazaar comes this delicious cocktail using a chamomile-honey syrup to mellow the fresh lemon juice and complement a good quality gin. It’s another tea cocktail that feels clean and delicate, but with punchy gin at the heart of it. Tasty.

 Ingredients
50ml gin
30ml chamomile-honey syrup
25ml fresh lemon juice
10ml lime juice
For the syrup: 1 chamomile teabag and 15ml honey (you might want to make a bigger batch though)

Method
All the effort here is in that syrup, which is actually very simple to make. Make chamomile tea as usual and dissolve honey into it, before cooling at room temp. Then, combine everything in a shaker with ice, strain, and sip! Nom.

Green, Ginger, and Gold

Cognac is a surprisingly tasty pairing with green tea, and of course ginger so this is a gorgeously fresh and alive cocktail merging them. With fresh mint too, there is a refreshing and soothing quality, as well as rich warmth and spice and earthiness. You could try this warm or chilled, it’s up to you but we’re going for chilled this time.

 Ingredients
3 pieces fresh ginger
2 mint leaves
15ml syrup
30ml cognac (VS or VSOP)
60ml chilled green tea

Method
Muddle syrup, mint leaves and ginger with cognac and fresh, chilled green tea. Once the flavours are infused, strain into a glass filled with fresh ice and garnish with a mint leaf for that final touch.

There are so many cocktails you could make with sparkling teas in particular, so check out these! If any cocktail recipes use sparkling wines like Rosé or Prosecco, then give these a go instead.

What is the Best Thing to Drink on Aeroplanes?

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact moment a holiday starts, but sipping on an in-flight drink whilst cruising above the clouds is a guaranteed way of getting into the mindset. But have you ever noticed any differences in how your favourite drinks taste at 35,000 feet?

Well, you’re not imagining it. The altitude lessens the ability of our senses to detect complexities in flavour, and the pressurised, dry air subdues taste buds, dries out the nose and de-intensifies aroma. It is easy to forget just how much our taste relies on our small, and in the cabin, you may well notice that your favourite aromatic wine on terra firma is unusually shy in the cabin. Did you know that even the loud engines compromise taste, for example!? So, bearing that in mind, how do we drinkers adapt to these conditions and avoid disappointment when the drinks cart comes around?

The key is to opt for bolder, fuller, and more intense flavours, whilst avoiding subtle, more nuances and fragrant drinks. Particularly when it comes to premium aged liquids like older whiskies and wines, the full sensory experience involved in enjoying these is best left till your feet are back on the ground!

When deciding in-flight white wine, you’ll get more out of powerful whites like Chardonnay, Rhone blends, and Viognier-based bottles. For reds, look out for punchy Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Syrah.

Tomato juice is sold in surprisingly huge quantities by airlines, nearly as much as beer in the case of Lufthansa. Research shows that this umami flavour profile may not only avoid the compromise of other tastes, but actually may be enhanced! So, if a Bloody Mary is an option or perhaps savoury gins, then these may taste even better than usual.

One semi-myth of in-flight boozing is that you get drunk quicker. Some say that the pressure change thins the blood, strengthening the effects of any alcohol consumed. What’s more likely however is that the lack of oxygen, dehydration, fairly empty stomach (airports are expensive and plane food’s reputation isn’t the best), limited movement and vacation excitement contributes towards an intoxicated feeling – so there’s some truth to it we suppose. One thing to note; carbonated booze is very popular on flights, and these are absorbed by the body at a faster rate, so if you want to avoid any tipsiness until you reach your destination, maybe steer clear of these.

A New Twist on Tradition: Exploring the World of Beer Cocktails

When it comes to cocktails, beer definitely isn’t the first ingredient that comes to mind. However, the world of mixology has embraced the idea of blending beer with other spirits and flavours to create unique and refreshing concoctions, so don’t write it off just yet! It’s probably the most beloved drink of them all, so let’s dive into the delightful realm of beer cocktails, where traditional brews meet exciting twists.

