The Australian Fig Leaf (Serves 1)
Earlier this year, my son visited Australia. Whilst there, he enjoyed a version of this cocktail. On his return, we had lots of fun perfecting the recipe. I think this will be as good as it gets and believe me, it’s very good!.. Cheers Felix!
30ml vodka
20ml sake
15ml fig leaf liqueur
20ml lemon juice
10ml sugar syrup
15ml egg white
A handful of ice
- Shake the ingredients except for the ice (‘dry shake’), then strain back into the shaker and shake again with the ice (‘wet shake’).
- Strain into a cocktail glass and enjoy!
St Germain & Cranberry Cocktail (Serves One)
With its bright red colour and sugared rim this cocktail has a festive feel to it, perfect for a Christmas day pick-me-up! But let’s face it, whatever the occasion, it makes a great drink at any time of the year!…
30ml vodka
30ml 100% cranberry juice
15ml St Germain liqueur
15ml lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar syrup
Lemon wheel to garnish
*Optional: if you have the inclination you can sugar the rim of the cocktail glass – Sprinkle 1 table spoon of caster sugar onto a small saucer. Rub a wedge of lime along the rim of your glass, then dip it into the sugar so that the entire rim is covered.
- Simply put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake for 15 seconds until cold. Strain into a chilled glass, with or without a sugared rim, and garnish with the lemon wheel.
Cranberry Kringle Cocktail (Serves 1)
Whilst searching the internet for the perfect Christmas cocktail (on your behalf, of course!) I came across this ‘Cranberry Kringle Cocktail’. Yes, I know, it’s a terrible name, but believe me it goes down a treat, you might want to make a jug if you’ve got a crowd around!…
90ml cranberry juice
30ml Peach schnapps
30ml vodka
A handful of ice
- Simply put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake for 15 seconds until cold. Strain into a chilled glass.
The Joanna (Serves 1)
On my travels through the internet searching for cocktail recipes (with of course Menu Mistress always in mind!), I came across this recipe for ‘The Joanna’. It immediately caught my eye as it is made with ‘Lavender Bitters’, which are the newest addition to my cocktail cabinet (check out last months Lavender Martini below!). The Joanna is a sophisticated cocktail. Despite its vodka base, it has a light and refreshing finish due to the combination of fino sherry, lavender bitters and elderflower liqueur. Enjoy!
6 drops of Lavender Bitters
50ml vodka
25ml fino sherry
25ml dry vermouth
1 tablespoon St Germain Elderflower Liqueur
A handful of ice-cubes
(a sprig of lavender to decorate – optional)
- Place the lavender bitters, vodka, fino sherry, dry vermouth and elderflower liqueur in a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice. Shake for about 15 seconds until the shaker is cold.
- Strain into a cocktail glass and decorate with a sprig of lavender (if using)
A Christmas Cosmopolitan (Serves 1)
I happened to come across this recipe for a ‘Christmas Cosmopolitan’ online. It was posted on YouTube by actor Stanely Tucci, the video is rather amusing but it was the cocktail that caught my attention; I love the twist on the original recipe (it uses pomegranate juice) and with its striking colour it makes the perfect aperitif to serve up over the festive season… Enjoy!
3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds
25ml Cointreau ⠀
50ml vodka⠀
25ml cranberry juice
25ml pomegranate juice
A handful of ice-cubes
1 tablespoon caster sugar
1 Sprig of Rosemary, 1 mint leaf and 1 raspberry for garnish
- First prepare your cocktail glass; put the sugar on a saucer, then dampen the rim of the glass with a wet piece of kitchen roll and dip it into the sugar so that you create a sugared rim.
- To make your garnish, thread the rosemary sprig through the mint leaf followed by the raspberry.
- Place the pomegranate seeds in a cocktail shaker, use a wooden spoon or pestle to muddle them (mush together).
- Add the Cointreau, vodka, cranberry juice and pomegranate juice, then add a large handful of ice. Shake well for 15 seconds until very cold.
- Strain into the prepared cocktail glass and garnish.
A Cosmopolitan Cocktail (Serves 1)
2 tablespoons vodka
2 tablespoons 100% pure cranberry juice (unsweetened!)
1 tablespoon Cointreau
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar syrup
A handful of ice-cubes
1 lime wedge (plus a lime wheel to garnish if desired)
- Place the vodka, cranberry juice, Cointreau, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 15 seconds until cold. Strain into a martini glass.
- Squeeze with the lime wedge and serve, garnished with a lime wheel.
A Bloody Mary Cocktail (Serves 1)
After trying more than my fair share of Bloody Marys over the years, I have concluded that this is the winning recipe – it’s the addition of the ‘fino sherry’ that really gives it the edge.
35ml vodka
10ml fino sherry
170ml tomato juice
½ teaspoon finely grated fresh horseradish
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
¼ teaspoon Tabasco sauce
¼ teaspoon celery salt
Large pinch caster sugar
A sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper, to taste
A squeeze of lemon juice, to taste
A slice of lemon, halved to garnish
A celery stick to garnish
Ice-cubes
- Put some ice in a cocktail shaker and add all the ingredients except for the lemon slices and celery stick and give it a good shake. Check the seasoning, adjusting to taste.
- Strain into a glass and top with some fresh ice, finally garnish with the lemon slices and celery stick.
A Classic Martini (Serves 1)
I am partial to a Martini, one of my favourite places to have one in London is Dukes Hotel, Mayfair. It has a wonderful, sophisticated cocktail bar, reassuringly old-fashioned, where it serves the finest Martinis, prepared tableside on a rosewood trolley; they only use organic lemons from Amalfi for their lemon twist! The recipe I am sharing is based on their classic Martini. I like vodka Martinis with a twist of lemon, but in this recipe you can always substitute the vodka for gin and the lemon for an olive!…
Before you start making a Martini, make sure you put, not only your vodka (or gin) in the freezer, but also your glasses, as you want this cocktail to be chilled to perfection.
1 frozen martini glass
100ml vodka or gin (frozen – see note above)
5ml (1 teaspoon) Dry vermouth
1 large twist of lemon peel from an unwaxed lemon
- Put the Dry Vermouth into the frozen glass
- Top the glass up with the vodka (or gin).
- Squeeze the lemon twist over the glass to extract the fragrant oils.
- Finally, swirl the Martini with the lemon twist and drop it into the glass.
- Enjoy!
Espresso Martini (Serves 2)
Another of my favourite cocktails! If you haven’t got a cocktail shaker use a lidded jam jar. To create a creamy head on the cocktail make sure that the espresso is hot. This recipe will give you two servings – to share or not to share…?!
65ml vodka
75ml coffee liqueur (such as Kahlua or Tia Maria)
75ml hot espresso(see above)
6 coffee beans (optional)
A handful of ice-cubes
- Chill 2 Martini glasses.
- Put the vodka, coffee liqueur and freshly brewed espresso into a cocktail shaker (or a lidded jam jar), with a handful of ice.
- Shake vigorously for 30 seconds, then strain into the glasses. Top each with 3 coffee beans, if you like.
*You can see the video of this cocktail being made by clicking on this link to my instagram page
Menu Mistress 