Charlotte Hawkins has opened up on her 'trepidation' surrounding turning 50 - plus her zest for life that still involves a good night out with plenty of tequila shots and cocktails, in an exclusive interview with woman&home.

The beloved British TV host has been helping to wake up the nation on ITV's Good Morning Britain for 11 years - and despite an incredible broadcasting career that has spanned decades, there's more to her than her polished on-screen persona.

Having turned 50 in May of this year, the mother-of-one, who shares ten-year-old Ella Rose with husband Mark Herbert, is still all for an evening out involving a few drinks, with a trip to Ibiza making up part of her birthday celebrations.

Charlotte tells us, "If you go to Ibiza, you’ve got to throw yourself into it, haven’t you? I do like a good night out, drinking cocktails and tequila shots!"

Her milestone day came with some 'trepidation', but those feelings quickly passed, says Charlotte, who is all for embracing the liberating self-assurance that comes with growing older.

"I felt trepidation about turning 50 but it doesn’t matter now. I went to work on my birthday. They decorated my dressing room and made a real fuss. We had cake, we went out for a glass of fizz after the show, Mark took me for a lovely lunch, then we celebrated with Ella Rose in the evening," she adds.

"All my friends from university came around the following night for a dinner party, and we booked an amazing chef, then danced until the early hours.

"Confidence changes with age. When you’re younger, you just throw yourself into stuff with single-minded determination. When you’re older, you’re a bit more realistic, but you have more experience, so you’re better able to handle situations and have a better assessment of what really matters."

Charlotte married Mark back in 2008 and calls him her 'soulmate', putting their strong relationship down to plenty of giggles and good communication.

"When I was younger, I always thought, ‘There’s one person out there who is meant to be with you, who will completely complement who you are,’ and that’s what we are for each other.

"He’s got a great sense of humour, and we have a lot of fun times and a lot of laughter. That’s so important," Charlotte says.

"You know those times when things get too much, or you start niggling at each other? We’ll sit down and work out why. Sometimes it’ll be, ‘Do you know that you do this the whole time?’ or he’s got a thing about how the dishwasher is stacked.

"It’s always worth talking about them and going, ‘I get this isn’t a big deal to you, but these are the things that really wind me up’. Then you learn what’s important."

"He’s got a great sense of humour, and we have a lot of fun times and a lot of laughter. That’s so important," Charlotte says.

"You know those times when things get too much, or you start niggling at each other? We’ll sit down and work out why. Sometimes it’ll be, ‘Do you know that you do this the whole time?’ or he’s got a thing about how the dishwasher is stacked.

"It’s always worth talking about them and going, ‘I get this isn’t a big deal to you, but these are the things that really wind me up’. Then you learn what’s important."

Read Charlotte's full exclusive interview with woman&home in the October issue of the magazine, on shelves from today.

Cocktails are somewhat of an art form, from carefully crafting the right ingredients to using elaborate presentation techniques.

Good cocktails can elevate a dinner party, or make an event feel really special. Making them at home can be challenging, but the right tools and a little expert advice can really help.

"Three key aspects define a cocktail: the balance of spirits, the interplay of flavour, and the sensory experience, which means the overall look, aroma, taste, and how it feels to hold the drink until the last sip," Nandita Godbole, author of upcoming book Masaleydaar Bar: Spicy Sips for All explains.

We asked drinks experts and top bartenders for their advice on making cocktails at home to a professional standard.

How to make perfect cocktails at home - according to bartenders and drink experts

Start simple

"Start simple, with a basic cocktail or two, before experimenting with building layers of flavour based on what you like," food and drinks author Nandita Godbole explains. Some popular basic cocktails involve very few ingredients - such as a margarita, which mixes tequila, lime and sugar syrup.

Get your set of spirits in order

"Create a set of spirits from your favourite brands and experiment along the way with new kinds," food and drinks author Nandita Godbole explains. Start with a few spirits - such as vodka, rum and tequila - and work out recipes around those. Godbole continues, "Every cocktail combines spirits, and a mixer to enhance the flavours, bitters for balance and garnishes."

Look at your overall drinks collection

"Every home bar needs a few basics: gin, vodka, whiskey (bourbon, scotch, rye… your choice), rum and tequila," food and drinks author Nandita Godbole advises. "Liqueurs are used in moderation but add a dramatic flair to well-made drinks. Wine, beer, and champagne also make great cocktails." Invest in good quality spirits, wines and mixers to elevate your collection.

Have mixers and garnishes to hand

"Mixers include club soda, tonic water, and carbonated drinks and can even include juices, tea and coffee," food and drinks author Nandita Godbole explains. "Keep some basic Angostura bitters and simple garnishes like citrus fruits and fresh herbs on hand - and build the bar as you get more confident."

Invest in some equipment

Food and drinks author Nandita Godbole explains, "Start with a mid-grade set of bar tools, including a long-handled stirring spoon and a dedicated muddler. With practice, you’ll know what you need and like, and then purchase a sturdy, long-lasting set. Skip the fancy equipment in the beginning."

Think about glassware

"Beautiful glasses and stemware enhance the experience of the drink," food and drinks author Nandita Godbole explains. "Identify what kinds of drinks you like most, and then invest in the glasses suited to those drinks. Vintage glasses and assorted stemware sets are worth exploring."

Temperature matters

"Temperature is very important," Liana Oster, Bars Director at NoMad London explains. "Take a martini, for example. Is your vermouth kept in the fridge or on your shelf? Your spirit of choice in the freezer or shelf? Do you chill your glassware down before pouring your drink into the glass."

Consider handmade glasses for an elegant touch

"look into handcrafted ceramic glasses," food and drinks author Nandita Godbole explains. "They may be a little harder to find at first, but they are very sturdy, dishwasher safe, and have an incredible unexpected advantage - they keep the drink chilled for much longer than a traditional glass - without the sweating! Plus, they will make your home bar unique, stylish and fun."

Set the tone

Cocktails evoke a certain mood, and getting the atmosphere right can make them all the more enjoyable. "Start with dim, warm lighting using candles or low-hanging lights to create an intimate ambience for example, soft jazz, blues, or classic lounge tunes playing in the background will set the right mood," Victoria Micaela Saenz, Senior Bar Supervisor, at The Stables Bar, Milestone Hotel & Residences told us.

Consider a bar cart

"It’s also important to invest in quality crystal glassware for an elegant touch, and arrange your spirits and mixers on a polished tray or classic bar cart, complete with fresh garnishes like citrus peels, herbs, and edible flowers, Victoria Micaela Saenz, Senior Bar Supervisor, at The Stables Bar, Milestone Hotel & Residences told us.

Use premium ingredients

Our experts stress the importance of using quality ingredients if you want to up your cocktail game. While they may be a little more expensive, using a premium spirit will alter the overall taste of the cocktail, particularly when there are less mixers.

Try a retro punch bowl

Punch bowls are all the rage at the moment and can add a fun retro twist to your cocktail party. Make your selected cocktail in bulk and add plenty of ice and sliced fruit. Citrus fruits like grapefruit, lemon, lime and orange work particularly well - but you can add in any fruits that take your fancy.

Consider homemade spirits

"When it comes to ingredients, The Stables Bar specialises in classic, sophisticated cocktails made with premium ingredients and always use fresh citrus, clear ice, and homemade syrups for the best quality, Victoria Micaela Saenz, Senior Bar Supervisor at The Stables Bar, Milestone Hotel & Residences told us.

Presentation is everything

Final flourishes can really elevate your cocktail. Victoria Micaela Saenz, Senior Bar Supervisor at The Stables Bar, Milestone Hotel & Residences, told us, "Perfect the presentation by using a gold-rimmed coaster or elegant serving tray, and garnish with twists, dehydrated citrus, or edible flowers for added sophistication."

Get creative

"Get creative!" Liana Oster, Bars Director at NoMad London, explains. "It's also a lot of fun to host people and make drinks for them. Maybe create a little bar for a dinner party. Play around with some fun garnishes, and try some new recipes or techniques that you've always wanted to. Try batching some cocktails for ease as well, or maybe a show stopper like a punch."

Learn the classics

"There are so many incredible cocktails out there, but being in the know about a few classic serves can stand you in good stead when chatting drinks to your mates," world bartending champ and cocktail guru Jamie Stephenson explains.

"Spend a little time learning about a few classics - think Margarita, Pina Colada or the Pornstar Martini - and discover what ingredients they entail and where they hail from.

"For example, it’s believed that the Margarita – typically made with premium tequila, lime juice and a salt rim - was first invented in 1942 in a Mexican cantina by Francisco 'Pancho' Morales. Learn it, and then fake it ‘till you make it."

Load up on ice

"There’s a well-known phrase amongst bartenders - 'ice keeps ice nice'," cocktail guru Jamie Stephenson explains. "So rather than shy away from too much ice, mistakenly thinking it may dilute your drinks, use plenty. You may have seen some fancy bars use huge cubes (some of them even branded), but again, larger cubes will minimise dilution and ensure your cocktails stay chilly."

Serve your cocktails with snacks

Food and cocktails go hand in hand, as Victoria Micaela Saenz, Senior Bar Supervisor, at The Stables Bar, Milestone Hotel & Residences explains. "You can then serve these cocktails with a small complementary bite - perhaps even a snack from Bea Tollman’s cookbook, A Life in Food.”