Marbeerita

The Beer Margarita, the Beerita, the Beergarita, whatever you call it, it really works. The beer brings a refreshing twist to this classic putting a bubbly spin on the traditional mix of tequila, lime and aromatic orange... which marries with hops deliciously. Barbeques, laid-back afternoons, the Marbeerita is well worth a go.

Ingredients
50ml tequila (blanco or reposado)
30ml lime juice
25ml Cointreau
15ml triple sec
120ml chilled beer (go for lager, ideally Mexican)
Lime wedge (garnish)

Method
Add everything except the beer, stir to combine, add a little ice, and pour beer over the top. How’s that for simple?

Shandy

Cocktails do not get simpler than this. If you order a Shandy, you’ll almost always get beer and lemonade, usually in a 50:50 split. It’s ideal if you want something thirst quenching but not too boozy, and also adds some bright and juicy sweetness to the crisp beer. If you don’t fancy lemonade, then try fruit juice or ginger ale. A Radler is basically the same thing too, but uses lemon soda instead.

Ingredients
120ml beer
120ml lemonade

Method
To avoid chaotic fizz levels, pour the beer first and top up with lemonade. Shandy complete.

Michelada

Becoming more and more popular stateside is the Michelada, a brunch style cocktail like the Bloody Mary but usually without the tomato. Traditionally it’s simply light Mexican beer with a dash of hot sauce and a salted rim and lime, but Worcestershire sauce also makes a nice addition. To make a Chelada, just ditch the hot sauce and pepper and up the lime.

Ingredients
250ml beer (light lager)
Dash of Mexican hot sauce
Salt and pepper rim
Lime for juice and garnish

Method
Mix salt and pepper on a plate (chilli powder too if you want more heat). Rub the rim with the lime and roll in the seasoning. Then, squeeze the lime and add to the rim before adding hot sauce, and topping up with lager. Unless your beer is ice-cold, add ice because the Michelada really is best served super chilled.

Beermosa

The Beermosa is a delightfully simple twist on the classic Mimosa. By replacing the sparkling wine with beer, you get a malty bitterness that tames the sweet citrus nicely. This beer cocktail is perfect for any time you want a little citrusy goodness with a beer kick.

Ingredients
120ml beer (try and get one with citrus notes)
120ml orange juice
Orange wheel for garnish

Method
Pour equal parts of beer and orange juice into a glass (no ice if they’re both chilled). Stir gently to combine the two and keep the bubbles alive, before a wheel of orange to finish the sunny look. Nom.

Black Velvet

A famous stout cocktail this time, the gorgeous Black Velvet. Created during the national mourning of Prince Albert in Victorian Britain, Guinness is almost always used (or a very dark stout) for its bitter, silky richness to offset the fruity and fizzing lightness of the sparkling wine. Surprisingly moreish so give it a try!

 Ingredients
100ml Champagne (Crémant or Cava is fine)
100ml Guinness

Method
Champagne first, then pour the Guinness over a spoon to layer it up nicely. Enjoy!

Every cocktail we love today was discovered through experimentation so try stuff out! Need inspiration? Check out our recent Daiquiri Twists here!

One Drink, Three Ways: Albariño Mar de Frades

One Drink, Three Ways is the signature feature by The Three Drinkers. Join us as we take one bottle or style and create a trio of phenomenal serves that you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. From rums and whiskies to gins and wine, we’ll help you get the most from your glass.

The Albariño wine grape that’s making a big splash around the world most famously hails from Rias Baixas in Galicia in northern Spain, where 90% of production is fine white wine made with it. Rias Baixas is a region characterised by a unique, damp, coastal climate where this thick-skinned white grape thrives, producing wines with lively acidity, aromatic intensity and flavours of citrus, peach and tropical stone fruit with a characteristic saline note. 

One of the leading wine producers in the region is Mar de Frades with their range of beautiful Albariño wines all presented in eye-catching, blue bottles mirroring the crisp freshness of the wine and their coastal home. Founded in 1987 in D.O Rías Baixas, Mar de Frades is located in the Salnés Valley, where characteristic Atlantic breezes and granite soils give the grapes their saline, fresh, citric and mineral profile. Here are three classic styles of Rias Baixas Albariño to try made by Mar de Frades.

