Christmas Cocktails

You may remember that during lockdown, we shared our favourite cocktail recipes with our network. With Christmas around the corner, we are sharing some old favourites as well as some festive formulas. Follow the steps, pour yourself a drink and enjoy the celebrations.

The Peak Trader

What you will need to make the Spiced Apple (4 servings):

• 500ml cloudy apple juice
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp mixed spice
• 3 tsp dark sugar
• Gin of your choice

Steps:

1. Warm the apple juice in a pan along with the spices for 10 minutes.
2. Stir occasionally and try not to let it boil. Once your kitchen has the distinct aroma of Christmas and apple pie, take it off the heat and sieve into a jug to set aside for a minute or two.
3. Pour a double gin of your choosing into a tumbler and top up with the mulled apple juice.
4. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and sip by the tree with your feet up. Enjoy!

Raspberry Daiquiri

What you will need:

• 30ml double white rum (dark/gold is fine too)
• 30ml juice of a whole lime, or a single measure of lime juice
• 1/2 a measure of simple syrup (1 part sugar dissolved into 1 part water) or a teaspoon of caster sugar and a dash of water
• 6 fresh raspberries (if you’d rather, you can use any other berries)

Steps:

1. Put the raspberries and simple syrup/caster sugar in a shaker and squash them to a pulp wither with a muddler or the end of a rolling pin.
2. Add several cubes of ice.
3. Add the rum and lime juice.
4. Stick the lid on and give it a shake for 20 seconds or so, until the tin feels ice cold.
5. Take the lid off the shaker and pour the drink through a sieve or strainer (if you use the shaker top it will just clock up with the berries).
6. Garnish with a lime wheel.
7. Sit back and enjoy!

Bakewell Tart Mart

What you will need:

• Double shot of raspberry vodka (60ml)
• Single shot of amaretto (30ml)
• 1/2 a shot of Chambord (15ml)
• 15-30ml juice of half a lime
• 1 egg white or shot of Aquafaba
• Mini meringues
• Morello glace cherry

Steps:

1. Add the ingredients into a cocktail shaker BEFORE you add any ice.
2. Shake it to give it some ‘body’ and get the foam rising (a good 20 seconds).
3. Add ice to fill the shaker and cover the liquid.
4. Give it another hard shake for 15 seconds or so until the metal becomes ice cold.
5. Pour into a martini glass and garnish with a glace cherry and mini meringue.

Non-Alcoholic Christmas Punch

What you will need:

• 2 pears, sliced
• 2 lemons; 1 sliced, 1 juiced
• 2 tbsp caster sugar
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 400ml white grape juice
• 175ml ginger ale
• 500ml sparkling water
• Ice
• Handful of pomegranate seeds
• Rosemary sprigs to serve

Steps:

1. Add the pear slices, lemon slices, sugar and spices to a large punch bowl or jug. Chill for 1 hour.
2. Add the lemon juice and grape juice to dissolve any sugar.
3. Pour in the ginger ale and sparkling water. Add some large handfuls of ice. Sprinkle in the pomegranate seeds and a few sprigs of rosemary. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at Retail247.