Be precise with ratios

"If you are knocking up a few cocktails from scratch and have learned the recipes, never ever go rogue with measurements, as cocktail ratios are there for a reason," cocktail guru Jamie Stephenson explains.

"Maverick measures will result in bad-tasting, sour or bitter cocktails with too much alcohol and incorrect flavours. Stick to the ratios and your cocktails will taste balanced and beautiful - or use premixed cocktails as a base and get creative with the garnish."

Make sure your bar is inclusive

The sober movement is more prevalent than ever, and non-alcoholic cocktails should be part of your repertoire. "Always keep some non-alcoholic spirits to keep an inclusive home bar," food and drinks author Nandita Godbole suggests.

Learn the lingo

A crash course in cocktails can help you up your game, cocktail guru Jamie Stephenson explains. He told us, "Do you know your wet shake from your dry shake? Understand what Mise en Place or muddle means? Are you behind the stick? Learning a bit of lingo and the odd bar buzzword will give you instant cocktail geek vibes."

Get creative

Making cocktails at home is an excellent opportunity to get creative. "Cocktails are meant to be enjoyed across all senses. Spend a few moments determining how the drink comes together in a glass, and get creative," food and drinks author Nandita Godbole suggests.

Take notes on what you like

"Cocktails are very personal - no two people have the same experience with a drink," food and drinks author Nandita Godbole explains. She continued: "So if you did not like a drink from a recipe, experiment by changing one ingredient until you find the flavours you like."

Less is more

Be careful adding new ingredients, especially if they have a strong flavour, food and drinks, as author Nandita Godbole suggests. She continues, "Less is more: a few extra dashes of a strong ingredient can throw off the entire drink. Experiment - experiment - experiment until you find a good balance."

Be prepared

"Make sure you are prepared for success, which means investing in some equipment, nice glassware, ice, and quality products," says Liana Oster, Bars Director at NoMad London.

"This doesn't have to be expensive either; you can go thrift shopping for some glasses and equipment. You can never go wrong with a great cocktail book as well as a guide. Do you have the means to make some homemade syrups?"

Have fun with it!

"Most importantly, have fun. Making cocktails is only the prelude to a grand and fun party," food and drinks author Nandita Godbole. Your guests are sure to be impressed with your efforts - so don't worry about getting every cocktail perfect.

Make sure everything is kept in one place

Organisation is key. "Make sure everything is kept in one place and kept properly. Maybe invest in a cocktail trolley or something of that kind," Liana Oster, Bars Director at NoMad London explains.

Consider frozen fruit as ice

In the summer especially, frozen berries can work well as ice cubes for loner drinks. You can buy ready-made frozen fruits or freeze your own fruits for your drinks. Grapes, blueberries, raspberries and cherries work particularly well.

Try homemade ice cubes with berries, slices of citrus fruit or herbs

You've probably seen homemade ice cubes with berries, slices of citrus fruit or herbs all over social media - and this simple hack can be a fun addition to cocktails. Try freezing orange juice with herbs and lemon and adding to processo for an inventive twist on a bellini.

Make it a cocktail hour

Part of the fun of drinking cocktails is that it's a novelty. If you're hosting a gathering, garden party or dinner party, designating a 'cocktail hour' where you serve your drinks is a way to get your guests in the mood. You could even put it on an invite to the event if you want to make it feel like a really special occasion.

Don't forget a simple spritz

Sometimes, a simple spritz is the perfect opening drink at a social gathering or dinner party - and it's one of the easiest cocktails to make. Try a dash of elderflower with Prosecco and some thyme for a classic spritz.

Chill your glasses

One of the easiest tricks for making your cocktails look more sophisticated is to chill your glasses in the fridge before serving. This works particularly well with any kind of martini or a fizz-based cocktail.

Always taste, then adjust

As with cooking a great sauce, it's essential to taste as you go and make sure the flavours are balanced. The main thing you'll likely be looking for is sweetness vs sour, and you can adjust as you go along with more sugar syrup or more citrus.

Non-alcoholic cocktail alternatives are a great way to enjoy your favourite tipple without the buzz. From a 0% mojito to an inventive spin on the classic espresso martini, we reveal how to make them all.

No matter the time of year, having a couple of non-alcoholic cocktail alternatives in your back pocket is very useful. Whether you're having a dinner party or looking for something special to see out the week with, these options are great for reaping all the benefits of not drinking alcohol.

We've collated this list of cocktails, ensuring that each one is easy to make with regular household ingredients - or ones that are widely available to buy online, or at your local supermarket.

Non-alcoholic cocktail ideas

Virgin Mary

A Virgin Mary cocktail is one of the classic cocktail alternatives, using similar ingredients to a Bloody Mary - but no vodka.

To make one, combine tomato and lemon juice, fill a glass with ice and pour the juices over the top. Add a dash of Worchester sauce, a teaspoon of celery salt, freshly ground black pepper, and two dashes of hot sauce.

Don't forget the all-important details to truly replicate the classic cocktail though - a celery stick, lime wedge and cherry tomato. It's like a salad in a glass.

Shirley Temple

A Shirley Temple is a sweet and refreshing spin on an Old Fashioned, traditionally made without alcohol, and originating from 1930s Hollywood.

Take a tall glass and fill it with ice, pour in ginger ale and lime juice. Grenadine goes in over the top, and you can use a maraschino cherry and an orange slice to garnish.

Ginger and orange juice

Ginger and orange juice doesn't just make a good alternative to cocktails, when served in a tall glass with a carrot stick and a slice of ginger on the edge, it's also packed full of nutrients.

As anti-inflammatory foods high in vitamin C, orange and ginger can help maintain a healthy immune system. An extract of ginger can also aid better digestion, so this is a good post-dinner cocktail alternative to have.

Cranberry fizz

A cranberry fizz is another classic cocktail in which the alcohol ingredient is removed for a similar taste. To avoid the gin, combine caster sugar with cranberries at the bottom of a glass. Pour soda water over the top, and add an orange's worth of slices. Before serving, add a couple of ice cubes.

There are two ways you can make this drink - with fresh or frozen cranberries. Frozen cranberries will give the drink a slushie-like texture.

Ice tea

Ice tea is a fresh, easy-to-make and budget-friendly cocktail alternative. It's great on a hot day but just as good in winter, when you want a reminder of warmer climates. It uses traditional teas, combined with sugar or syrups to create a unique flavour, which you can customise as you like.

Peach iced tea is the classic. You can use herbal peach tea to make it or regular tea bags and add the peach flavour. Lemon or verbena are also good bases with which to make iced tea.

Once made, to finish off your cocktail, garnish the drink with peach slices and fresh mint.

Ginger beer

Ginger beer might seem like it belongs in the non-alcoholic beer alternatives list, but we promise that if you add the right ingredients, it'll taste just like a Moscow Mule.

With your copper beaker in hand, combine ginger beer, lime juice, soda water, and a simple sugar syrup (one part sugar, one part water). The ginger beer offers the kick, while the lime juice brings a tangy aftertaste.

Mulled apple juice

In this recipe for mulled apple juice, you simply combine apple juice with a few strips of orange peel, a cinnamon stick, and cloves.

Once the apple juice is simmering on the hob, add the strips of orange peel, cinnamon, and cloves. Keep it lightly bubbling for 10 minutes or so to allow all the flavours to infuse. Then, add sugar or honey (for a more natural taste) to sweeten your cocktail alternative as needed. Leave it to cool and add ice, or drink it warm as an alternative to mulled wine.

Mint lemonade

Mint lemonade is a spin on the classic recipe. First things first, you'll need a blender. Then you add lemon juice and mint, along with a simple sugar syrup, blitzing the ingredients together until the mint is very small. Then pour your mixture into a glass, adding a couple of ice cubes.

You can also make a frozen version of this drink. To do this, combine your ingredients with ice in a blender and keep blitzing until the ice takes on a classic slushie consistency.

Virgin Piña Colada

There are so many flavoursome ingredients in a Piña Colada, you can easily go without the alcohol. Combine pineapple juice with coconut milk, fresh or from a can, with lime juice then top with ice in a tall glass. To finish the cocktail off, garnish the top with a pineapple slice and maraschino cherry. Bonus points if you add a cocktail umbrella.

If you find you're missing the rum flavour, you can replace it with a homemade syrup of brown muscovado sugar, pineapple, black peppercorns, cloves, and cinnamon.

Homemade grenadine

Grenadine is a popular syrup used in cocktails like Tequila Sunrise but it actually doesn't contain any alcohol itself. So, you can use it as a replacement in many types of mocktails - or combine it with soda or tonic and drink it on its own.

To make this pomegranate-flavoured syrup, combine pomegranate juice with granulated sugar and a squeeze of orange into water on the hob. Simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes after it reaches a boil, before turning the heat off. Once cooled, add to a decanter with a tight lid. Keep it in your fridge for up to three weeks.

Coconut water

Coconut water is perhaps one of the easiest cocktail alternatives to have. There's no preparation needed, you just need to pick up some pure coconut water from your local supermarket.

In a glass, pour your coconut water over ice, adding a slice of coconut if you have it to finish the drink off. It's light and refreshing, making for a sugar-free alternative to some of the more sugary coconut drinks you may have otherwise.

