TRAVEL WEEK Don’t miss out on your favourite holiday cocktails
When it comes to holidays we often dream about sunshine, the seaside and sipping our favourite cocktails, writes Daniel Bailey.
But with travel restrictions to many destinations still firmly in place, holidaying abroad remains off the radar. While we can’t guarantee the sun, there’s no need to miss out on your top tipples. Here are three great ranges of cocktails that can be delivered straight to your door:
BOTTLE BAR AND SHOP (BOTTLED)
These delicious and smartlooking bottled cocktails look great on the shelf or drinks trolley. Handmade from start to finish, each creation is infused, mixed and bottled to the highest quality and that is proven in the taste. There are no additives or flavours in these drinks and high quality brands such as Rock Rose Gin, Holy Grass Vodka and In The Loop Vermouth are used. I recommend the Summer Gin Cup and Passion Fruit Daiquiri. Prices start from £9.50. Website: bottlebarandshop.com
NIO COCKTAILS (LETTERBOX)
Who’d have thought you could get cocktails posted through your letterbox? This is a great idea from NIO and you can imagine the surprise on someone’s face when receiving a box of these as a gift. These amazing ‘flatpacked’ cocktails are ready to drink and you can create a box of up to nine of your favourites. My favourites were the Negroni and Gin Proved. On the tasting, these are the kind of cocktails you’d expect to drink in a high-end bar. A box of three costs £19.50. Website: niococktails.co.uk
LIBERATION (CANNED)
How about a grab-and-go cocktail? These ready-to-quaff cans are perfect for times when there is less desire for theatre as you can crack them open anywhere while on-the-go. With tasty mixtures including Pisco Sour, Strawberry Daiquiri and Espresso Martini (my fave), they’re more than suitable to take away on trips and picnics, and thanks to the strong and slimline cans you can store them anywhere without too much worry.Don’t forget to shake before you sip! A pack of six costs £21. Website: liberationcocktails.com
Makes 18 biscuits. Hands-on time 15 min, oven time 30-35 min.
INGREDIENTS
200g plain flour, plus extra for dusting 75g fine semolina
50g caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
Finely grated zest ½ lemon
160g cold unsalted butter cubed, plus extra for greasing
YOU’LL ALSO NEED…
20cm x 20cm shallow cake tin, lightly greased, base and sides lined with nonstick baking paper
METHOD
1. Heat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan/ gas 3½ . Put the plain flour, semolina, caster sugar and a pinch of fine salt in a medium mixing bowl. Add the lemon zest and butter, then rub them into the flour with your fingers or pulse in a food processor until the dough has the texture of rough breadcrumbs.
2. Lightly press the mixture into the prepared cake tin using the back of a spoon or a small palette knife – don’t compact it too much, as it will give your biscuits a tougher, less crumbly texture. Bake for 30-35 minutes until just golden on top – keep an eye on it as, depending on the accuracy of your oven, the biscuit can quickly turn too brown. Leave to cool completely, then sprinkle the top with extra caster sugar. Carefully cut into 18 fingers to serve. The biscuits are best eaten on the day as they’ll soften in 48 hours.
HOW TO JAZZ IT UP NEXT TIME…
• Stir the finely grated zest of another lemon or 2 limes into the flour in step 1, then continue with the recipe.
• After bringing the dough together (step 1), stir in dark/milk chocolate chips, then pack the mixture into the tin as in the recipe (step 2).
• Make millionaire’s shortbread: when the shortbread has cooled, top it with a thin layer of caramel (such as Carnation), followed by a layer of 200g melted milk chocolate. Allow the chocolate to set completely before cutting into squares.
• Bake the shortbread in a 20cm cake tin, cool, then top with a cheesecake mixture that doesn’t need baking (see deliciousmagazine.co.uk for a recipe).