It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas here at MirrorMePR, so what better way to kick start that those fabulous festive vibes than a few Christmas inspired cocktails?
1. The Mulled Wine Cocktail – Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without mulled wine and a cocktail based on this Christmas classic. Perfect!
You’ll need:
100g/4oz light muscovado sugar
1 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
4 cloves
150ml water
1 lemon, thinly sliced
2 clementines, thinly sliced
150ml Cointreau
750ml / 1¼pint light red wine, such as Beaujolais.
Twist of orange zest and a star anise, to serve.
Here’s how:
Put 100g of light muscovado sugar in a pan with 1 star anise, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 cloves and 150ml water. Bring slowly to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Simmer for 2 minutes, then pour into a large jug and leave to cool. Add 1 lemon and 2 clementines, both thinly sliced, to the jug along with 150ml Cointreau and a 750ml bottle light red wine, such as a Beaujolais. Stir well, then cover and chill for at least 2 hours, or overnight if you can.
Serve chilled or over ice, with a twist of orange zest and a star anise. If you’d like to serve a traditional warm mulled wine, there’s no need to chill –simply warm through without boiling and serve in heatproof glasses.
2. The Pomegranate Rosemary Spritzer – A Delicious and refreshing festive combo!
You’ll need:
200ml pomegranate juice
A sprig of rosemary
Prosecco
4 rosemary sprigs, to garnish (optional)
Here’s how:
Put the pomegranate juice in a small saucepan with a sprig of rosemary. Bring to the boil and reduce for a few mins until syrupy. Leave to cool, then chill until ready to use.
Fill four Champagne flutes with 1 part pomegranate syrup and top up with 3 parts of prosecco. Garnish each glass with a rosemary sprig, if you like.
3. The White Christmas Martini – Need we say anymore?! Just the name!
You’ll need:
2 ounces vanilla vodka
2-ounce white chocolate liqueur
1-ounce white creme de cacao
1-ounce half-and-half
Honey and coarse sanding sugar for rim garnish
Here’s how:
Pour the honey into a shallow dish and put the sanding sugar in another shallow dish. Coat the rim of the glass in the honey; then dip the rim in the sugar to coat evenly. Set the glass aside.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the vodka, white chocolate liqueur, creme de cacao, and half-and-half. Shake vigorously and strain into the prepared martini glass.
And for those who are the designated taxi driver this Christmas, enjoy the following non-alcoholic versions.
4. The Orange & Cranberry Spritz – A zesty twist on traditional Christmas flavours, and one of our favourite non-alcoholic Christmas cocktails!
You’ll need:
500ml smooth orange juice
500ml smooth cranberry juice
400ml sparkling elderflower drink
Here’s how:
Mix together the orange juice and cranberry juice in a large jug. Slowly pour in the sparkling elderflower drink, as it will fizz up. Mix together and serve in tall glasses with ice.
5. Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine – For those who love mulled wine as much as we do, but want to keep sober!
You’ll need:
500ml pomegranate juice
25g golden caster sugar
A handful of frozen blackberries
250ml apple juice
1 cinnamon stick
1 star anise
4 cloves
3 black peppercorns
1 orange, quartered
Here’s how:
Put the pomegranate juice, sugar, blackberries and apple juice in a saucepan. Add the cinnamon, star anise, cloves, peppercorns and orange.
Heat gently until simmering. Taste for sweetness, then strain into heatproof glasses.
Here’s to a fabulous Christmas, and remember to drink responsibly this festive season!
If you enjoyed this blog, you might also enjoy reading our Top 11 Gin Inspired Gifts For The Gin Lover blog.
References: BBC Good Food Guide & Inspired By Charm.