Espresso tonic

Want to ditch regular cocktails but still need the kick of an espresso martini? Look no further than an espresso and tonic - yes, really.

As the name suggests, this mixture involves combining freshly made espresso (single or double shot, that's up to you) with tonic water. Be sure to leave the espresso to cool first and add plenty of ice to the glass, garnishing your new pick-me-up with a lime or orange wedge when you're ready to drink.

Non-alcoholic Buck's fizz

If you're looking for an alcohol-free alternative to this classic Prosecco or champagne cocktail, Buck's fizz with kombucha is a winner. Take a flute or coup of kombucha - your choice of flavour - and top it with orange juice.

You'll get the fizz of the sparkling, without the alcohol.

Grapefruit juice with salt rim

A Paloma is a cocktail made with tequila and grapefruit juice. Keep the grapefruit juice, the salted rim, and garnish, and you have a non-alcoholic Paloma cocktail. Plus, without the alcohol, you can reap the benefits of grapefruit juice.

The benefits of grapefruit juice, such as aiding heart health and improving cholesterol levels, come from the fruit's rich antioxidant and beta-carotene content.

Irish cream

While Irish cream might seem like a drink reserved exclusively for the colder months, this - and the non-alcoholic varieties - are available to buy in many supermarkets year-round.

You can also make it yourself by combining double cream, evaporated milk, espresso, maple syrup, and a pinch of ground cinnamon with vanilla extract. Pour the drink over ice in a heavy-bottomed glass and serve.

Watermelon and lime mocktail

A watermelon mocktail is the perfect summer cooler - or reminder of sunnier climates during the colder months. Combine one watermelon with the juice of two limes and add in some runny honey. Over the top of the mixture, add soda water and mint leaves.

In a glass, put a handful of ice cubes and pour your drink over the top. Then garnish your beverage with a slice of watermelon balanced on the edge with a sprig of mint.

Elderflower spritz

Elderflower cordial and spritzes are some of the more traditional non-alcoholic cocktail alternatives - but they're popular for a reason. Light and refreshing, they have a similar taste to many of the classic Italian cocktails - like the Hugo spritz.

To make this 0% variety, combine elderflower cordial with a non-alcoholic Prosecco of your choice, topping it up with soda water to finish. Add a handful of ice to a wine glass and pour your cocktail over the top, topping it with a slice of lime as a garnish.

Non-alcoholic daiquiri

A non-alcoholic daiquiri cocktail, much like the traditional drink, is based on strawberries. Take two large strawberries and hull them out. Crush them together with white sugar and combine this with chilled lemon soda, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and a couple of ice cubes.

Serve your mocktail in a coup glass with a sugared rim and a strawberry slice on the side.

Cucumber cooler

A cucumber cooler is a refreshingly light alternative to a gin cocktail - and a good way to liven up your sparkling water. Combine elderflower cordial with one and a half cucumbers, smashed up until they resemble a smooth paste. Over the top of this, pour soda water, the juice of four limes and a handful of mint.

When you're ready to serve up your cucumber cooler, add plenty of ice to the glass and garnish the top with a cucumber ribbon and a lime wheel.

Non-alcoholic G&T

A gin and tonic isn't so much a cocktail as a classic spirit and mixer drink - but it's one of the easiest to turn into a non-alcoholic beverage. Combine your choice of tonic - whether that's slimline, Mediterranean, and so on - with a non-alcoholic gin of your choice.

Many of the big distilleries offer 0.0% options nowadays with the boom of no- and low-alcohol varieties in recent years.

Lemonade

Lemonade is the original cocktail alternative, with homemade and store-bought drinks offering a sour kick and plenty of flavour options - including lemon and lime, cherry, and mango.

To mirror the look of a cocktail, go for a cloudy lemonade and serve it over ice with a garnish of whatever base fruit your lemonade is. For example, a slice of lemon for a classic lemonade.

No-alcohol negroni

A no-alcohol negroni might sound impossible, given this classic cocktail is made from a combination of three spirits - but it can be done using zero-alcohol botanical alternatives. For example, non-alcoholic gin and aperitif syrups combined with orange and aromatic bitters, most of which don't have alcohol in them.

Combine these together with ice in a tumbler and shake. Then pour in a short, heavy bottom glass, and top with a slice of orange.

Fruit punch

A fruit punch is the perfect cocktail alternative to use up frozen berries and fruit in your freezer. Much like other cocktails on our list, you can add additional flavours to suit the season - or keep the recipe as is.

To make a classic non-alcoholic fruit punch, combine orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, and lime juice in a blender. Once combined, pour out into glasses and top each one with a fruit garnish of some kind, like an orange slice.

Apple fizz

Mix apple and lemon juice, add ice to the blend, and top with a dash of sparkling water. Serve in a tall glass with an apple slice and cinnamon stick as a garnish, or lower the quantity and have this cocktail in a flute or coup as an alternative to champagne.

In the summertime, add a little extra lemon for an additional kick of flavour. In the colder months, a sprinkle of nutmeg brings about a more wintery flavour.

Mango lassi

Mango lassi is a creamy yoghurt-based drink, originating in India. It's made with mango, milk, a small amount of sugar and some cardamom. It's very easy to make as well - just blend all the ingredients until silky smooth and serve up in a glass of your choice with a ground cardamom garnish or sprig of mint.

It's also traditionally made without alcohol, there's no compromise. It also doesn't have any added sugars and is full of protein, probiotics, and other vitamins.

Alcohol-free amaretto sour

A traditional amaretto sour features on most cocktail menus around the world, with its unique blend of sweet and sour. The base is almonds, so to make a non-alcoholic version of this classic cocktail, you just need to swap the amaretto with almond extract, along with a few other ingredients.

To the almond extract, add pineapple and lemon juice, egg white, and cherry syrup. When ready to serve, add a couple of ice cubes to the glass and a garnish of a pineapple chunk and a fresh cherry.

Mango cooler with mint

While mango brings about thoughts of the summer, this is a drink you can make all year round. It's light and refreshing - plus, it's packed with health benefits given there's no alcohol involved. Mango is rich in folate and vitamin A, and high in fibre, making it very good for your digestive health.

Combine mango puree with fresh mint leaves (at least 10) or mint extract (but make sure it's pure and not sweetened). Add ice, garnish with fresh mint leaves and a slice of mango, and you've got yourself a cooler.

Spicy orange cooler

With orange juice, half a teaspoon of cinnamon, a quarter teaspoon of nutmeg, and plenty of ice, you can make this refreshing wintery drink whatever the season.

Mix the orange juice together with the spices - you could even use a blender if you like to make sure it's a complete blend of the ingredients. Then add the ice over the top, before straining it out and serving in a martini glass with a star anise to finish off the presentation. Or, keep the ice and serve this cocktail alternative in a tall glass with an orange slice to garnish.

Lime and coconut slushie

After leaving your coconut milk in the freezer for a day or two, blend it up until it's completely smooth. Serve up the coconut slushie in your choice of glass - then add the lime juice.

If you add the lime juice to the coconut milk in the blender, the acid in the lime can cause the coconut milk to curdle. It's not the end of the world but it's easily avoided.

Non-alcoholic mojito

A non-alcoholic mojito is a classic spin on the traditional rum cocktail. Combine sugar, a bunch of mint, and the juice of three limes with soda water - no alcohol needed to make this tasty alternative.

To make your non-alcoholic mojito even better, add a mint sprig and a lime wedge to the top of your cocktail.

Tomato and basil cooler

If you're looking for another Bloody Mary alternative that doesn't have the same kick as the classic cocktail, this cooler could be for you. It uses tomato juice, fresh basil leaves, and plenty of ice.

Muddle the basil leaves together and add the tomato juice on top. Throw in the ice and shake. Then serve in a tall glass with a sprinkle of ginger if you fancy it.

Alcohol-free passion fruit martini

A passionfruit martini doesn't have to contain alcohol - or a shot of Prosecco on the side - to be delicious. To make this non-alcoholic cocktail alternative, combine three passion fruit halves, one juiced lemon, an egg white, sugar syrup, and a handful of ice into a shaker.

To replace the Prosecco shot on the side, try kombucha or sparkling grape juice.

A festive cocktail is the perfect way to welcome your guests during Christmas celebrations, so we've gathered some inspiring recipes to help you set the mood.

Few things capture the spirit of the season quite like a special holiday-inspired drink. Whether you're serving up cocktails at a party or indulging in a little 'me-time' while wrapping presents, there's something undeniably indulgent - yet cosy - about crafting the perfect Christmas cocktail at home.

Food Director for woman&home Jen Bedloe tells us, “The beauty of festive cocktails is in tailoring them to the moment — a lighter spritz like the Lillet Winterberry is perfect for a daytime gathering or Christmas lunch, while richer, warming drinks like the Gingerbread Old Fashioned are ideal for cosy evenings by the fire.

"For those late-night celebrations, a twist on a classic like the Espresso Mar-creamy can keep the party going with a touch of indulgence. Best of all, these recipes are quick and easy to make, so you can spend more time enjoying the festivities and less time making them.”

