Cocktails that are a recipe for success

Yule be sure to enjoy Christmas – and impress your friends as the host who knows the most – if you whip up a few of these Christmas crackers...

Cocktails are one way to splash out and celebrate the festive season and as their popularity in bars has grown, people have searched for easy ways to make them at home.

Spice up your Christmas this year with one of these festive fancies...

French 75 cocktail

SERVES 1 INGREDIENTS

30ml gin

Juice of 1 lemon

30ml sugar syrup

120ml champagne

1 drop of pink food colouring

2 drops Rose Spice Drops

Crushed ice

DIRECTIONS

Add all the ingredients, except the champagne, in a cocktail shaker.

Shake until all elements are blended. Strain and pour into a flute glass. Add the champagne and stir. Decorate with silver sugar balls to give a festive touch.

Mulled wine with whiskey SERVES 1

Kick off any winter festive dinner party with this piping hot yet refreshing mulled wine recipe using bourbon whiskey for that unusual and extra edge.

The Orange Spice Drops combine well for that fruity dimension.

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp caster sugar

60ml bourbon whiskey

180ml fruity red wine

3 drops Mulling Spices Spice Drops

1 drop Orange Spice Drops

Sliced clementine, for garnishing

DIRECTIONS

In a small saucepan, combine the whiskey and sugar over low heat.

Heat and keep stirring until the sugar dissolves.

Add the wine and heat for another two to three minutes.

Add all the Spice Drops in a glass and pour in the warm drink.

Garnish with the clementine slice and enjoy!

Red Hot Santa Tini Cocktail SERVES 1 INGREDIENTS

60ml vodka

60ml dark chocolate liqueur

Cocoa powder

1-3 drops Chilli Spice Drops

2-4 tbsp sweetened whipped cream

One small Thai chili pepper as garnish

1 tsp paprika powder

DIRECTIONS

Mix 1 drop of Chilli Spice Drops in sugar syrup to wet the rim of the glass.

Mix cocoa powder and paprika on a flat plate and rim a chilled martini glass with it.

In a shaker add the vodka, three drops Chilli Spice Drops and the chocolate liqueur. Shake and pour the mixture into the prepared glass.

Top it off with the dollops of whipping cream and garnish by floating the chili pepper on top of the cream.

Red Rudolph SERVES 1 INGREDIENTS

15ml orange curacao

20ml gin

15ml vodka

175ml cranberry juice

1-2 drops Cinnamon Spice Drops

Sweetened whipped cream

DIRECTIONS

Heat the cranberry juice until it’s quite hot.

Pour all the other liquids into a glass or mug and then slowly add the hot juice.

Top it with whipped cream and garnish with coloured sugar sprinkles.

● Spice Drops are available from supermarkets, health stores, amazon. co.uk and holylama.co.uk for around £5.