I was originally going to post this for Foodie Friday, but then I realised that Friday was in fact New Years Day, and by then, you've probably drunk the cocktails and are probably suffering the usual NYD hangover. With that in mind, Dryad's Diatribe brings you Foodie Friday a day early, to help you ring in the New Year! Below are five of my favourite cocktails (Well, 4 and one mocktail). They are all simple to make, and you can change around amounts to suit your particular tastes. Rest assured, if I find myself in a position to be drinking cocktails on Thursday night, these will be the ones in hand! I can see it now, cocktails on the Geelong waterfront, listening to some sweet bands, welcoming the new year in style with The Muso.
Cosmopolitan – My all time favourite, light and refreshing!
2 measures vodka
Ice cubes
½ measure Cointreau
1 measure cranberry juice
1 measure fresh lime juice
Twists of lemon and lime to decorate
Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with the ice cubes. Strain into a martini glass and decorate with twists of lemon and lime rind.
Do NOT use cranberry drink or sweetened cranberry juice for this cocktail, I cannot emphasise this enough. It ruins the whole character of the cocktail! Substitute for cheap ingredients at your peril.
Edit: EPIC FAIL! I forgot the limes, and didn't realise until I was sitting in a bar last night trying to stomach one made with lemon juice. Sorry.
Daiquiri – The traditional and the best
Ice-cubes
2 measures white rum
¾ measure lime juice
½ teaspoon sugar syrup
Put the ice into a cocktail shaker and pour in the rum, lime juice and sugar syrup.
Shake the ingredients vigorously until a frost forms and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Mimosa
Juice of 1 passionfruit
½ measure Curacao
Crushed ice
Sparkling white wine, chilled
Slice of star fruit and twist of lemon peel
Scoop out the passionfruit flesh into a jug or shaker and shake with the Curacao and a little crushed ice until frosted.
Pour into the base of a champagne glass and top up with sparkling wine. Dress with a slice of star fruit and a twist of lemon peel.
Sunken Treasure
Ice
2 measure white rum
Orange Juice
Pineapple Juice
1 measure Blue Curacao
1 pineapple wedge
Three-quarter fill a hurricane glass with ice, add white rum, top up with equal parts orange and pineapple juice, and finish with the blue curacao. Garnish with a wedge of pineapple.
(Many thanks to the Ninja for teaching me this one, though due to the free-pouring at the time, these are only estimates!)
Now, NYE isn't just for the alcohol consumers, and even those of us that do occasionally need a break, so this is my favourite mocktail!
Virgin Raspberry Daiquiri
3 measures raspberry puree
2 measures pineapple juice
1/2 measure lime juice
1 tsp caster sugar
1/2 measure raspberry syrup
Blend briefly with half a glassful of crushed ice in a wine goblet. Garnish with raspberries or a lime wedge, and serve.
Other honourable mentions for our lovely summer weather are mojitos, pina coladas, margaritas (must have salt!), capricosas, frozen fruit tingles, fruit daiquiris (strawberry, mango, raspberry & lime, pineapple – get the fresh fruit in season and experiment!), anything cold and fruity!
What are your plans for New Years? Have you got any favourite cocktails to share?
Thanks for the Daiquiri method, I'll have to give making my own ago, they are so delicious. Hope your new years was magnificent & cocktail fueled!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate, it was wonderful, I hope yours was a blast too! Good luck with the daiquiris, perfect for summer weather!
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