Cocktail Recipes

There is a myriad a of possible combinations that make a great cocktail with a truly amazing array of names to accompany them (some quite unmentionable!). Where possible we have tried to keep these cocktails seasonal to the produce available at the time. So what is more perfect than to get started with some summer cocktals in the sun...

Summer Cocktails

Blueberry Basil Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz Appleton Jamaican Gold Rum,
  
• 1 tsp sugar,
  
• 12 - 16 blueberries,
  
• 10 basil leaves,
  
• 4 mint leaves,
  
• Juice of 1/2 lime,
  
• Soda Water (to top up),
  
• Crushed Ice.
  

1. Muddle basil, mint, sugar and lime juice (combine ingredients in the bottom of a mixing glass, pressing them with a muddler).
2. Add blueberries and continue to muddle.
3. Add rum, ice and shake.
4. Fill collins glass with ice and strain muddled rum mixture into the glass and top with soda.
5. Garnish with a wedge of lime.

Mint Mojito
Serves 1

1. Put 1 tsp of white sugar in a martini glass. Cover with a good squeeze of lime juice and add a couple of sprigs of mint (stalks and leaves).
   
2. Muddle (gently pound) together.
   
3. Add ice to the top pf the glass and then soda water to fill about two-thirds of the glass
   
4. Add 50ml white rum and stir
   
5. Garnish with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint.

Strawberry Cocktail
Serves 4

1. Combine 1 cup of Gin, 1/2 a punnet of strawberries, 1/2 cup of sugar syrup, the juice of 1 lemon and 23 cups of crushed ice in a blender and process.
   
2. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
   
3. Serve in 4 ounce cocktail glasses with a fresh strawberry on the rim of each glass as a garnish.

Classic Bloody Mary
Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 1½ shots of Vodka
  
• 2 - 3 shots of tomato juice,
  
• crushed ice
  
• a squeeze of lemon juice,
  
• 2 - 3 drops of Worcestershire sauce
  
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Shake the ingredients well with ice and strain into a wine glass.
   
2. Garnish with a celery leaf or a wedge of lime.

Raspberry Champagne Cocktail
Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 1½ shots of Vodka
  
• Champagne
  
• A dash of Chambord Raspberry Liqueur
  
• Fresh raspberrys
  
• 3 Ice cubes

1. Place 3 - 4 raspberries into a cocktail shaker.
   
2. Add raspberry liqueur, vodka and ice cubes.
   
3. Mash raspberries and shake until well blended.
   
4. Strain into a champagne flute, top with champagne and add a raspberry as a garnish. Serve immediately.