Be merry and tipsy

During the holiday season, try these delectable cocktails.

Mix this classic cocktail for a party using fresh mint, white rum, sugar, zesty lime and cooling soda water. Play with the quantities to suit your taste.

Mojito recipe:

Ingredients

• juice of 1 lime
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• small handful of mint leaves, plus an extra sprig to serve
• 60ml white rum
• soda water, to taste.

Method

STEP 1
Muddle the lime juice, sugar and mint leaves in a small jug, crushing the mint as you go – you can use the end of a rolling pin for this. Pour into a tall glass and add a handful of ice.

STEP 2
Pour over the rum, stirring with a long-handled spoon. Top up with soda water, garnish with mint and serve.

Learn how to make this classic coffee cocktail. The easy recipe uses freshly brewed espresso, a dash of coffee liqueur and simple sugar syrup.

Espresso Martini

Ingredients

• For the sugar syrup
• 100g golden caster sugar
• For the cocktail
• ice
• 100ml vodka
• 50ml freshly brewed espresso coffee
• 50ml coffee liqueur (we used Kahlua)
• 4 coffee beans (optional).

Method
STEP 1
Start by making the sugar syrup. Put the caster sugar in a small pan over medium heat and pour in 50ml water. Stir, and bring to a boil.

STEP 2
Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool. Put 2 martini glasses in the fridge to chill.

STEP 3
Once the sugar syrup is cold, pour 1 tbsp into a cocktail shaker along with a handful of ice, the vodka, espresso and coffee liqueur. Shake until the outside of the cocktail shaker feels icy cold.

STEP 4
Strain into the chilled glasses. Garnish each one with coffee beans if you like.

Try this easy-to-make blackberry vodka liqueur in a cocktail.
Blackberry Vodka

Ingredients
300g blackberries (fresh or frozen)
1 cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf
150g golden caster sugar
700ml vodka
Method
STEP 1
Tip the blackberries, cinnamon stick, bay leaf and sugar into a large sterilised jar. Pour over the vodka, seal the jar and swirl around to dissolve the sugar. Store in a cool, dark place and turn the jar once a day for the first week.

STEP 2
After two to three weeks, strain the vodka through a fine mesh sieve (see tip, below) and decant it into bottles, then label. It will keep its colour for a few months and will be drinkable for up to a year. Use the infused blackberries in bakes or meringue-based desserts.

Get a taste of summer with this classic Italian cocktail of Aperol, prosecco, and soda.
Aperol spritz

Ingredients

• ice
• 100ml Aperol
• 150ml prosecco
• soda, to top up

Method
STEP 1

Put a couple of cubes of ice into 2 glasses and add a 50 ml measure of Aperol to each. Divide the prosecco between the glasses and then top up with soda, if you like.