As the year draws to a festive close, with Diwali and Christmas peeking round the corner, you’re probably busy planning a whole slew of parties – laid back Sunday brunches, disco Diwali nights, easy-breezy terrace evenings, Christmas bonfires, and more. But making your party memorable enough to carry into the next year can be a real challenge! You’ll probably get the food, decor and guest list sorted easily enough, but bartending can be a bit of a daunting task, even if it’s in your own home.
Set the bar high this year, with these easy-to-follow and quick-to-make recipes for the best cocktails of 2019. Remember to make enough – these recipes will leave your guests thirsty for more!
Iced Irish Coffee
Ingredients
120 ml strong coffee, chilled
1 tablespoon caster sugar
45 ml Irish whiskey
30 ml heavy cream
Method
Combine the coffee, caster sugar, Irish whiskey and heavy cream in an ice-filled cocktail shaker
Shake vigorously for about half a minute
Strain into an ice-filled glass
Cinnamon tequila hot toddy
Ingredients (per glass)
30 ml cinnamon syrup* (1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water and 3 cinnamon sticks reduced to a syrup)
50 ml tequila
5 parts hot water
10 ml honey
10 ml fresh lemon juice
3 drops vanilla essence
Cinnamon sticks to garnish
Method
Combine all ingredients in a glass. Stir and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Brandy egg flip
Ingredients
60 ml brandy
30 ml sugar syrup (boil equal parts water and sugar and cool)
Whole egg
Grated nutmeg to garnish
Method
Shake all ingredients together in a cocktail shaker
Strain into stemmed cocktail glass
Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg
Rummy hot chocolate
Ingredients
2.5 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
150 gm chocolate shavings
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1/2 cup rum
Method
Bring the milk to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat
Whisk in the sugar and cocoa powder, chocolate shavings and vanilla, and stir until no lumps remain
Let it boil for a few minutes, then turn off the heat
Add the rum and pour into cups
Beer Cocktail
Ingredients
4 bottles of beer
1 cup tequila
The juice of 3 limes Ice
Method
In a blender, combine the beer, tequila, lime juice and ice
Pour into tall glasses and garnish with a wedge of lime
Enjoy these with your guests and add them to the list of things that 2019 has taught you!
Please drink responsibly
