Be it at festivals or weekend parties, cocktails have always been an integral part of our celebrations. They are basically a delightful concoction that combines various ingredients like spirits, liqueurs, juices, syrups, and garnishes. These mixed drinks are artfully created to give us a harmonious symphony of flavours, aromas, and colours.
From classic drinks like martini and old-fashioned to desi delights like jaljeera mojito and nimbu pani julep, there are countless ways to prepare cocktails. Of course, it requires certain skills and practice to become a good mixologist, but with just a little effort, you can make amazing drinks for your friends and family. Another interesting thing about cocktails is that they are easy to prepare and can be improvised according to one’s preference.
So, if you are also planning to invite your favourite people to your house for a get-together or any other kind of celebration, here are eight interesting cocktails you can serve them:
Absolut Madras
Ingredients
- Ice Cubes
- 45 ml Absolut Vodka
- 50 ml of cranberry juice
- 75 ml of orange juice
- Orange
Method
- Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
- Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake well.
- Pour the drink into the prepared glass. Garnish with orange. Serve.
Absolut Appletini
Ingredients
- Ice Cubes
- 1½ parts Absolut Vodka
- ¾ part lemon juice
- ⅔ part apple liqueur
- ⅔ part apple juice
- ¾ part simple syrup
Method
- Add all the ingredients with ice in a shaker. Combine well.
- Pour it into a glass and garnish with an apple slice. Enjoy.
Longitude77 Kashmiri Saffron Sour
Ingredients
- 60 ml Longitude 77 Indian Single Malt Whisky
- 30 ml Kashmiri saffron syrup
- 20 ml of lime juice
- 3 drops of egg white
- 1 lemon green
- Grapes
Garnish
- Kashmiri chilli oil
- Kashmiri saffron strands
Method
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and dry shake. Add ice and shake well.
- Fine strain in a chilled glass. Garnish with saffron or chilli oil using a dropper. Enjoy.
Longitude77 Ratnagiri Alphonso Mango Smash
Ingredients
- 60 ml Longitude 77 Indian Single Malt Whisky
- 20 ml alphonso mango juice (aamras)
- 15 ml of lime juice
- 20 ml of mint syrup
- 30 ml of cow milk
Garnish
- Slice of Ratnagiri alphonso mango/mango leather (aam papad)
Method
- Add all ingredients in a cocktail shaker (except milk), add ice, and shake well.
- Strain and add milk; allow this to settle. Filter through a coffee filter. Serve in an old-fashioned glass with an ice block and garnish with aam papad. Serve.
Ballantine’s Cold Brew Kick
Ingredients
- 35 ml Ballantine’s Finest Whisky
- 15 ml coffee liqueur (Kahlua)
- Cold-brew coffee
- 5 ml sugar syrup
Method
- Fill a shaker with ice. Pour in whisky, coffee liqueur, and simple syrup.
- Top with cold-brew coffee. Shake it up. Serve for the perfect wake-up call.
Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Chai-Tini
Ingredients
- 120 ml Jacob’s Creek Sparkling
- 60 ml of lemon or peach iced tea
- 1 wedge of lemon or peach, to garnish
Method
- Ensure that the sparkling wine and tea are well chilled.
- Mix it into a chilled flute or tulip. Garnish with lemon or peach, and serve.
Jacob’s Creek Unvined Riesling Strawberry Fling
Ingredients
- 2 fresh strawberries
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 30 ml of lime juice
- 120 ml Unvined Riesling
Garnish
- Hibiscus flower or half strawberry
Method
- Muddle strawberries and sugar. Add Unvined Riesling and lime and shake.
- Double strain into a martini glass over a hibiscus flower.
- Add strawberries to the side of the glass. Enjoy.
Jacob’s Creek Unvined Shiraz Sangria
Ingredients
- 0.75 cup Unvined Shiraz
- 1 star anise
- Cinnamon quill
- 2 cardamom pods
- 0.25 cup orange juice
- Palm sugar to taste
Garnish
- Orange and apple slices
Method
- Bring the wine and spices to just below a simmer. Allow it to cool in a punch bowl.
- Add orange juice and sugar to taste. Serve in a cocktail glass over ice with orange, apple, and cinnamon.