When it comes to the festive season, you can have all the snow, holly and carol singing you like but when it comes down to it, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a few Christmas cocktails to lubricate the fun.
Brandy Blazer
Add the following to an Old Fashioned glass – two small (30ml) shots of cognac, one sugar cube, an orange twist and a lemon twist. Flambe the mixture, stir well with a long bar spoon, extinguish the flame and strain into a snifter glass.
Dorian Gray
Into a cocktail shaker two thirds filled with ice add a small (30ml) shot of Mandarine Napoleon, a small shot of golden rum, one and a half small shots of fresh orange juice, and one and a half small shots of cranberry juice. Shake and strain into a Martini glass.
Old Fashioned
The classic Bourbon cocktail. In an old fashioned glass add a quarter of a small (25ml) shot of sugar syrup and two dashes of Angostura. Stir briefly and then add a couple of ice cubes. Add a small shot of bourbon, then stir. Add a couple more ice cubes and stir again. Add another small shot of bourbon and stir again. Add a couple more ice cubes and give one final stir.
Hot Buttered Rum
A warming winter drink. Into an Irish Coffee glass (or anything similar, but it must be able to take the heat) add a large (50ml) shot of dark rum and a tablespoon of sugar syrup. Add three cloves and a cinnamon stick, and top up with boiling water. Add two teaspoons of unsalted butter, and grate some nutmeg on top.
Winter Martini
Into a shaker two thirds filled with ice add a small (30ml) shot of apple schnapps, two and a half small shots of cognac and two dashes of sugar syrup. Shake and strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with a slice of apple.
Cactus Flower
Add a few drops of Tabasco to the bottom of a shot glass. If you’re brave go for ten, otherwise somewhere between two and eight. Carefully top the glass up with tequila, trying to avoid mixing up the Tabasco. Down in one, and wait for the heat.
Rat Pack Manhattan
Into a shaker two thirds filled with ice add a small (30ml) shot of bourbon, a small shot of Grand Marnier, half a small shot of red vermouth, half a small shot of dry vermouth and four dashes of Angostura bitters. Stir, then strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with an orange twist and a cocktail cherry.
Shamrock Express
Into a shaker two thirds filled with ice add a small shot and a half of cold but fresh espresso coffee (or strong filter coffee), half a small shot of vodka, a small shot of Baileys, a small shot of butterscotch schnapps and a dash of sugar syrup. Shake thoroughly and strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass.
Blow Job Shooter
Well, it is Christmas. Into a shaker two thirds filled with ice add half a small shot of each of the following – creme de banane, Grand Marnier and Kahlua. Shake and strain into a large shooter glass. Drop a cocktail cherry into the glass and float single cream on top. Down in one.
Sidecar
Into a shaker two thirds filled with ice add a large (60ml) shot of cognac, half a small (30ml) shot of Cointreau, half a small shot of lemon juice, and half a small shot of cold water. Shake and strain into a Martini glass.
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