How to make Britain’s favourite cocktails
Mojito
Mix white rum, lime, mint, soda water and sugar over crushed ice for the ideal refresher on a sultry summer afternoon. Well worth muddling the sugar, lime, and mint with the ice before adding the rum and soda. As popular as the day is long. Pornstar Martini
A delicious amalgamation of vanilla and passion fruit, originally accompanied by a shot of sparkling wine, conceived in London in 2001. Mix vigorously vanilla flavoured vodka, passion fruit liqueur, and passion fruit puree with lime juice, vanilla simple syrup and garnish with a slice of passion fruit. Serve with a side shot of sparkling wine.
Pornstar Martini
A delicious amalgamation of vanilla and passion fruit, originally accompanied by a shot of sparkling wine, conceived in London in 2001. Mix vigorously vanilla flavoured vodka, passion fruit liqueur, and passion fruit puree with lime juice, vanilla simple syrup and garnish with a slice of passion fruit. Serve with a side shot of sparkling wine.
Dark and Stormy
Conceived during the Second World War by Bermuda-based Gosling Brothers Ltd. The best way to make this cocktail is to squeeze a wedge of lime over ice and drop it into a tall glass, then add dark rum and ginger beer. Also called (rather bizarrely) Safe Harbour.
Black Velvet
This all-time iconic cocktail was invented in 1861 to commemorate death of Prince Albert by a London bartender. Black Velvet comprises just two equally measured ingredients: stout (typically Guinness) and sparkling wine (invariably champagne!). No garnish, no straw, no umbrella – just pour the Guinness over the back of a spoon to layer it over the Champagne.
Black and Tan
Half and half mix of Stout and Ale (typically Pale Ale). Also called a Half & Half, especially in Ireland. First the term refers to a cocktail consisting of equal parts mild young beer and bottled brown ale beer.
Snakebite
The classic fifty/fifty mix of lager and cider. Known to get customers inebriated rather quickly due to it’s increased quaffability and an urban-mythical chemical reaction. Add blackcurrant to make the notorious Purple Nasty.
Espresso Martini
Luscious merge of vodka, espresso, Kahlua and sugar syrup. Shaken vigorously together until a froth forms and strained into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with a couple of coffee beans.
Bramble
Delightfully refreshing cocktail combining dry gin, sugar syrup, lemon juice and crushed ice then adding sweet blackberry liqueur (hence the name ‘bramble’) which produces a marble effect. Add frozen blackberries or raspberries (or both) for a final flourish.
Gimlet
Simple but sublime English cocktail named after its inventor, Sir Thomas Gimlette, who create it in the 1890’s. Invariably made by adding 1 part neat Rose’s lime cordial to 2 parts dry gin over ice with a splash of sugar to taste and finished with a slice or two of lime.
Vodka Martini
The most British of cocktails, made fashionable by James Bond. An acquired taste of 3 parts gin, 1 part vodka and a half shot of French Vermouth, shaken (not stirred) with ice and served with an olive (or a twist of lemon peel).
Pina Colada
2 parts pineapple juice, 1 part white rum and 1 part coconut cream generate this classic cocktail, popularised in the seventies, born in Puerto Rico in the fifties. Add a wedge of pineapple and an umbrella for the full Latin feel.
Pimms
What could be more English? Not much prep required, just pour straight from the bottle over ice, strawberries, cucumber and mint. Add lemonade and give it a quick stir and Voilà! Some people add slices of orange – but not for us – there’s enough going on in there already to please everyone.