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Classic, Crisp & Citrusy

Mar de Frades Albariño: Classic Albariño is made in a style that’s light and lemony with a peachy note, a saline core and subtly bitter finish. Super refreshing, this classic style is made in stainless steel and tasted young. It is the perfect pairing for seafood dishes or even just sipped alone as an aperitif.

Mar de Frades

Albariño

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Gastronomic Albariño

Mar de Frades Finca Valiñas: More and more Albariño is being made in a gastronomic style, where oak ageing is used as well as some extended ageing on lees (the dead yeast cells) to add texture, creaminess and depth of flavour. These processes make the wines ideal for ageing longer and for pairing with richer fish dishes and white meats especially. 

Mar de Frades

Finca Valiñas

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Sparkling Albariño

Mar de Frades

Brut Nature, Sparkling

Mar de Frades Brut Nature: Much more rare is a sparkling Albariño, but we are starting to see them produced! These ‘espumoso’ wines are made in the traditional method like Champagne and give crisp, lemony and saline notes with elegant, yeasty complexity - perfect as an aperitif or with fish & chips.

Like this? Check our our other One Drink, Three Ways pieces: Belvedere Organic Infusions, Tanqueray Gin and The Macallan 12.

The Most Popular Rum Cocktails

Since bars opened back up again a couple of years ago, rum-based cocktails have been one of the favourite cocktail groups amongst drinkers. From herby refreshers to exotic blends, these tropical elixirs are unique in their ability to transport us to a tropical paradise, but they’re also very easy to get wrong. So, these are the most popular rum cocktails in the world, and how you can make them at home!

Mojito

Rum, mint, and lime – the ultimate refresher is the world’s favourite rum concoction, and very nearly the world’s favourite cocktail if it wasn’t for that pesky Margarita. It may not be quite as trendy as during its 2000s surge, but the Mojito’s popularity is undeniable, loved for it’s natural, breezy, and fresh feel.

Ingredients
50ml white rum
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp sugar/ 15ml sugar syrup
a handful of mint leaves
soda water
Garnish: mint

 Method
Crush a handful of mint leaves with the lime juice and sugar (syrup is easier, but if you use sugar make sure it’s dissolved). Add ice and your favourite white rum. Top up with soda water, gently stir to combine, garnish with mint, and enjoy. Mojit-oh yes!

Top Tip: Always crush the mint leaves as opposed to dicing to unlock all those flavoursome oils.

Piña Colada

Another simple recipe that involves three bold flavours working together – the tropical paradise that is the Piña Colada. Definitely more of a summer serve, this may be the second most popular rum cocktail (battling with the one below). Sweet and creamy, it’s fragrant and fresh with coconut cream and pineapple intertwining with the hearty kick from the rum. Use fresh juice!

Ingredients
60ml white rum
60ml coconut cream
120ml crushed pineapple/pineapple juice
Garnish: pineapple wedge

Method
The most popular is to blend everything with ice to create a thick boozy smoothie – you may need to crush the ice if your blender has seen better days! Tropical decorations are a must.

Is this your favourite rum cocktail? Check out our innovative twists on the recipe here!

Daiquiri

The Daiquiri may be slightly better known for super sweet slush puppies these days, but when done right it’s absolutely delicious and that’s why it’s competing with the Piña Colada to be the second most popular rum cocktail. Pure and simple, it’s just fresh lime juice and a little syrup supporting but not overshadowing quality rum. Easy on the sugar until you find the ratio you enjoy most!

Ingredients
60ml rum (Light or White, like Havana Club 3-year-old rum)
20ml lime juice
20ml sugar syrup
Garnish: lime twist

Method
Shake everything with ice – do not blend please. Then strain into a chilled cocktail glass, add the lime twist and enjoy!

Top Tip: A blend of two different rums is often used by bartenders, so half white and half Demerara or Jamaican for example.

Is the Daiquiri your favourite rum cocktail? We’ve been experimenting with various twists on the original here!

