Festive tipples: 5 Christmas cocktails to try

Move over Mimosas; why not try one of my 5 favourite festive tipples? They’re so easy and are sure to make an impression. Here they are…

5 Festive Tipples

Clementine Martini

For a merry Christmas morning, give this festive Breakfast Martini a go.

To make 2 glasses, you’ll need

2 shots of gin 1 shot of Triple Sec 2 shots of soda water 2 tsps of marmalade ½ a fresh lime 3 fresh clementines Clementine peel (to garnish) Ice cubes A cocktail shaker and strainer

How to mix

1. Place three whole peeled clementines, and triple sec in cocktail shaker and muddle until clementines are broken down. 2. Add the gin, lime juice and 1 tsp of marmalade. 3. Fill shaker 1/2 full with ice and shake for 30-60 seconds. 4. Add ½ a tsp of marmalade to the bottom of each Martini glass, and strain the cocktail over, dividing it equally between glasses. 5. Top off with soda water and garnish with a twist of clementine peel. My top tip: Chill the Martini glasses in the freezer for a few hours beforehand.  

White Christmas Sangria (or Winter Sangria)

Sangria, with its juicy, fresh fruit, is one of my favourite summertime drinks so I decided to come up with a winter-y version (that’s great for Christmas, too!) Full of winter fruit and Christmas flavours, it’s perfect for parties.

To make a jug for 6, you’ll need

1 bottle of dry white wine 50ml Triple Sec 250ml Ginger Beer 2 apples, sliced 1 orange, sliced ½ lemon, sliced A handful of fresh raspberries A handful of fresh cranberries 2 cinnamon sticks 2 whole cloves A jug or pitcher Sprigs of rosemary (optional)

How to mix

1. First, chop your fruit into slices. 2. Add all the fruit to a pitcher and top with a bottle of white wine. 3. Let the sangria chill in the fridge for 2-3 hours. 4. Just before serving, add ginger beer and stir gently. 5. To serve, scoop out some fruit into each cup before filling and add a sprig of rosemary to decorate.  

Festive Berry Mojito

With its Christmassy colours, this fruity mojito is great for the festive season – but makes a delicious drink all year round. I’ve used raspberries, but you can use substitute for your favourite berries or a mixture of them all.

To make 2 glasses, you’ll need

4 shots of white rum 2 tbsp of sugar ½ a fresh lime juice Soda water 2 handfuls of fresh raspberries (or mixed berries) A handful of mint Ice cubes A cocktail shaker

How to mix

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves (approx. 10) with the sugar and lime juice. 2. Add the rum, a few ice cubes, and shake for 10 seconds. 3. Strain over a glass of ice and top with soda water. 4. Garnish with an extra sprig of mint, a couple of fresh berries and serve with a straw.  

Cranberry and Ginger Fizz

A refreshing and deliciously wintery cocktail, with fresh cranberries and ginger.

To make 6 glasses, you’ll need

1 bottle of sparkling wine (or Prosecco) 2 handfuls or fresh cranberries 1 cup of caster sugar 1 cup of water ½ tsp of fresh ginger (grated)

How to mix

1. Blend the cranberries and ginger in a food processor until roughly chopped, then mix with the sugar and water in a saucepan. 2. Bring to the boil and simmer for five minutes to form a cranberry syrup. 3. Let the syrup cool, and strain through a fine mesh strainer. 4. Add a tsp of cranberry syrup to each glass and top with sparkling wine. Store any leftover syrup in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.  

Vanilla Espresso Martini

I love serving these as an after-dinner treat at parties. It’s the perfect tipple to perk you up!

To make 2 glasses, you’ll need

6 shots of vanilla vodka 3 shots of chocolate liqueur 3 shots of espresso coffee (chilled) 1 shot of sugar syrup Ice cubes Whole coffee beans (as a garnish, optional) A cocktail shaker, strainer and sieve

How to mix

1. Add the espresso, vanilla vodka and liqueur to a cocktail shaker and then fill with fresh-from-the-freezer ice. 2. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. 3. Pour into a chilled martini glass, using both a cocktail strainer and a sieve to create a rich, smooth, frothy top. 4. Decorate each cocktail with 3 whole coffee beans and serve immediately. My top tip: Save some espresso from your morning coffee and pop it in the fridge.   I’d love to see your Christmas cocktail creations. Share them with us @btreeclothing on Twitter or Instagram. If you’re looking for more festive tipples, you might like to try my homemade Limoncello. Prepare it now and it’ll be ready just in time for your New Year’s Eve parties. Enjoy!