Damn It Jimmy (Serves 1)
Even if this wasn’t a fantastic cocktail I’d be tempted to share it as it has such a brilliant name! It’s a complex cocktail containing sake, rum and a little sherry yet it has a surprisingly delicate taste. It’s worth having sake in your fridge just for this cocktail, it really doesn’t have to be a premium bottle; once opened, a bottle will keep for about 3 weeks (use a vacuum stopper).
45ml sake
45ml white rum
7.5ml fino sherry
7.5ml dry vermouth
5ml sugar syrup
Ice
A green olive to garnish (optional)
- Simply stir all the ingredients with ice then strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a green olive.
Greta Garbo Cocktail (Serves 1)
If you like the flavour of anise this is definitely one for you! It’s a take on a Daiquiri but with the delicate, fresh notes of anise and maraschino.
60ml white rum (such as Bacardi)
7.5ml Maraschino liqueur
15ml sugar syrup
30ml Lime juice
5ml Pernod aniseed liqueur
Handful of ice
A star anise to garnish
- Simply put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake for 15 seconds until cold. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a star anise.
Dark and Stormy Cocktail (Serves 1)
Nick, Felix and I have become rather partial to this cocktail over the last few months. It’s particularly good on a warm summer’s evening (here’s hoping!). Made with rum, ginger beer and lime it’s a refreshing, long cocktail.
50ml dark rum
20ml freshly squeezed lime juice
10ml sugar syrup
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
90ml Ginger beer
Ice
A lime wedge to serve
- Add the rum, lime juice, sugar syrup and the Angostura bitters to a cocktail shaker and shake with the ice.
- Strain into an ice-filled glass (a tall glass such as a ‘Collins’). Top with the ginger beer, stir briefly and garnish with a lime wedge.
Daiquiri Cocktail (Serves 1)
I thought it was about time that I shared this classic cocktail. There are many ‘daiquiri twists’, but this is the original recipe. It’s simply a mix of white rum, lime juice and sugar syrup – a crisp, light and refreshing cocktail perfect for any occasion…
50ml white rum (such as Bicardi Carta Blanca)
15ml freshly squeezed lime juice
10ml sugar syrup
A handful of ice cubes
Slice of lime to garnish (optional)
- Simply add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker, add a handful of ice cubes and shake until the mixture is well chilled, 15-20 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a slice of lime.
Old Cuban Cocktail (Serves 1)
This cocktail is a fantastic twist on the classic Mojito. With the addition of Prosecco it has a lighter, more elegant finish. Perfect on a summer evening…
25ml sugar syrup
½ a lime, juiced
70ml dark rum, such as Havana
1 sprig fresh mint, leaves picked
Angostura bitters
A handful of ice cubes
50ml Prosecco
- Place the mint leaves in a cocktail shaker and lightly bash with the back of a wooden spoon. Add the sugar syrup, lime juice, rum and a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters plus the ice cubes. Shake for about 15 seconds until the shaker is cold.
- Strain into a chilled glass and top with the Prosecco… Enjoy!
A Classic Mojito (Serves 1)
There are many recipes around for Mojitos, I prefer mine with dark Havana rum, and just a splash of soda – too much and you spoil it! Unfortunately, I haven’t had the pleasure of enjoying an authentic Mojito in Cuba (although Havana is on my bucket list!), the nearest I’ve been is a Cuban bar in Florida, where they assured me that dark rum was the way to go – who am I to argue!…
*To crush/crack the ice cubes: put the ice in a bag, cover this with a tea towel, then use a rolling pin to bash/ crush them.
50ml Havana Club Dark Rum
3 teaspoons sugar syrup
8 mint leaves
Juice of a lime
A splash of soda – about 30ml
Ice cubes, gently crushed/cracked (see note above)
- Place the mint leaves in a glass, add the sugar syrup and use the back of a spoon to gently crush the leaves to release the mint oil.
- Add the rum, the lime juice and the crushed/cracked ice cubes. Give it a good stir then top with a splash of soda, stir again and serve.
Menu Mistress 