Summer is almost upon us, and with summer comes BBQ’s and garden parties – good food, great friends and superb drinks. We’re not talking the usual boring beer and wine here; we mean business, something fun and different to cool you down on a hot day – cocktails!
The first recorded use of the term ‘cocktail’ dates back to 1803, they seem to have gone out of fashion a little over the last few years, but fear not, like vintage clothes, brogues and everything 1920’s; cocktails are becoming trendy once again.
Here at Nickolls and Perks, we offer a wide variety of tipples that when combined will create delicious cocktails, to give you and your guests a night to remember (or not!). From the classic Gin and Tonic, to the more exotic Pompelmo Spritz, there’s a cocktail for every occasion.
So here are our top 5 favourite cocktails, to guide you through the summer:
1. Diamond Martini
2.5 fl oz Vodka from the freezer (Stolichnaya Red Vodka 70cl £18.00, Chase English Vodka 50cl £21.60, Beluga Noble Vodka 70cl £40.80)
A dash of Dry Vermouth (Mancino Secco Vermouth 70cl £22.60)
A twist of lemon
The key to this cocktail is top quality spirits, as there’s nothing for them to hide behind. Add the vodka and vermouth to a chilled glass, run the lemon around the rim and serve.
2. Boston Cocktail
1.5 fl oz of Gin (Haymans London Dry Gin 70cl £20.15, Plymouth Gin 70cl £20, Monkey 47 Gin 50cl £39.95)
1.5 fl oz Apricot Brandy (De Kuyper 50cl £13.50)
¼ fl oz Grenadine (Phillips Grenadine Cordial 70cl £15.30)
Juice of ½ lemon
This is great if you have more of a sweet tooth, add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and mix well, strain in to a chilled glass.
3. Apple Sour
1.5fl oz Bourbon (McAfee’s Benchmark No. 8 70cl £18.74, Makers Mark 70cl £25.92, Eagle Rare 10YO 70cl £34.92)
¾ fl oz Triple Sec (De Kuyper 70cl £21.90)
1 ¼ fl oz Apple Juice
¼ fl oz Lemon Juice
2 Dashes of Orange Bitters (The Bitter Truth Orange 20cl £16.80)
The key to this cocktail is using super fresh apple juice, add all of the ingredients into a shaker and mix well, serve in a chilled old-fashioned glass.
4. Strawberry Daiquiri
2 fl oz Light Rum (Havana club 3YO 70cl £21.50, El Dorado 3YO 70cl £22.25)
½ fl oz Triple Sec (De Kuyper 70cl £21.90)
1 fl oz Lime Juice
½ Teaspoon Sugar
Ice and Strawberries to taste
Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blitz, (you can use frozen or fresh strawberries) serve in a margarita glass with a straw.
5. Champagne Cocktail
2cl Cognac (Hardy VS 5cl £3.30, Hardy VS 70cl £32.40, Martel VS 70cl £22.00)
8cl Champagne (Gremillet NV 37.5cl £12.50, 75cl £22.99, Moet 20cl £12.90, 75cl £35.99, Bollinger 37.5cl £22.00, 75cl £33.00)
A Little Underberg Bitters (3x2cl Pack £3.95)
1 Lump sugar
A Slice of Orange
Melt the sugar with the Underberg bitters, add the champagne and cognac with a squeeze of orange and serve.