ON THE GRAPEVINE
SAM WYLIE-HARRIS ON... WINTER COCKTAILS TO WARM THE COCKLES
A SUREFIRE way to fire up the taste buds during a cold snap is to rustle up a cheeky cocktail.
Whether it’s the comforting, warming notes of a hot toddy or a crafty concoction to stir the senses, these winning recipes are worth shining up your cocktail kit...
1 AEROLITE LYNDSAY HOT TODDY
A deliciously peaty single malt from the Isle of Islay, Aerolite Lyndsay 10
Year Old (£44.95, 70cl, Master of Malt) is matured in bourbon and Spanish oak quarter casks and we love its bold and complex character. Smoky with a honeyed sweetness and a trace of salted toffee, a dash of water will increase its maritime aromas, but Aerolite Lyndsay also makes a wonderful hot toddy.
■ Ingredients: 40ml Aerolite Lyndsay, 20ml lemon juice, 10ml honey water (1:1), cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg.
■ Method: Add whisky, honey water, lemon juice to a toddy glass. Add a pinch of nutmeg and stir in. Top with hot water and garnish with a clovestudded lemon slice and a stick of cinnamon.
2 SANTA TERESA ARAGUA OLD FASHIONED
The simplest cocktails can sometimes be the trickiest to make. For a tasty, stirred down twist, swap whiskey for an aged rum such as Santa Teresa 1796
Solera Rum (£47.99, 70cl, Amazon), sugar cubes for syrup and reach for high quality bitters – we suggest The Bitter Truth Chocolate Bitters (£13.44, 20cl, Amazon).
■ Ingredients: 50ml Santa Teresa 1796, 7.5ml brown sugar syrup, 3 drops chocolate bitters.
■ Method: Fill a rocks glass with ice, add the ingredients, stir well and garnish with with orange zest or chocolate-coated coffee beans.
3 CIROC WINTER WARMER
Smooth and pure, CIROC Vodka (£34.99, 70cl, Very) doesn’t miss a step when its infused with everyone’s favourite wintry flavours such as sweet honey, spicy nutmeg and fresh cinnamon. This cocktail will give you sweet, spice, and everything nice.
■ Ingredients: 40ml CIROC, 10ml Cointreau, 10ml honey, 15ml lemon juice, grounded nutmeg, mint and cinnamon stick for garnish.
■ Method: Half-fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the ingredients, shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass over ice and garnish with nutmeg, mint and cinnamon stick.