Let me ask you a question, when do you start planning Christmas? Are you a last minute shopper panic buying on Christmas Eve, or are you super organised ready months in advance? I have to confess I’m one of those annoying people who have all the presents bought and gift wrapped by the first of December. You see, I love Christmas! I love it so much I actually start planning as soon as the kids go back to school in September.
Yes, I know that’s slightly crazy but I have to get my spreadsheets in order (colour coded, with formulas – don’t judge me!). But whatever your approach to Christmas, there’s one thing that every Christmas party needs… a signature cocktail or mocktail!
Here are some of my absolute favourites:
Mayfair Mistletoe:
- Hendrick’s gin 40ml
- Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto 10ml
- *Apple Strudel 40ml
- Fresh Grapefruit Juice 10ml
*Apple Strudel:
Wash 2 green apples, chop them into small pieces. Blend them with 10gr cinnamon powder. Add 100gr of sugar and 50ml of cold water. Strain it, ready to use.
Method:
Add all the ingredients into a shaker and mix them together, fill up the glass with ice and garnish with apple slices and cinnamon powder on top.
Top Tip: The type of glass you use makes absolutely no difference to the flavour, so use whatever you have!
Getting The Goose:
- Whisky 30ml
- Honey 10ml
- Cocoa Nibs
- *Peppermint Tea 50ml
- Citrus 20ml
*Peppermint tea:
Pour into a container 250ml of hot water up to 82C° and infuse a bag of peppermint tea. Let it rest for 1 minute and strain it.
Method:
Pour all the ingredients into your glass and blend with your favourite spices, such as cloves, star anise or cinnamon.
Dickens’s Delight:
- Reyka Vodka 30ml
- Amaro Montenegro 10ml
- *Philadelphia Zabaione 20ml
- One espresso 20ml
- Sugar 1tsp
- Chocolate flakes
*Philadelphia Zabaione:
Pour two egg yolks and two teaspoons of Philadelphia cheese into a container. Add 100g of caster sugar and blend all the ingredients together. Strain it, ready to use.
Method:
Add all the ingredients into a shaker and mix them together, fill up the glass with ice and garnish with chocolate flakes into your favourite glass.
Top Tip: At cocktail bars they nearly always serve your drinks with a carafe of water on the side. It’s definitely worth doing this at your party so everyone can drink responsibly.
Speaking of which, you might have noticed that a lot of mocktail recipes are made with sugary fruit juices and the sweetness can sometimes be a bit much, but with the invention of flavoured non-alcohol spirits and by changing prosecco for sparkling water, there’s no need for a hangover.
So there you have it, some amazing cocktail recipes you can easily make at home. You can’t say I don’t give good Christmas presents! And whatever you’re up to, I hope you enjoy the holiday festivities. I’m off to drink a Mayfair Mistletoe followed by a big glass of water, and wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Discover Katie Ginger’s gorgeous new Christmas book, The Perfect Christmas gift, here.
