Crafting the perfect cocktail is an art, and there is no better time to improve your artistic skills than the festive season. Whether you want to host a Christmas party or ring in the new year with friends, mastering a couple of classic cocktails can instantly elevate your event.
Creating the following five timeless drinks will allow you to impress your guests and ensure that everyone can enjoy something they like.
1. The Martini
The humble but elegant martini is a must-learn for aspiring cocktail makers. It is one of the most versatile cocktails you can make for the festive season so that you can tailor it to your guests’ preferences.
The ingredients of a classic martini are:
- 60ml gin (or vodka)
- 15ml dry vermouth
- Ice
- Lemon twist or olive for garnish
All you need to do is fill a mixing glass or shaker with the ice and pour the gin and dry vermouth. Stir gently for 30 seconds to allow the liquids to chill and dilute. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with the olive or lemon twist.
Use flavored gins like juniper and orange to spice up your martinis for the holidays.
2. The Negroni
The bold Negroni is a cocktail enthusiast’s dream. It may be bitter, but it is excellent for warming up on a cold festive evening. Its bright red color also makes it a fantastic choice for the holiday season. To make a Negroni, you need:
- 25ml gin
- 25ml Campari
- 25ml sweet vermouth
- Orange peel
- Ice
This cocktail should be poured into a mixing glass. Fill the glass with ice first, then add the gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Stir gently until everything is combined and the glass feels cold. Strain into a tumbler, add more ice, and garnish with the orange peel.
Use premium vermouth and fresh orange zest to get the best flavor for your cocktail.
3. The Old Fashioned
If your guests want a traditional whisky cocktail, nothing is better than an Old Fashioned. This cocktail needs a tumbler glass with as much ice as will fit. You will need:
- Two teaspoons of sugar
- One or two dashes of bitters
- A splash of water
- 60ml whisky or bourbon
- Soda water
Add the sugar, bitters, and water to a small tumbler glass. Mix everything until the sugar dissolves. Fill the glass to the top with ice and stir in the whisky. If you like soda water, add a little bit and mix. The best garnish for this cocktail is orange and cherry.
4. French 75
If you want to make a fun cocktail and love gin and champagne, why not try the French 75 festive cocktail? The ingredients are simple and relatively affordable:
- 20ml lemon juice
- 30ml gin
- 10ml sugar syrup
- Champagne
- Lemon zest
- Ice
Start by pouring the lemon juice, sugar syrup, and gin into a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well. Strain the mixture into a champagne flute. Top with champagne and swirl through with a special cocktail stirrer. You can finish off your cocktail with lemon zest garnish.
5. Mulled Wine Cocktail
Mulled wine is a wonderful option for a party drink because you can make it ahead of time. You can also serve it hot if your festive party is shivering from the cold. You need:
- 100g of muscovado sugar (light)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 cloves
- 1 star anise
- 1 lemon
- 2 clementines
- 150ml water
- 150ml Cointreau
- 750ml red wine
Add the muscovado sugar, star anise, cinnamon stick, cloves, and water to a pan and boil. When the sugar has dissolved, keep simmering for two minutes before pouring into a jug. Leave the mixture to cool.
Add one lemon and two clementines to the jug, the Cointreau, and the red wine. Stir everything well, cover the jug, and leave it in the fridge overnight.
You can do so over ice with orange zest for garnish when you serve it. If you want to serve the cocktail hot, just warm it through and serve it in appropriate glasses.
Tips for Picture-Perfect Cocktails
Always use the best and freshest ingredients, like high-quality spirits, fresh juice, and seasonal garnishes. Get the necessary tools, including a cocktail shaker, jigger, and mixing spoon.
Learn how to use ice the right way. Ice is meant to chill your drinks and dilute them, balancing the flavors.
Like any kind of art, practice makes perfect. Do not be discouraged when your first attempts are not up to your standards. Experiment and take enough time to perfect your technique. If you want to take your skills to the next level, take a cocktail-making class before you throw a festive party.
Then you are guaranteed to impress all your guests and bring extra sparkles to your celebrations.
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