Zombie

The Zombie has been around since 1934, and the name supposedly comes from the hungover customer who requested the drink and reportedly turned into a zombie for the rest of his trip! There are a few different ways to make it, but really you want three different types of rum, Caribbean falernum liqueur and fresh lime, pineapple, and grapefruit juices. It takes more time than the other rum cocktails, but there’s a reason it’s ordered so much and that’s for the layers of boozy, tropical flavour.

Ingredients
30ml dark rum
30ml light rum
20ml overproof rum
10ml falernum liqueur
30ml lime juice
10ml pink grapefruit juice
20ml apricot brandy
30ml pineapple juice
10ml grenadine
Pinch of salt (optional)
Garnish: orange slice/maraschino cherry/sprig of mint/pineapple wedge

Method
Shake everything except the overproof rum with ice, strain over fresh and ice and float the overproof rum on top!

Mai Tai

Tiki mainstay the Mai Tai is popular wherever you go, and although the history of the drink involves homemade rum and homemade orgeat, things are going to be a little easier today. The warmth of the rum anchors this tropical delight as boozy citrus and nuttiness play off deliciously. Mai Tai derives from the Tahitian word maita’I which means ‘good’ but trust us when we say that’s an understatement.

 Ingredients
60ml blended rum (like Appleton)
20ml lime juice
20ml orgeat syrup
15ml orange liqueur
Garnish: mint sprig

Method
Take everything aside from the mint and shake with crushed ice until you feel and see that the shaker is frosted. Strain over fresh crushed ice and delicately poise the mint spring – voila, one Mai Tai!

Cuba Libre

Whether it’s true or not we don’t know, but the story goes that a U.S army captain was toasting to Cuba’s freedom during the Spanish-American war using this drink. Interestingly, Coca-Cola hasn’t always been available on the island and it’s a key part of this cocktail. This is as easy as cocktails get, so if you mess this up then maybe reconsider mixology as a hobby! Lime juice tames the sweet cola a little which works wonders with the caramelly, vanilla goodness of the rum.

 Ingredients
60ml rum
120ml cola
2 lime wedges

Method
Fill a highball with ice, add the rum and then top up with cola. Squeeze one lime wedge and throw it in, and garnish with the other! A nice little upgrade on a classic rum and coke.

These are the most popular rum cocktails, but perhaps your favourite isn’t in here? Not to worry, because here are 7 Delicious Rum Cocktails, some of which aren’t as popular but who knows, they might be on this list one day.

One Drink Three Ways: Crazy Gin Clear Lassi Gin

One Drink, Three Ways is the signature feature by The Three Drinkers. Join The Three Drinkers’ Helena, Aidy and Colin as they take one bottle and create a trio of phenomenal serves which you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. From rums and whiskies to gins and wine styles, the three help you get the most out of your glass. It’s time to get liquid on lips.

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The fusion of British Indian food is well known and widely loved, but why isn’t there a drinking equivalent? This was the question that the Singh’s pondered, and they decided to answer it themselves. Step up - Crazy Gin. Bringing together the refreshment of Indian yoghurt drink Lassi with classics from your spice drawer like turmeric, cumin, and coriander, Crazy Gin created the world’s first clear Lassi Gin. Balance it out with floral juniper and sweet pomegranate, and a fantastically unique and interesting gin was born. We’ve been wondering how Crazy Gin could breathe new life into cocktails and have listed the best ideas below. Have a try and let us know how you might build a cocktail around Lassi gin!

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Helena’s Choice: Mad Negroni

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I love a Negroni and because it’s so simple, it’s perfect to experiment with. The Mad Negroni is ever so slightly sweeter, fuller, and spicier and the result is totally moreish. Simply fill a mixing glass with ice, pour all the ingredients on top and stir well. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.

Mad Negroni

Recipe

25ml Crazy Gin Lassi

25ml Campari

25ml White Port

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Aidy’s Choice: Crazy Gin Pina Colada

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If you like piña coladas, and makin’ them more insane...

That would work better with music to be fair.

