CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL
Mum always insisted that we wear a ‘Christmas Day Dress’ to our celebratory Christmas family get together and I still do ‘frock’ up for the occasion. Sometimes I’m the only one.
Like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, I fancy that having a cocktail in hand is also befitting the occasion. And so we present our Christmas Cocktail, the first of our Christmas recipes for this year.
As always, in the lead up to Christmas, we’ll be posting more often than usual with our recipes to help you with your festive menu planning. All are straight forward and most can be prepared ahead of ‘C Day’ leaving you more time with your Christmas Cocktail.
Rosie
CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL
Serves 2
50 ml gin or vodka
50 ml Campari
50 ml blood orange juice (or plain orange juice), strained
20 ml lime or lemon juice
Sugar syrup to taste (see below)
Ice cubes
Tonic or sparkling water (optional)
Place all the ingredients except the sugar syrup (and tonic or sparkling water if using) into a cocktail shaker or lovely, glass jug.
Add 10 ml (2 teaspoons) sugar syrup and taste. Add more sugar syrup, if necessary, to your taste.
Give a little shake then strain into cocktail glasses, garnish with fine strips of orange, lime or lemon zest to serve.
If you prefer a longer drink (i.e. one without such a kick), strain into hi-ball glasses and top with tonic or sparkling water to taste. Garnish as above.
Sugar Syrup
110 gm caster sugar
125 ml water
Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved then bring to a simmer. Cook for 1 minute, remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
Transfer to a sterilised jar and store in the fridge. The sugar syrup with last well beyond the festive season.
TIPS:
Make up a jug the day before and keep in the fridge. Chill your glasses before serving.
Blood orange juice has a short season which, in the Southern Hemisphere, finishes in Spring. It can, however, be purchased in bottled form. Use regular, freshly squeezed orange juice as an alternative.
If you’re really organised, you can freeze fresh Blood Orange juice, when in season, in ice cube trays, ever ready to throw into the cocktail shaker.