Tara’s Christmas Tipples
Tara’s Christmas Tipples
The first in our series of Tara’s Tipples sees us feast our eyes on these two festive fancies concocted by The Guide’s cocktail regular connoisseur Tara McGrady. Tara is a keen mixologist and forage; based in Whitehaven, she combines her two passions to create some amazing artisan alcoholic drinks forged straight from the beautiful Cumbrian landscape.
Rosemary and Blueberry Fizz
Ingredients:
25ml Vodka
30ml Homemade Blueberry Syrup
Fresh Sprig of Rosemary
Handful of Blueberries
Prosecco/Champagne
To make the Blueberry syrup:
Combine 100g Caster sugar to 50g of water (or a 2:1 ratio depending on how much syrup you would like to make) and simmer in a pan along with a handful of blueberries until all the sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool, sieve and transfer to a sealable bottle. This can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks and will make the perfect sweet accompaniment to your cocktails over the Festive season.
Method:
Pour the blueberry sugar syrup into a chilled flute and allow to settle at the bottom of the glass. Add the vodka and top with your favorite Prosecco or Champagne.
Add fresh blueberries and a sprig of Rosemary and enjoy. For an extra festive touch, roll the Rosemary in a teaspoon of the leftover sugar syrup and dust with caster sugar to give a frosty effect.
Festive Old Fashioned
This recipe gives the classic prohibition-era cocktail a festive twist with a hint of Cinnamon and scented orange rind . Served straight up over ice, it makes the perfect Christmas eve tipple – Definitely not one for the faint hearted!
Ingredients:
50ml Whisky
35ml Homemade cinnamon sugar syrup
3 dashes of Angostura Bitters
Dash of water
Fresh orange peel
To make the Syrup:
Combine 100g Caster sugar to 50g of water (or a 2:1 ratio depending on how much syrup you would like to make) and simmer in a pan along with two cinnamon sticks until all the sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool, remove the cinnamon, sieve and transfer to a sealable bottle. This can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks and will make the perfect sweet accompaniment to your cocktails over the Festive season.
Method
Combine the whisky, water, cinnamon syrup and Angostura Bitters and shake over ice. Pour into a chilled glass tumbler and garnish with ice and fresh orange peel.
Christmas Cosmo
A festive spin on the Carrie Bradshaw classic, keeping its signature Cranberry base, adding a dusting of nutmeg and substituting vodka for the Cumbrian favorite gin.
Ingredients:
25 ml Lakes Distillery Gin
10 ml Cointreau
Cranberry juice
Juice of half a lime
Egg white
Nutmeg
Method:
Combine the Gin, Cointreau and lime into a shaker. Add the whites from one large egg and dry shake (no ice to be added at this point as it affects the egg whites becoming the perfect foamy consistency). Shake for two minutes before adding ice right at the end to bring down the temperature. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and top with cranberry juicy. Add a dusting of nutmeg for the perfect Christmas tipple.
Pomegranate & Thyme Fizz
A super easy and quick tipple which will impress guests and looks beautiful. Can be topped with your favorite Prosecco or even Champagne to make an extra special Christmas treat.
Ingredients:
20ml Vodka
Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate seeds
Fresh spring of Thyme
Prosecco
Method:
Pour the vodka into a champagne flute, add a dash of pomegranate juice and top with Prosecco. Garnish with fresh thyme and pomegranate seeds and Voila!