The extra flavour of the Lassi gin brings an interesting twist to this classic. The cream of the Crazy Gin works wonderfully with the coconut, and the subtle spice with the turmeric intertwines beautifully to add a whole new layer to proceedings. Fill a mixing glass with one scoop of crushed ice. No messing around with this, pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass and stir until everything is chilled. Strain over fresh ice cubes into a hurricane glass and garnish with pineapple leaves, pineapple slice, umbrella, whatever you want! 

Crazy Gin Pina Colada

Recipe

50ml Crazy Gin Lassi

25 ml Coconut Cream

50ml Pineapple Juice

5ml Double Cream

10ml Sugar Syrup (2:1)

Pinch of Turmeric

Pinch salt

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Colin’s Choice: Crazy Gin Old Fashioned

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I love trying spin offs of my beloved Old Fashioned, and this quirky adaptation really works for a lighter and sweeter drink. The coconut and yoghurt flavours add an intriguing twist, filling the cocktail out. Stir all the ingredients together with ice, add a wedge of mango for complimentary garnish and enjoy on the rocks. 

Crazy Gin Old Fashioned

Recipe

50ml Crazy Gin Lassi

7.5ml Coconut Syrup (2.5g Demerara sugar, 5g Coconut water, mix until sugar has dissolved)

UK
ABV: 41%
Size: 500ml
Buy it now for £39.94

If you liked this, go and see what we recommend for Mandarin and Ginger Soda, Nouaison Gin Reserve, or Aloha 65!

7 Daiquiri Twists to Try Right Now

Rum, lime, and sugar – the holy trinity that creates one of the world’s favourite cocktails, the Daiquiri. So simple, right? Well, you might be surprised at how easy it is to get wrong. Or maybe not, if you’ve been subject to a sickly-sweet slush puppy version before.

The Daiquiri may well have been inspired by the Cuban Canchanchara cocktail, with its rum, lime, and honey ingredients, but it is American mining engineer Jennings Cox, based in Cuba at the time, who invented it at the turn of the 20th century.

With the U.S. exploiting Cuba’s abundance of iron at the time, many Americans spent time in the nearby town of Daiquiri. One such man was Jennings, who saw the Cubans mixing rum and coffee and started experimenting with his own inventory, eventually discovering the deliciousness of rum, lime, and sugar.

And once he discovered it, so did the U.S Navy and as soon as it landed on American shores and spread to Washington D.C and New York, it became a mainstay of American bars as well as the favourite cocktail for Ernest Hemingway and John F. Kennedy.

So, if you’ve never taken to it before then we’ll help you master the original, and if it’s still not clicking with you then don’t worry because we’ve got a selection of tasty twists for you to try!

The Original Daiquiri

The Daiquiri has somewhat lost its way a little, developing a reputation for overly sweet slush with sickly fruits masking any rum in the mix. If this is your idea of the cocktail, then this is the recipe to try first. Getting back to purity and simplicity, it’s simply fresh lime juice, a little syrup, and good quality rum at the centre of it all. The key thing is getting those ratios right for your personal taste, so easy on the sugar.

Ingredients
60ml rum (Light or White, like Havana Club 3-year-old rum)
20ml lime juice
20ml sugar syrup
Lime twist (garnish)

 Method
Pour all the ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes. Shake well but do not blend! Simply strain into a chilled cocktail glass and add the garnish – voila!

The Modern Daiquiri

Traditional recipes call for a single rum, usually white, but what you’ll often find in many top bars now is a blend of two or three. The different rums carry different bodies and flavours, so the white rum injects vibrance and tang, whilst the darker blends and somebody and richness. Okay, so this isn’t the craziest twist but if you’ve always enjoyed Daiquiris at swanky bars but nowhere else, then this might be why!

Ingredients
30ml white rum (e.g., Havana Club 3YO)
30ml Jamaican or demerara rum (e.g., Appleton 12YO)
20ml lime juice
20ml sugar syrup
Lime twist (garnish)

Method
The same as the original, simply shake everything except the lime with ice and strain into a pre-chilled cocktail glass!