1. Espresso Mar-creamy

Give your classic Espresso Martini a makeover this season with a rum infused twist from Bumbu, a newer brand on the block. Bumbu Cream Liqueur is crafted from rum distilled from sugarcane sourced from across the West Indies, blended with a selection of warming spices and smooth, real dairy cream to create the ultimate decadent tipple.

Simply add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker then strain into a martini glass and garnish with a dusting of cacao.

Ingredients:

• 25ml Bumbu Cream
• 25ml Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
• 50ml Esspresso-strength coffee
• 10ml Sugar Syrup

2. Lillet Winterberry Spritz

Spritzes aren’t just for summer! For a lighter option this season, Lillet Rosé is a wine-based apéritif that pairs nicely with dark fruit cordial - a refreshingly crisp, low-sugar, and lower-alcohol alternative for Christmas Day.

Add the ingredients to your glass of choice, then stir. Garnish with berries and rosemary before serving.

Ingredients:

• 50ml Lillet Rosé
• 25ml Dark Fruit Cordial
• Tonic Water to top

3. Gold & Delicious Spritz

An indulgent spritz with an undeniably festive feel, this sweet and spiced blend of Absolut Hunni, cinnamon syrup, and apple juice totally gives ‘cosying up with in front of the fire’ vibes. Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker, then strain into your glass of choice. Garnish with apple slices and a sprig of thyme.

Ingredients:

• 25ml Absolut Hunni Vodka
• 25ml Apple Juice
• 5ml Cinnamon Syrup
• Prosecco to top

4. Santa Margarita

If you’re looking for a festive upgrade on everyone’s favourite cocktail, mix Altos Tequila Plata with cranberry juice and pomegranate syrup for a flavourful Margarita. Perfect for whipping up at New Year’s Eve cocktail parties. Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker, then strain into your glass of choice. Garnish with apple slices and a sprig of thyme.

Ingredients:

• 25ml Absolut Hunni Vodka
• 25ml Apple Juice
• 5ml Cinnamon Syrup
• Prosecco to top

5. Gingerbread Old Fashioned

This Christmas, it’s all about the garnish. Elevate your Old Fashioned with Jameson Black Barrell and a festive touch — a gingerbread man perched by the rim. An easy way to impress your guests, with very minimal effort.

Stir the ingredients then strain into your glass of choice. Garnish with an orange twist and a gingerbread man.

Ingredients:

• 50ml Jameson Black Barrel
• 10ml Gingerbread Syrup
• Dash Angostura Bitters
• Dash Orange Bitters

It's five o'clock somewhere... or that's how you might be feeling once you peruse the menu of cocktails thought to be favoured by a host of celebrity figures and royal names. 

The royals are famous for their unusual dining habits and bizarre rules, but fans might be relieved to know, that they like some classic, signature cocktails just like the rest of us. 

32 celebrity and royal approved cocktails

A classic G&T: the Princess of Wales' favourite nightcap

Catherine, Princess of Wales didn't just marry a Prince in title, but she bagged herself a real Prince Charming by nature. This is because it was previously reported that William makes his wife a classic Gin and Tonic for a relaxing nightcap in the evening. 

Based on Catherine's best looks over the years, we know she likes to keep things consistent, relying on familiar designers and silhouettes. So if you want a fuss-free, reliable G&T a la the Princess, pour 50ml of Tanqueray No Ten Gin into a glass filled with ice, add 150ml of premium tonic water and garnish with a wedge of fresh grapefruit. 

Simple. Timeless. 

A gin martini, King Charles' way

A man as refined as His Majesty King Charles unsurprisingly enjoys a similarly elegant drink. 

Royal commentator Gordon Rayner previously stated the King's preferred martini is mixed with half gin and half dry vermouth, garnished with an olive or lemon twist. He told The Telegraph, "When he travels abroad he takes his own spirits with him to be mixed by his staff to his precise taste, while the Queen takes her own supply of red wine, usually from the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux."

An Old Fashioned - featured in Taylor Swift lyrics

Taylor Swift let fans in on some of her choices of cocktail with the lyrics to her 2017 track, Getaway Car, when she shared that their love was "doomed from the first Old Fashioned."

It's one of the most traditional cocktails, made using whisky, bitters, soda water and a simple orange garnish.

To whip up your own Taylor-inspired tipple, muddle sugar, Angostura Bitters and a splash of soda water in the bottom of a rocks glass. Add some ice and then pour in 60ml of whisky. Give it a stir, and garnish with an orange slice. Enjoy!

A Margarita - Jennifer Aniston's favourite

Jennifer Aniston has been serving us flawless looks for decades, but what does she like to serve up when she gets thirsty? 

The Emmy-winning star revealed that she loves a classic Don Julio Margarita. 

When talking about her now ex-husband Justin Theroux in 2015, she shared, "Justin actually makes the perfect margarita with Don Julio 1942, because there's no agave, no sugar, no mix. It's pure tequila, lime juice, and a squinch of Cointreau. It's delicious," she told Yahoo.

The French 75

A French 75 is a Champagne cocktail made with gin or cognac, lemon juice, and simple syrup. It was perhaps made most famous from the timeless classic, Casablanca, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, when Bogart's character orders the cocktail as a sign of subtle resistance to the Nazi forces oppressing his bar. 

If you fancy an elegant night in with Casablanca and a French 75, all you need to do is add 20ml lemon juice, 10ml sugar syrup and 30ml of gin into a cocktail shaker. Shake hard over ice, strain it into a Champagne flute and top the glass up with Champagne. 

Kate Moss' French 76

Kate Moss transformed the fashion industry when she emerged in the 1990s - so it's no surprise she also inspired a slight reimagining of a classic cocktail. 

Giving the French 75 more of an edge, Kate told Vogue in 2012 how the French 76 became her signature. 

"I drink the French 76: vodka, sugar, lemon juice topped up with champagne; it's the best drink ever, but it only tastes like that in the Hemingway Bar [at the Ritz Hotel in Paris]."

"Colin [Field, Ritz Paris head bartender] made it for my wedding. It doesn't taste at all strong."

A Casamigos Paloma

A Casamigos tequila cocktail has, no doubt, passed the lips of many of the rich and famous thanks in part to George Clooney and Rande Gerber (Cindy Crawford's husband) helping to establish the brand. 

But there's an even more regal connection - Princess Beatrice's now husband, Jack Brooksbank, was once an ambassador for the brand.

To make a signature cocktail with the tequila, try a Paloma. You'll need to add 45ml of Casamigos Blanco, 30ml grapefruit juice, 20ml lime juice and 15ml agave nectar to a shaker. Give it a shake over ice, pour into a tall glass and top with grapefruit soda. 

Sex and the City's Flirtini

While Sex and the City might be most famous for (re)introducing the Cosmopolitan to the masses, another cocktail got its big break in a memorable episode of the original series. 

The Flirtini is served up by Samantha Jones when she throws a rooftop party at the end of season four. 

The refreshing cocktail is equal parts vodka and pineapple juice, topped up with Champagne. 

Black Velvet - a Guinness cocktail

The Princess of Wales has been known to enjoy a pint of Guinness - the traditional Irish stout - on several occasions, and we can only imagine Catherine will look forward to many more in the future through her role as the Colonel of the Irish Guards. 

A cocktail inspired by the stout is a very simple but still impressive Black Velvet - all you need to do is fill half a Champagne flute with Guinness and then top with Champagne. 

Kim Kardashian is partial to a White Russian

Kim Kardashian has conquered most industries - reality TV, fashion, beauty and even acting. So it's perhaps a bit of a surprise the mogul has never entered the world of luxury spirits... but this might be because she's gone on record as not being a big drinker. 

Still, when the mood does strike, Kim has often tweeted about her love of a White Russian, a three-ingredient drink which combines 60ml vodka, with two tablespoons of Kahlúa and one tablespoon of cream. 

The Queen of Pop = the Queen of Pomegranate Martinis

Madonna has been - seemingly - tireless and ageless for her six-decade reign across pop culture, and part of her energy levels might be down to the icon regularly sharing that she eschewed some of the wild partying her peers indulged in. 

However, several sources suggest that, when she fancies something with a kick, Madge opts for a Pomegranate Martini. 

To make a drink worthy of the Queen of Pop, you'll need 60ml of vodka, 30ml of Cointreau, 20ml lemon juice, 15ml Pomegranate juice and 10ml of simple syrup. Simply shake all the ingredients over ice and strain into a martini glass. 

A fruity spritzer is Jennifer Lopez's go-to

Addressing comments about her new alcoholic spritzers when she was known to not be a drinker in the past, Jlo said in an Instagram video, "To tell you the truth, that was true for a long time. I didn't drink...  I tried a lot of different things. I was into White Russians at one point, I was into rosé, but I never found anything that I really loved... So, like anything else in my life, I created it myself.

"Delola is really about a healthier way, something that fit my lifestyle to drink the way that I would drink, the way Jennifer drinks."

Jlo's drinks - available to buy in select countries - come in three flavours: Paloma Rosa Spritz, L'Orange Spritz & Bella Berry Spritz.

A Bourbon Sour

Whether it's an All-American Bourbon or another type of whisky like a Rye, a classic sour is a favourite for many, including acting legend Johnny Depp, per several sources. 

