With our favourite clubs, bars and restaurants having been closed for a matter of months combined, we can no longer boogie to ‘Dancing Queen’, dress up for a tasteful night out or even enjoy a fresh stone-baked pizza without seeing the same four walls every day. And it’s really getting to us because that’s what university is all about! So instead of sulking over the weekend, we have compiled a list of the best winter cocktail recipes for lockdown so that you never go without.
1. Moscow Mule
- Crushed ice
- 50ml vodka
- 200ml Ginger Beer
- 1 lime
- Mint
Add the vodka and crushed ice to a copper mug until it is ¾ full. Top with cold ginger beer and stir well. Squeeze a wedge of lime over and garnish with a sprig of mint.
2. Mulled Wine
- Bottle of red wine
- 60ml brandy
- 60ml water
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 star anise
- 1 lemon – juiced
- 1 orange – juiced
Add all the ingredients to a saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce to simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Strain before serving warm with an orange slice as garnish.
3. Espresso Martini
- Ice cubes
- 40ml vodka
- 20ml Kahlúa
- 20ml espresso
- Coffee beans
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, then add the vodka, kahlúa and espresso. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with three coffee beans and serve.
4. Mojito
- Crushed ice
- 60ml white rum
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- Soda water
- Mint
Crush a small handful of mint leaves with the end of a rolling pin and add the sugar and lime. Pour into a glass and add a handful of crushed ice. Pour in the rum and stir, adding soda water to your preferred taste. Garnish with mint and serve.
5. Cosmopolitan
- Ice
- 45ml citrus vodka
- 30ml Cointreau
- Dash cranberry juice
- 1 lime
Place the ice, vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and the juice of half of a lime in a shaker and mix well. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wedge.
6. Eggnog
- 120ml milk
- 120ml heavy whipping cream
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp vanilla
- 25ml bourbon
Warm the milk and cream together on a medium heat. Meanwhile, combine the egg yolk and sugar in a separate bowl. Once the mixture begins to simmer, remove from the heat and slowly whisk it into the egg yolk/sugar mixture one tablespoon at a time until about half of the mixture has been added. Place the mixture in back into the saucepan and heat, whisking occasionally for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, add in the vanilla and bourbon and pour into a mug. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
7. Negroni
- Ice
- 30ml gin
- 30ml Campari
- 30ml sweet vermouth
- Orange peel
Place the ice, gin, Campari and sweet vermouth in a glass and stir until chilled. Strain into a glass filled with ice cubes and garnish with orange peel.
8. Black Russian
- Ice
- 60ml vodka
- 30ml Kahlúa
- 1 cherry
Place the ice, vodka and Kahlúa in a small glass and stir. Garnish with a cherry.
9. Sangria
- Ice
- Bottle of red wine
- 80ml brandy
- ½ medium apple
- ½ medium orange
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 180ml orange juice
Place the apple, orange and sugar in a large pitcher and press together with a wooden spoon for 45 seconds. Add the orange juice and brandy, continuing to muddle for a further 30 seconds. Add the red wine and stir, pouring to the desired flavour. Add ice, stir to chill and garnish with orange segments.
10. Sidecar
- Ice
- 45ml cognac
- 20ml Cointreau
- 1 ½ tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Place all the ingredients in a shaker and mix well until chilled. Strain into a glass and serve.
So I know that partying with your parents on Friday night may not be what we all had planned for 2020, but if you’re going to drink, you might as well do it in style with these famous winter cocktails. We can only hope that these restrictions ease off in time, but for now dust off that shaker and get drinking for your NEW Friday nights in.