Strawberry Daiquiri

Probably the most famous strawberry cocktail, there’s a reason that you might be more likely to find this than the original. If you use ripe, fresh strawberries then you create a more fruity and less tangy twist on the original that’s perfect for summertime. See how sweet your berries are before adding the syrup!

Ingredients
60ml rum (light ideally, e.g., Havana Club 3YO)
50g strawberries
20ml lime juice
15ml syrup
Strawberry or lime (optional garnish)

Method
Setting up the blender is the hardest thing about this cocktail. Simply add everything in with ice and double strain over the glass. Use crushed ice to make your blender’s job that bit easier. Lime or strawberry for garnish. Delish.

Coconut Daiquiri

If you’ve never tried this, then you’re in for a tropical treat. The rich and creamy coconut creates a silky mouthfeel and moreish texture, pairing deliciously with the classic Daiquiri elements. A little intensity, a little tang, a little sweetness, and a lot to love.

Ingredients
60ml white rum
30ml fresh lime juice
45ml coconut cream
15ml simple syrup

Method
Shake all your ingredients vigorously with ice for no less than 30 seconds and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Lime or coconut flakes would make the perfect garnish, and of course serving in a coconut shell would be the dream.

The Hemingway Daiquiri

The American novelist loved ordering Daiquiri during his Havana hotel stay in the 30s, but he did have feedback for the El Floridita bartender – ‘double the rum and lose the sugar’. Suffice to say, his version hasn’t taken off at all, but the evolved version has. Maraschino liqueur and grapefruit provide some of the lost sweetness as well as some fruity vibrance. 

 Ingredients
60ml white rum
20ml maraschino liqueur
20ml grapefruit juice
30ml lime juice
Lime or grapefruit (garnish)

Method
Yet again, add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with some ice and shake well. Strain into a glass of crushed ice and voila, the Hemingway.

Cucumber and Basil Daiquiri

Step into the garden of Daiquiri delights with this fresh and herbaceous twist. The Basil Cucumber Daiquiri combines the crispness of cucumber with the aromatic charm of basil, resulting in a cocktail that's unparalleled in its refreshment and natural fragrance.

 Ingredients
60ml white rum
30ml fresh lime juice
60ml cucumber juice
10ml basil-infused simple syrup
Basil leaves and cucumber slice for garnish

Method
A regular syrup is a 1:1 ratio of water to sugar, so all you need to do is add a few basil leaves into the mix whilst it’s cooking to infuse that herby flavour. Remove them at the end! Once you’ve peeled the cucumber, blend everything with ice and strain (possibly double strain) over a chilled glass. Reinvigorating and unbelievably refreshing.

Spicy Daiquiri

This fiery and invigorating twist isn’t for everyone, but if you like it then you’ll love it. The spicy kick of jalapeño and the zesty zing of ginger creates a super lively cocktail that you certainly will not forget. The warmth and gentle spices in the rum will be brought to the fore, and the refreshing lime juice tames the whole mix down.

Ingredients
60ml white rum
30ml fresh lime juice
10ml ginger syrup
2-3 slices of jalapeño (adjust to your spice preference)
Jalapeño slice (garnish)

Method
Shake everything for a good old while to infuse the spices, and strain into a chilled glass – super simple to make, and exciting to taste. You could use Sriracha sauce instead for a slightly different spice profile – but go easy!

If you’ve got the taste for cocktail experimentations then check out our delicious Piña Colada twists here, from the Chocolada to the Caramelized Banana Colada!

10 Easy Drinks to Make for Your Next Dinner Party

No dinner party is complete without something delicious to drink. Whether you’re going full out and aiming to win Come Dine With Me, or just having a few friends over, you’ll want something eye catching, tasty and easy to make. With all that food to make and the house to tidy, the last thing you need is to spend hours on drinks as well.

So, get your best glasses, pitchers, and punchbowls out because here are our 10 easy drinks to impress your dinner party guests with!

Elderflower Cooler

This is truly one of the most refreshing cocktails you could conjure up for your party. Elderflower is as popular as it’s ever been, and the simplicity of it with the gin and sparkling water makes it oh so easy to prepare.