It's also one of the more traditional cocktails that's always good to have in your repertoire. To make, shake 50ml Bourbon/whisky, 35ml lemon juice, 12ml sugar syrup, half an egg white and two dashes of bitters over ice. 

Strain into a short glass filled with ice and add a lemon zest.

Princess Diana loved a Peach Bellini

It is the stuff of legend - Princess Diana sneaking out of Kensington Palace undercover to enjoy a wild night partying in a London gay bar with Freddie Mercury, as recalled by actress Cleo Rocos in her memory, The Power of Positive Drinking. 

It's a glamorous and iconic image which sums up the rebellious Princess Diana, and several sources indicate the night had an extra touch of sparkle with the late Princess' drink of choice - a Peach Bellini. 

Invented at Harry's Bar in Venice back in 1934, a Peach Bellini requires filling a Champagne flute with one-third peach puree (or juice, in a bind) and two-thirds Prosecco or Champagne. 

Stanley Tucci's Tiny Ten gin cocktail

An actor known for the likes of The Devil Wears Prada, Stanley Tucci is also recognised as a debonair gent who appreciates fine cooking and even finer cocktails. 

Working alongside the premium gin brand, Tanqueray, Stanley helped establish the tart, tangy Tiny Ten cocktail. 

To make, pour 30ml Tanqueray No. Ten and 20ml of grapefruit cordial into a mixing glass. Fill with ice and stir. Strain this into a coupette and top with 50ml of sparkling wine. Add a grapefruit peel for a final flourish. 

Princess Margaret kept it simple with a Whisky and Soda

Princess Margaret had one of the most decadent morning routines in the world - complete with a lazy, boozy breakfast. And while the famously social princess was known to love a good party, sources indicate she kept it quite simple with a go-to cocktail choice of whisky and soda.  

A Diet Coke and Rum never goes out of style for Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift keeps it nice and easy when it comes to her favourite drink. 

Per her 73 Questions with Vogue interview, the popstar was asked what her go-to tipple was, and she responded with a very simple Rum and Diet Coke. (To give it some sophistication, we prefer to add in a lime wedge and call it its traditional name - the Cuba Libre.)

The Prince of Wales Punch

If you're looking to drink like the Royal Family, you can't go wrong with a cocktail literally named after royalty. 

While the title has been held by King Charles, and currently belongs to Prince William, The Prince of Wales cocktail was created by Albert Edward, who would become King Edward VII. 

It is made by combining 45ml rye whisky, 30ml champagne, a teaspoon of sugar syrup and a dash of Angostura bitters. Top the mixture up with a wedge of pineapple and a teaspoon of cherry liqueur.

A Guinness Black Russian

Inspired by Kate Middleton's love of Guinness, consider using the stout to switch up a traditional cocktail. 

For a Guinness Black Russian, pour 25ml coffee liqueur, 25ml of vodka and 100ml cola into a tall glass with ice. Stir gently just to combine, top with 100ml Guinness and a wedge of lime to serve.

Kate Middleton's wedding cocktail

Prince William and Princess Catherine's wedding was truly a fairytale moment - but the choice of cocktail served might have had some guests raising their eyebrows. 

Per reports, the Princess of Wales loves the dubiously named 'Crack Baby cocktail' and would enjoy it at London's swanky nightclubs before she settled down with William. 

The cocktail is a simple mixture of 25ml vodka, 25ml passionfruit juice and 25ml prosecco or champagne (topped off with just a dash of cassis).

A Tequila Sunrise

Okay, so we can't be 100% sure that the Princess of Wales loves a Tequila Sunrise, but we do know that she "quite likes tequila" thanks to a visit to Birmingham in 2022. 

What better way to use one of Catherine's favourite spirits than in a fruity, aesthetically pleasing concoction? 

To make, pour two teaspoons of grenadine into the base of a tall glass and set aside. 

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add 50ml tequila, a tablespoon of triple sec and roughly one large orange worth of juice, and half a lemon of freshly squeezed juice. Shake and strain into the glass, trying not to disturb the grenadine so you get the ombre, sunrise effect. 

Meghan Markle's Wimbledon-inspired Tig Cup

One of Meghan Markle's favourite cocktails was inspired by the likes of Wimbledon - and this was before she was even a Duchess who'd sit with her sister-in-law at the tennis tournament. 

Per Cosmopolitan, Meghan shared the recipe for this drink on her blog, The Tig, which has since been shut down.

The fresh concoction calls for a mix of gin and Maraschino Cherry liqueur, topped with both soda and tonic water.

Aviation Gin - a favourite for Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively

Entering the world of celebrity-owned alcohol brands, Ryan Reynolds made a huge splash with his American twist on gin. As the supportive spouse, Blake Lively featured the brand in her 2018 movie, A Simple Favour, demonstrating how to use the gin for many a classic drink. 

If you fancy making a Hollywood-approved gin cocktail, why not try the drink which inspired the name of the brand itself?

The Aviation cocktail is a classic recipe from the Jazz Age. Pour 60ml gin, 15ml Maraschino liqueur, 10ml Créme De Violette and 25ml lemon juice into a shaker and shake hard with ice. Strain and pour into a chilled martini glass. 

Meghan Markle's cosy Christmas cocktail

When the weather is cold, there's nothing better than cosying down with some warming treats. The Duchess of Sussex has just the drink she likes to craft on such occasions, and Grazia had the recipe. 

Meghan's Almond Milk Spiced Holiday Cocktail uses four cups of unsweetened almond milk, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of cardamom, 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger, half a teaspoon of clove, 6-8 dried dates soaked in water and your choice of Bourbon or whisky. 

Blend all ingredients (except the alcohol) in a blender and then move to a small saucepan. Heat at a low temperature until heated and then add around 120ml of your alcohol into the pot. This should serve around four cups. 

Prince William likes a Kamikaze

Prince William revealed he was partial to the "silent but deadly" drink during a trip to Birmingham in 2022. 

The cocktail uses 50ml Vodka, 25ml Triple Sec and 25ml lemon juice. Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, shake and strain. Simple! 

A classic Gin Rickey

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh is thought to be partial to a bit of gin, with one of her favourite brands assumed to be the Silent Pools brand, which she visited in 2019. 

In honour of Duchess Sophie - a quintessentially British character - the Gin Rickey makes the most of some typically British flavours.

To make, pour 50ml gin, 25ml lime juice and 10ml sugar syrup into a shaker. Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with ice, and top with soda water.

A Rob Roy using Princess Anne and Charles' favourite

King Charles is known to love a scotch whisky - indeed, he even sells his own! The Highgrove Coronation Vatting Single Malt Whisky typically retails for around £175, sold directly by His Majesty's Highgrove estate.

For an elegant and easy cocktail using a single malt, look to the Rob Roy. In a mixing glass filled with ice, pour in 60ml of whisky and 15ml of Sweet Vermouth. Give it a stir, add a couple of dashes of bitters and then strain into a martini glass. Top with a cherry. 

William's drink of choice as a youth - the Treasure Chest

He's a father to three, and the direct heir to the throne now, but William was once just a dashing, eligible bachelor who had the world's finest restaurants and bars at his disposal. 

As a student and young gent, reports suggest he frequently imbibed a £135 cocktail called the Treasure Chest. 

It is a combination of peach liqueur, brandy and champagne, served within a wooden chest per the Mirror. Not quite the pint of snakebite other students would be familiar with.

A Pimm's Summer Cup

The Pimm's Cup cocktail is the true taste of British summer - and things like Wimbledon and polo matches in the sunshine are never complete without the fruity concoction. Everyone from the Princess of Wales to Mike Tindall have been seen enjoying the quintessential English drink.

To whip up a jug that serves four, fill a jug with ice and pour over 200ml Pimm’s and 500ml lemonade. Give it a stir then add mint, cucumber and your choice of fruit - typically oranges and strawberries.

James Bond's Vesper Martini

One of the most famous drinks in history, James Bond's shaken-not-stirred martini was actually invented for James Bond! 

The exact recipe didn't exist before author Ian Fleming crafted it and named it after one of the Bond heroines, Vesper Lynn, for the 1953 novel, Casino Royale. 

It involves shaking 45ml gin, 15ml vodka and 10ml white vermouth over ice, before double-straining it into a chilled martini glass. Pinch a lemon peel over the glass after pouring to release the oils, then place it within the glass. 

The most suave of serves. 

Sex and the City's Cosmopolitan

Mixologists and alcohol experts can't actually agree on just who invented the Cosmopolitan cocktail, with some dating it as far back as the 1930s and others crediting it to bartenders in the 1980s. 

While its true origins remain contested, what isn't up for debate is who put it right back on the map in the 1990s. 

Carrie Bradshaw and co turned the pink cocktail into the defining drink of the decade when it was their signature cocktail throughout Sex and the City's original run.

The show took it to new levels and it's still one of the most popular orders at cocktail bars across the world. So, how exactly do you make one yourself? 

Pour 60ml vodka, 60ml triple sec, 90ml cranberry juice and 30ml lime juice into a shaker with ice. Shake hard and strain into a chilled martini glass.

Queen Elizabeth's Dubonnet and Gin

The late Queen Elizabeth II made history with an unprecedented 70 year reign on the British throne, and in those decades, she dined with true titans of history from all over the world. 

