Tip Of The Week: Classic Cocktails

This week we explore the secrets behind the world's top 5 classic cocktails which are a must for a great party! Let us know your top tips and fave cocktails xx Enjoy xx


MARGARITA

Is this not the most popular cocktail in the world? It's a very classic Mexican cocktail. 

Simply:
- Tequila 
- Lime juice
- Cointreau or orange liquor (instead of Cointreau use agave syrup as the sweetener- it is 4 times   sweeter than sugar and the same plant that tequila is made from). 
- Optional salt rim

It's hugely popular because of the frozen varieties and fruit versions , for example you can have it with frozen mango!

COSMOPOLITAN

The Cosmopolitan (a.k.a. that Sex and the City lover). 

It's made with;
- Lemon vodka or a citrus vodka
- Cointreau or orange liquor
- Lime juice
- Cranberry juice

It is actually based on a drink called a Kamikaze and it was created when Absolut Citron came out in US in the 1980s. A Kamikaze is vodka, Cointreau and lime juice. A bartender in Miami called Cheryl Cook created the Cosmo by adding some cranberry juice to give it a pink hue. Traditionally, it's meant to be quite a tart drink and the cranberry was just for a bit of colour, but now it's evolved to be this sweet, girly drink.

ESPRESSO MARTINI


Basically it's;
- Vodka (or try a dark spirit like rum)
- Fresh espresso
- Some coffee liquor like Kahlua and some sugar syrup
- Shaken and then strained and served with three coffee beans.

It was reportedly created in London by an influential old bartender called Dick Bradsell for a supermodel - apparently Naomi Campbell.

NEGRONI

This is hugely popular in Italian restaurants. It's a traditional aperitif cocktail. It's really bracing - there's quite a lot of alcohol in there - but at the same time it's citrusy, floral and has this bitter aftertaste that prepares your palate for nice food.

It is quite simple to prepare;
- Equal parts of Campari, gin and Italian sweet vermouth 
- Served on ice

It was created in Florence in the early 1900s by a bartender called Fosco Scarselli at Caffe Casoni, for a man called Count Camillo Negroni. It was his own twist on another drink called an Americano, which is made with Campari, vermouth and soda water. He just replaced the soda water with gin for something a little stronger.

MARTINI

Martinis are different - they're almost not even a cocktail. They're in their own little world.

It is simply;
- Gin or vodka (with a twist or with olives)
- Vermouth stirred down with ice
- Served straight up

And let's not forget those mama's to be! xxx