Top Tip: If you’re lucky enough to have elderflower gin at hand, then you won’t need the cordial too. We love elderflower but having all of that could be overboard!

Ingredients (for 4)
2 thyme sprigs
2 rosemary sprigs
50m elderflower cordial
150ml elderflower liqueur
150ml gin
330ml sparkling water
Edible flowers (garnish)

Method
Fill a jug with the cordial, liqueur, gin, a handful of ice cubes and stir until thoroughly chilled. Pour into champagne flutes, top up with the soda and decorate with the herb sprigs and edible flowers. Enjoy!

Top Tip: If you have time, it looks super cool if you freeze the Thyme and Rosemary in the ice cubes beforehand.

SANGRIA

A fruity jug of sangria on a hot day is hard to beat, but we think it’s just too nice to be ignored unless the sun is shining.  We say throw the calendar out and bring the sunshine indoors because if you’re partying with fans of red wine, there really isn’t anything better to be in the middle of the table.

Ingredients (for 4)
750ml good red wine
100ml brandy
200g berries
2 oranges
2 pears
2 lemons

Method
Chop two oranges, two pears, two lemons, 200g of your favourite red berries and dust them with sugar and cinnamon. Fill a jug with ice, your fruits, 100ml of brandy and 750ml of red wine. Stir, taste, and add in a little triple sec if you want it stronger, or some sparkling water for the opposite.

Top Tip: Try to leave your fruit mix for at least an hour in the fridge so it really takes on the sugar and cinnamon flavouring. If you forget, then it really doesn’t matter. It’s Sangria. It’s still amazing.

RHUBARB & CUSTARD COCKTAIL

Okay, stick with us here because this one is slightly more technical but still really simple for you to make at home. With a backbone of vodka, syrupy rhubarb and yep, you probably guessed it, advocaat, your guests will definitely love this if they’re fans of the dessert.

Ingredients
100ml vodka
100ml rhubarb syrup
(85g caster sugar + 300g rhubarb)
1 length rhubarb (garnish)
30ml advocaat
75ml lemonade

Method
First, the rhubarb syrup. Heat the sugar gently in a pan with 75ml of water. Before it begins to bubble, add your chopped rhubarb. Simmer for 5 minutes and sieve over a bowl. Boil this again for 2 minutes until syrupy and you’re done. Now, shake the vodka and rhubarb syrup with ice and pour into glasses. Finally, you need to mix or whisk advocaat and lemonade. Slowly drizzle this into the glasses over an upturned spoon and you’ll see a stunning division of the two mixtures.

Top Tip: For a fancy garnish, make small shreds of rhubarb using a peeler and dunk them into icy water– they’ll curl up like magic - Rhubarbus Garnishio! (I haven’t seen Harry Potter in a while, sorry.)

MEXICAN MULE

Tequila and lime are a match made in heaven, but it turns out that ginger beer is a welcome addition to their relationship. Staggeringly simple this one, it’s a tequila-based version of a Moscow Mule. Easy to make and once you taste, you’ll realise it’s even easier to drink!

Ingredients (for 4)
240ml tequila
50ml lime juice
40ml agave syrup/sugar syrup
90ml good quality ginger beer
Lime (garnish)

Method
Add the tequila, lime juice and syrup to an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake, shake, shake until you can feel the chill. Strain into an ice filled glass and top up with ginger beer. Garnish with a wedge of lime and enjoy! Sombrero optional.

WHISKEY HOT CHOCOLATE

Perfect for staying cosy outside or as a nightcap, the boozy hot choc is too good to be just a novelty. You can make this with milk or dark chocolate, or simply hot chocolate powder, but we’re going for white chocolate for added beauty and indulgence.

Ingredients (for 4)
400ml milk
180ml whiskey
400g white chocolate
2tbsp vanilla essence

Method
 Slowly heat the milk and essence in a pan and add the chocolate until it’s completely melted. At that point, stir in the whiskey and pour into mugs. Star anise sat on top completes the warming image and provides a very subtle liquorice-y flavour. It divides opinion though, so check with your guests first! They might prefer marshmallows or grated chocolate which also accompany the drink brilliantly.