While state dinners tended to be formal affairs, royal experts and former staffers revealed what Her Majesty liked to imbibe when she was off the clock. 

The Queen's favourite tipple was reportedly a Dubonnet and gin, which is a simple mixture of Dubonnet, a wine-based French aperitif, and gin with a slice of lemon. It was a hugely popular cocktail throughout the 1920s and Queen Elizabeth might have acquired the taste from another Queen Elizabeth - her mother reportedly loved the cocktail too.

The late Queen liked hers with a lower impact, reportedly opting for two parts Dubonnet to one part gin.

Here's how to make the increasingly popular Lillet Spritz, a sweeter alternative to the Aperol Spritz.

We're all over the trend of making spritzes for any and all occasions - but it's well-know that the Aperol Spritz, arguably the most popular of the spritz family, can be a bit contentious, as Aperol has a fairly acquired, bitter taste. For those who don't like the Aperol Spritz, we might suggest the Hugo Spritz - a drink similar to the Aperol Spritz but with St. Germain as the aperitif liquor, giving a slightly sweeter and more floral taste to the drink. 

Or, if you know what's what on TikTok, you may have seen the buzzy Lillet Spritz (and all of its counterparts, including the Lillet Blanc Spritz and the Lillet Rose Spritz) trending. 

What's the difference between a Lillet Spritz and an Aperol Spritz?

Where an Aperol Spritz leans a bit more on the bitter side, a Lillet Spritz is your sweeter, more crowd-pleasing alternative. While both the drinks are set over ice and only include a few ingredients, the Lillet Spritz is more fragrant, and lighter on the palate than the Aperol Spritz, as Aperol tends to be a bit of a polarizing taste for some. 

Folks have compared the Lillet Spritz to a vodka and soda - light, refreshing, and luckily, not laden with calories. 

How to Make a Lillet Spritz

First and foremost, the primary ingredient of this simple cocktail recipe is, of course, Lillet French Aperitif.

The recipe for the delicious Lillet Spritz is as follows, according to the Lillet brand:

-2.5 parts of your preferred Lillet Aperitif (Blanc for a less sweet version, Rosé for a sweeter taste)

-2.5 parts your favorite club soda (we recommend a sparkling water like Nixie Organic Seltzers if you don't prefer club soda brands)

-recommended orange slice for garnish

Making a Lillet Spritz simply could not be easier - combine the Lillet and club soda, a and then garnish with an orange slice for added citrus flavour. You can also muddle some other citrus, or even some strawberries into your drink to spruce up the flavour as well. 

For those wishing to indulge in the delicious drink while the warm weather lasts, Lillet offers a convenient Lillet Spritz Picnic Kit that includes all of the essentials you'll need to make the refreshing cocktail.

Low-calorie cocktails are ideal if you're heading out for the evening and want to enjoy yourself - but have healthy, sustainable weight loss in mind. From margaritas to Moscow Mules, we've served up the best lower-sugar alcoholic beverages for inspiration, all under 160 calories per serving. 

As you'll learn, some classic cocktails are naturally lower in sugar while the ingredients of others can be tweaked to bring the calorie count down without compromising on flavour. However, this doesn't mean they are 'good' for you - any alcohol should be consumed in moderation to protect your health. 

If you want to mix up your lowest-calorie alcohol options without opting for low-calorie alcoholic drinks in a can, we've got you covered. We've called on an expert to explain what to consider when choosing what to sip on - including the best spirit and mixer choice - and why your choice can affect any weight loss goals.

Best low-calorie cocktails to order

1. Vodka and soda

If you're looking for a low-calorie cocktail that tops the rest, then this is it. It's a classic combination that isn't for those who like their drink sweet. It's made of a simple but refreshing mix of vodka and soda water - with an optional slice of lemon or lime to garnish. 

Approximate number of calories: 95, based on one shot (1.5 ounces/ 44ml) of vodka 

2. Mojito

A classic mojito isn't usually the best option. While it contains lime juice, mint leaves and soda, it also has generous sugar and rum servings which bring the total calories to around 240 on average. However, with just a few tweaks you can bring that number down. Just ask for a shot of rum with lime juice, some mint and Sprite Zero Sugar for fruity sweetness.  

Approximate number of calories: 79, based on one shot (1.5 ounces/ 44ml) of rum

3. Gin and tonic

A great choice if you're in a bar and are stuck for what to order - but just make sure that you stick to one shot of gin and order diet tonic water to go along with it. However, if you forget, the calorie count will be 93 for a double, which still brings your drink under a hundred calories.

Approximate number of calories: 64, based on one shot (1.5 ounces/ 44ml) of gin

4. Bloody Mary

It might be best known as a popular accompaniment to Sunday brunch but this drink makes a brilliant low-calorie cocktail choice at other times too. Mix a shot of vodka with 170ml tomato juice, a teaspoon of lemon juice, half a teaspoon of celery salt, two to three drops of hot sauce (like Tabasco), two to three drops of Worcester sauce and one dash of pepper. It's sure got a kick.

Approximate number of calories: 134, based on one shot (44ml) of vodka

5. Moscow Mule

This drink usually contains about 182 calories, but a few easy swaps - like ditching the regular ginger beer and syrup - can reduce the calorie count. Stir together a shot of vodka with 14ml of lime juice, and 85ml of zero-calorie ginger beer and top with a lime wedge.

Approximate number of calories: 97, based on one shot (44ml) of vodka

6. Tequila sunrise

Perfect for a sunny day thanks to its colorful hue. Once more, a few changes are required to bring this drink down in calorie count. Shake together one shot of tequila, with a third cup of fresh orange juice and 44ml grenadine syrup - a slice of orange and a cocktail cherry can be used to finish.

Approximate number of calories: 157, based on one shot (44ml) of tequila

7. Martini

A classy low-calorie cocktail choice that most bartenders will (or should) know how to make. It's a shot of vodka stirred with 29ml vermouth - with an olive or two thrown in. Beware flavored martini options which have a much greater sugar content.

Approximate number of calories: 120, based on one shot (44ml) of vodka

How to make low calorie cocktails 

You'll probably find yourself predominently ordering your low calorie cocktails at a bar - and the above should provide delicious inspiration for healthier options and requests for your bartender. However, if you want to whip one up at home, it's useful to know which ingredients are best if you're aiming for healthy, sustainable weight loss.

Firstly, there's usually a spirit - like low-calorie vodka, gin, rum and tequila - to consider. “All of them start with a main raw ingredient, such as grains (for example, barley), fruit (grapes or other fruit) or potatoes before fermentation begins," explains nutritionist Elisa Gomez de Bonilla. "Then the water with the base is heated until it has reached boiling point. Next, the steam is collected, which becomes ethanol or pure alcohol. The alcohol grae is then reduced, with the percentage of alcohol of each spirit up to the distillery."

It is also important to consider what the spirit is then mixed with. “Cocktails contain additional calories you may not have counted," says Gomez de Bonilla, who works for the Oxford Online Pharmacy. "For example, a piña colada can contain up to 490 calories from the cream and syrup. Most cocktail bases, such as gin, vodka, rum, whisky or tequila, contain not much under a hundred calories per shot, but liqueurs such as Tia Maria or Baileys can have up to 170 calories per shot due to the added sugar and cream."

How can you reduce the calories in your cocktail? "In terms of low-sugar mixers, swap tonic water for the diet version, and change regular fizzy pop for a diet version - like original Coke for Coke Zero or Diet Coke," she says. "No-added sugar juice and soda water can also keep the numbers down, and if you want to use cream, choose the lower-fat version." Enlist mint and lime to add flavour and avoid calorie-rich liqueurs, sugary syrups and other flavourings. Get a little inspiration with these easy mixers...

• Schweppes Diet Tonic Water - no calories per 350ml serving
• San Pellegrino Sparkling Water - no calories per 350ml serving
• Coke Zero / Diet Coke - 1 calorie per 350ml serving
• Sprite Zero Sugar - no calories per 350ml serving
• Apple juice (no added sugar) - 120 calories per 350ml serving
• Orange juice (no added sugar) - 153 calories per 350ml serving
• Cranberry juice (no added sugar) - 156 calories per 350ml serving
• Lime juice - seven calories per 350ml serving

You may also want to opt for low-calorie alternatives to alcohol. Many of these don't contain alcohol - but taste as good as the real thing, making for a perfect swap-out for your drink. These include alcohol-free gins, rums, and whiskies. 

Why does it matter how many calories cocktails have? Any drinking - whether a margarita or a glass of chardonnay - can impact healthy sustainable weight loss. "There are seven calories per gram of alcohol," explains Elisa Gomez de Bonilla. "These are considered empty calories, meaning they do not meet the relevant nutritional needs but are stored in our bodies as fat."

Drinking can sabotage your other efforts to slim down in other ways too. "Alcohol may slow the body's fat-burning abilities," she warns. "The liver is responsible for storing and processing the fat, carbohydrates and proteins we consume, turning them into energy. Our bodies can't store alcohol so it has to be broken down by the liver before anything else. This, in turn, interrupts and slows your metabolic rate and reduces the amount of fat the body burns for energy."

This striking black velvet cocktail is both sparkling and rich. It’s made by simply mixing equal parts of stout and champagne. If you think stout just means Guinness – think again! There is now a vast variety of artisanal stouts available in the UK, we love the Pentinville Oyster Stout from Hammerton Brewery, but if stout isn’t your thing and you fancy something sweeter you could use a lovely cider instead.

The black velvet cocktail was first created in London in the late 1800's to mourn the death of Price Albert, so has clearly stood the test of time. A black velvet cocktail traditionally uses champagne, but there are many other varieties of sparkling wines on the market that work equally well. We love English sparkling wines at the moment, particularly those from leading English wine producer Chapel Down. The combination of light bubbly and heavy stout makes this drink really interesting. It is a popular choice for St Patrick’s Day, but we think this dark and mysterious cocktail has a really warming and wintery feel so is perfect for when the colder nights draw in. The ideal choice for an aperitif to kick of an evening with friends.

Kicking things off with a cocktail adds a luxury feel to any dinner party. You might think making your own cocktails would be difficult, but it needn’t be! With only two ingredients this black velvet cocktail really couldn’t be easier. For other easy cocktail ideas why not try making our Aperol Spritz or our easy Pimms recipe? If you’re feeling more adventurous, you could take your cocktail parties to the next level by making our Clover Club Cocktail or our Homemade Pomegranate Vodka.

Ingredients

• 75cl bottle of champagne
• 2x 330ml bottle of stout

Method

1. Half fill the glass with champagne, top with stout.

A new trend has taken over summer drinking. Move over Pimms, it's time for a frosé.

Perfect for picnics, barbecues or just a lazy afternoon in the garden, frosé is guraranteed to be your new drink of choice.

Taking cue from the classic frozen margirita, the frosé takes one our favourite summer time tipples and gives it a frozen spin.

It couldn't be simplier to make frosé at home. All you need is a bottle of your favourite rosé, some fresh strawberries and a little grenadine - and a trusty blender to whizz it all together.

You can serve up your frosé thick with a spoon for a dessert option or whizz it a little thinner so it can be drank.

This recipe uses strawberries to give your frosé as summery flavour but you can replace with your choice of fruits - the fun is in the experimenting!

Ingredients

• 75cl bottle rosé
• 400g strawberries
• 2tbsp grenadine syrup

Method

1. Pour the rosé into ice cube trays and freeze until solid.
2. Whizz up strawberries and 2tbsp grenadine syrup in a blender.
3. Put into a freezer-proof box and freeze.
4. When you’re ready to serve, take everything out and leave at room temp for 15 mins then whizz.
5. Spoon into serving glasses and top with a strawberry.

Rooibos, or redbush, tea originates from South Africa, but has gained vast popularity worldwide. Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free, so when made into iced tea, it is a wonderfully refreshing drink that can be enjoyed at any time of day. Load it up with ice cubes, slices of strawberry, and sprigs of mint for a cool drink that not only tastes great, but looks beautiful too.

This recipe is so easy to make that you’ll never opt for shop-bought iced tea again. All you need to do to make iced tea is to fill up a jug with cold water, tea bags, sugar, and lemon juice. If you can resist it, leave it in the fridge for at least an hour to fully infuse. Rooibos has a delicate flavour, and infusing it in cold water helps to preserve this. If you fancy a more grown up treat, the iced tea is a perfect mixer for sparkling wine or a splash of gin for a fresh summer cocktail. Make up a large batch and store it in a jug in the fridge – it is a perfect crowd pleaser if you want something a little different to accompany a barbecue with friends and neighbours.

HOW TO MAKE ICED TEA

Ingredients

• 4 rooibos tea bags
• 75g sugar
• juice of 1 lemon
• strawberries and fresh mint, to serve

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Method

1. Put the tea bags, sugar and lemon juice into a large jug and pour over 1 litre cold water. Leave to infuse for about an hour, giving it the odd stir. Using cold water preserves the tea's delicate flavour.
2. Leave in the fridge to get really cold. To serve, add ice and slices of strawberry and sprigs of mint.

It wouldn’t be summer without a big jug of Pimm’s. This classic drink is a symbol of the British summer, from Wimbledon tobarbecuesand lazy afternoons in the garden. If you’re looking for an easy summer cocktail recipe, or want to perfect your Pimm’s recipe, then you’ve come to the right place.

Pimm’s was first made in 1823 by one James Pimm, who owned an oyster bar in London. Pimm created a secret mixture of gin and herbs to sell at his bar as a tonic to aid digestion. By the late 19th Century the drink had become popular all over London. These days it wouldn’t be a British summer without a few jugs of Pimm’s and lemonade, almost always made with Pimm’s No.1 Cup, the best-known and most widely available variety of Pimm’s, with its famous reddish tint.

To make the perfect jug of Pimm’s follow our easycocktail recipe. We’ve added all the classic fruits and flavours you’d expect to find in a good jug of Pimm’s, including fresh orange, strawberries, cucumber and mint. For a foodie twist, you can swap the fresh mint leaves for a handful of lemon balm. If you can get hold of them, delicate purple borage flowers are also a traditional, and pretty, addition. Serve over plenty of ice and with a sharp, fizzy lemonade to make this the perfect jug of Pimm’s.

If you’ve been looking for the secrets to a perfect jig of Pimm’s every time, simply follow our easy recipe below. It’s Pimm’s O’Clock.

How to Make Pimm's

1. Put all the fruit, zests, herbs and ice in a large jug. Pour over the Pimm’s (the ratio is one measure Pimm’s to two measures lemonade). Add the chilled lemonade just before serving.

2. If you want to take the Pimm's on a picnic, pack a bag of ice in your biggest cool box. Stand your bottles of Pimm’s and lemonade close to the ice, then slip separate, small freezer boxes of the sliced and halved fruit, zests and herbs between the gaps. When you arrive, unpack and mix in big plastic jugs.

Ingredients

• 1 orange, scrubbed, quartered and sliced
• Handful small strawberries, halved
• Zest 1 lemon
• Long zest of 1 cucumber (use a Y-shaped peeler)
• Handful lemon balm or mint leaves
• 2 handfuls ice cubes
• 500ml (18fl oz) Pimm’s No 1
• 1.5 litre (2¾pt) lemonade, chilled

Aperol Spritz is an Italiancocktail recipewhich has become fashionable in the UK in recent years. If you’ve heard of Aperol Spritz and fancy making your own, you’ve come to the right place. This simple recipe will soon become a staple of your drinks-making repertoire.

Italians love to drink Aperol Spritz before dinner or with antipasti, as an aperitif. It first become popular in Italy in the 1950s. A classic Aperol Spritz is made with just three ingredients: Aperol, Prosecco and soda water. Aperol is a spirit made with bitter orange and rhubarb. It is similar to Campari (in fact they’re made by the same company) but is less bitter and has a lower alcohol content, so if you find Campari a bit strong, then you should find Aperol a lot more drinkable. It has an aromatic orange flavour.

To make a classic Aperol Spritz, just mix the Aperol, Prosecco and soda water together in the proper ratio, which we’ve given below. This simple formula means it’s easy to scale up the recipe if you’re serving a crowd. It’s the perfect pre-dinner drink or for summer parties and barbecues in the garden.

Add an orange slice and serve over ice for a simple but delicious cocktail that’s become rightly popular.

Ready to make an Aperol Spritz? Get your cocktail glasses ready, your soda water and Prosecco chilling in the fridge, and follow our incredibly easy, one-step recipe below. You’ll be transported to cocktail hour in Venice before you can say saluti.

How to Make an Aperol Spritz

1. To make an Aperol Spritz, the rule is to add one part soda water, two parts Aperol and three parts prosecco to your glass. Add plenty of ice and fresh orange slices to serve.

Ingredients

• 150ml prosecco
• 100ml Aperol aperitif
• 50ml soda water
• orange slices

Looking for a classic cocktail recipe to impress friends and family? The margarita is one of the world’s best cocktails, and one of the easiest to make, too. This delicious blend of orange liqueur, tequila and lime juice is perfect for hot summer nights, barbecues or Friday night drinks with friends.

The margarita originally hails from Mexico. Like many of the world’s most popular cocktails, there are lots of competing stories about when, where and who first made it. It’s generally agreed that the margarita was first made in the 1930s or 1940s. It became a popular drink in the US and is now a staple of cocktails bars around the world.

There are many variations of margaritas – fruity ones, frozen ones, whatever takes your fancy. But a classic margarita should be made with orange liqueur (Cointreau or triple sec), white tequila and fresh lime juice. It should be served in a wide margarita glass, which is similar to a Champagne coupe glass. The rim of the glass is often dipped in sugar or salt.

We asked top mixologist Gaetano Chiavetta how to make the perfect classic margarita. Follow his recipe video then get your three ingredients ready to follow the recipe below. Our recipe makes one drink, so if you’re catering for a crowd then multiply the quantities and make up the cocktail in a large pitcher. Chill in the fridge until you're ready to serve.

How To Make a Margarita

1. Shake all the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker, then double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

2. For fruit Margarita options, add 15ml sugar syrup and a small quantity of fruit puree to the shaker with the other ingredients, before straining. Serve immediately.

Ingredients

• 40ml tequila
• 20ml Cointreau
• 20ml lime juice

Transport yourself to the sunny shores of Brazil with a Caipirinha cocktail. The Caipirinha is the national cocktail of Brazil, and it’s become really popular in the UK in recent years, too. A zesty summercocktail recipe, the Caipirinha is made with cachaça, sugar and lime. If you like mojitos, you’ll love the Caipirinha.