WHITE WINTER COSMOPOLITAN

This wintery spin on the classic Cosmo is just what guests will want to see as they come in from the cold. White cranberries are just harvested a little earlier than red cranberries, but still the same fruit with the same tartness. The familiar Cosmo we love, but in its winter outfit!

Ingredients (for 4)
180ml vodka (preferably citrus)
60ml triple sec
120ml white cranberry juice
A dash of lime
Berries (garnish)

Method
Cocktail shakers at the ready. Thrown in your vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, ice, and a dash of lime juice for added freshness. Shake well and pour into martini glasses. Finish with berries on the rim for the quintessential winter Cosmo experience.

Top Tip: A light dusting of icing sugar on the berries around the rim really does wonders for the wintery look.

MAN O’WAR

Named after one of the great American racehorses, this cocktail is also a winner. If your party is demanding something a little (or a lot) stronger, then the Man O’War is ideal.

Ingredients (for 4)
180ml Bourbon
60ml triple sec (preferably Cointreau)
60ml sweet vermouth
Juice of 1 lemon
Tablespoon of sugar syrup (optional)
Cherry (garnish)

Method
Shake plenty of ice, bourbon, triple sec, sweet vermouth, and the juice of a whole lemon. Shake until you feel the chill, and taste. The ratios can be tough to get right for this one, so add in syrup if you want more sweetness. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and voila, a real showstopper!

Top Tip: If it packs too much of a punch then serve over crushed ice instead so it’s a little less potent.

FRENCH 75

Named after a French World War One gun, this is another hard hitter. However, with gin, bubbly, fresh lemon, and sugar, this drink is a lot more welcoming than the name implies. For us, dinner party drinks are all about trying something a bit different, and the partnership of gin and Champagne is a surprising hit.

Ingredients (for 4)
100ml gin
50ml fresh lemon juice
50ml syrup
300ml Champagne (to taste)
Lemon twist (garnish)

Method
Combine all the ingredients except the champagne into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a champagne flute, then top up with the bubbles. Add a twist of orange for garnish. Just like that, you’re in Paris!

SUPERMAN SHOT

We don’t usually include shots in these kinds of lists, but who knows what direction a dinner party might head in and if nothing else, the Superman shot is a stunning eyecatcher. Also, you can pick whatever colours you want to suit your occasion!

Ingredients
10ml cherry liqueur
10ml banana liqueur
10ml blue vodka

Method
Completely straightforward except a little bit of technique to avoid mixing. Pour the cherry first, and then the banana over the back of a spoon. The banana will sink to the bottom. Finish with the vodka over the spoon to top it off. Simple and adaptable but the kind of little touch that makes a dinner party feel special.

COQUITO

No Christmas in Puerto Rico would be complete without a cold coquito, and after trying this sweet and creamy concoction, you may be saying the same about your future dinner parties.  

Ingredients (for 4)
250ml spiced rum
300ml coconut milk
200ml coconut cream
300g condensed milk
250g evaporated milk
0.5tsp vanilla extract
1 medium cinnamon stick
Pinch of ground cinnamon and nutmeg (garnish)

Method
Don’t be offput by the relatively lengthy ingredients because it’s just a case of lumping them all in a blitzer, except the cinnamon stick which you add before refrigerating for at least 2 hours. Give it a good stir before serving and pour small amounts over ice. Sprinkle nutmeg and cinnamon over the top and it looks sublime. Feliz Navidad!

Plenty there to tickle your fancy and get you thinking about what you might serve at your next dinner party, or even bring to someone else’s- don’t outdo them too much though ;).

If you want to serve some stone cold classics then go here for a reminder of how to assemble the 10 most popular cocktails in the world.

Or, perhaps you’re having a Halloween themed dinner party in October, in witch case (pun very much intended), check out these 5 easy to make spooky cocktails!

Oh, and make sure to let us know if you try any of these at your next party, or if you have any go-to’s of your own that always go down a smash.