No-one knows when the Caipirinha was first made, but it became popular in Brazil in the early 20th Century, when Brazilians drank it to ward off the flu. Many Brazilians still drink a Caipirinha when they’re feeling under the weather. We certainly can’t vouch for its medicinal properties, but the Caipirinha is certainly one strong cocktail. It’s made with a Brazilian spirit called cachaça, which is distilled from sugarcane. Cachaça is widely available in UK supermarkets these days, but if you don’t have any you can try making this drink with vodka instead. Just bear in mind that if you use vodka, it’s no longer a Caipirinha, but a Caiprioska.

Our Caipirinha cocktail recipe uses one bottle of cachaça and serves 12 people so it’s ideal for a family barbecue or summer drinks in the garden with friends. Try making someBrazilian recipesto go with it, like coconut prawns or Salpicão, a delicious chopped salad made with chicken, sweetcorn, carrots and apple.

A good Caipirinha should be served cold, so make life easy for yourself by buying a big bag of party ice, and plenty of fresh limes for that hallmark citrusy taste.

How to Make a Caipirinha Cocktail

1. Halve the limes and squeeze the juice into a large jug. Throw in the limes, then muddle (you could use a rolling pin if you don't have a muddler) the limes and sugar together well (until mushy).

2. Add a third of the ice and crush it into the mixture. Stir it well then add the Cachaça.

3. Stir and taste - you may want more sugar and lime but it should have quite a kick. Add the rest of the ice and serve.

Ingredients

• One 75cl bottle cachaça
• 8 limes
• 16tbsp unrefined caster sugar
• a big bag of ice

Once the clocks go forward and we can drink in a pub garden again (even with a jacket and scarf), then it’s basically Pimm’s season.

Classic Pimm’s and lemonade is popular for a reason but sometimes it’s fun to switch things up with a simple Pimm’scocktail recipe, especially if you’re throwing a summer party orbarbecueand want to crank things up a notch. Our Pimm’s with a kick is made with tonic water instead of lemonade, to give it a sharper, more sophisticated edge. Of course, it wouldn’t be right to have tonic without gin, so we’ve added a dash of Mother’s Ruin for good measure.

Swapping lemonade for tonic water makes this drink more grown-up and less sweet. Instead of the usual orange and cucumber, we’ve added limes and strawberries, to keep things fruity but not too sweet. This zesty cocktail recipe is perfect for serving with nibbles or with barbecue recipes like Asian-style prawn skewers or chicken drumsticks marinated in coconut and lime.

If you’re looking for a no-stress cocktail recipe for summer, then this is the one for you. Not only do you not need any specialist cocktail making equipment, but you can easily scale up the recipe. Make it a few hours ahead and chill in the fridge in big pitchers until needed. Serve over ice in high-ball glasses for a simple summer drink.

Fancy making our Pimm’s with a kick? Just get your ingredients ready and follow our quick and easy recipe below. It couldn’t be easier.

How To Make Pimm's With a Kick

1. Mix one part Pimm's to two parts tonic water.

2. Add a slug of gin, plus lots of ice, slices of lime and strawberries and serve in a jug.

Ingredients

• 1 part Pimm's
• 2 parts tonic water
• Slug of gin
• Ice
• Limes, sliced
• Strawberries, sliced

The Cosmopolitan is one of the world’s best-known cocktails. A modern classic, it became a household name around the world in the late 1990s, popularised by its frequent appearances on Sex and the City. Carrie Bradshaw’s favourite tipple has fallen out of fashion a little since then but the Cosmopolitan cocktail is a classic for a reason… it’s absolutely delicious. We think it’s well over due a revival, especially for drinks parties and girls’ nights in.

If you love shaking up cocktails at home, then the Cosmopolitan is onecocktail recipeyou really need to have up your sleeve. An authentic Cosmopolitan cocktail is a mixture of lemon-flavoured vodka, Cointreau, lime juice and the all-important cranberry juice. The result is fuschia-pink, slightly tart and seriously strong cocktail. No wonder the SATC ladies were such big fans.

The Cosmopolitan was invented in the US in the 1970s. Like many famous cocktails, its origins are disputed, but by the early 1990s it was a popular drink in stylish cocktail bars in San Francisco and New York.

We asked top mixologist Gaetano Chiavetta how to make the perfect Cosmopolitan. Follow his recipe video and you’ll be shaking up Cosmos like a professional in no time. When you’ve finished mixing your Cosmopolitan cocktail, pour it into martini glasses. For a next-level finish, set alight a twist of orange peel. This releases the citrusy oils in the peel for even more flavour.

Ready to learn how to make a Cosmopolitan cocktail? Watch Gaetano’s step-by-step video then follow our simple cocktail recipe below.

How to make a Cosmopolitan

1. Simply muddle all the liquid ingredients together in a cocktail shaker and then strain them into a chilled martini glass.

2.Pinch the orange peel and set alight to give the drink a more zesty flavour.

Ingredients

• 15ml lime juice
• 20ml cranberry juice
• 20ml Cointreau
• 50ml Absolut Citron vodka
• orange peel, as a garnish

Planning a summer party or just looking for a change from your usual gin and tonic? Try our delicious Fino and tonic. This simplecocktail recipeis a big favourite in Southern Spain and is becoming popular in top London cocktail bars, where using sherry in cocktails is becoming a big trend.

Forget ideas of Harvey’s Bristol Cream and your granny’s drinks cabinet. Fino is a dry, pale white sherry which is a big hit with foodies and worlds away from the sherry you might’ve tried in the past. Sherry is made in Jerez in Andalusia, southern Spain. There, dry white sherry like Fino is often drunk in a rebujito, a popular cocktail which mixes Fino sherry with a soft drink mixer, like lemonade or tonic water. The rebujito is a party drink, popular with festival goers at the annual Ferias in Jerez and Seville.

Making a Fino and tonic couldn’t be simpler. It’s the perfect affordable cocktail for summer drinks parties orbarbecuesas you don’t need lots of different ingredients. Just stick to the ratio of Fino to tonic we’ve given below and scale up to cater for a big crowd. We love to serve Fino and tonic in pretty cut-glass pitchers, over plenty of ice.

Transport yourself to the sultry climes of Southern Spain with a zesty glass of Fino and tonic. It takes 5 minutes to make and is bound to become your new favourite summer drink.

How to Make Fino and Tonic

1.Mix one part fino sherry and two parts tonic water. Add lots of ice and slices of lemon. The great thing about this simple cocktail recipe is that you can scale it up or down to make a jug to share with friends, or just a couple of glasses. It's a fabulous new way to drink sherry.

Ingredients

• Fino sherry, or dry sherry
• Tonic water
• Ice
• Lemon

The Clover Club cocktail is a classic American drink which is easy to make. This is a greatcocktail recipeto make a few times to learn off by heart, as it only contains five ingredients but looks so impressive. If you love to have friends over for cocktails, this is one classic drink you should certainly have in your repertoire.

Clover Club cocktails were popular in the US in the early 20th Century. They were created at the Clover Club in Philadelphia in the years before prohibition. The club was an exclusive, wood-paneled place, where its distinguished members would sit and sup this delicious gin cocktail – a mixture of gin, raspberries, egg whites, lemon juice and sugar. The combination of juicy raspberries, sugar syrup and lemon gives it a delicious sweet and sour flavour.

To make a classic Clover Club, first muddle together fresh raspberries and sugar syrup. There’s no need to buy sugar syrup, you simply heat sugar and water together in a pan until all the sugar crystals have dissolved and you have a clear syrup. Then you add the other ingredients to your cocktail shaker and give it a vigorous shake, as expert bartender Gaetano Chiavetta has done in our recipe video. This helps the egg white emulsify with the other ingredients so the result is a light and frothy drink with a foamy top.

Ready to make a Clover Club cocktail? Grab your shaker, get your ingredients ready, and then follow our simple cocktail recipe below.

How To Make a Clover Club Cocktail

1. Muddle the raspberries, add all the rest of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake. Add ice cubes and shake well, then double-strain into chilled cocktail glass.

2. To garnish, skewer raspberries and mint leaves.

Ingredients

• 50ml Bombay Sapphire
• 25ml lemon juice
• 20ml sugar syrup
• 1 egg white
• 4 fresh raspberries

The Dark Rose Chocolate cocktail is one of the most deliciouscocktail recipeswe’ve ever tried. If you love chocolate cocktails or creamy drinks like Baileys, then this sophisticated concoction takes things to the next level. Try making it for a special occasion like Valentine’s Day orChristmas.

The Dark Rose is the brainchild of The Trading House, a top cocktail bar in central London. This heady drink was, appropriately enough, originally created for Chocolate Week. Chocaholics will love this indulgent combination of chocolate sauce, milk and cream. It also contains the delicate flavour of rose which adds floral notes without being overpowering.

To add the rose flavour, you need to make a simple gomme, which is a type of sugar syrup used in many cocktails. A gomme helps give cocktails a really silky consistency. To make the rose gomme, you need to heat the caster sugar and water together in a small pan over a gentle heat. Add the dried rose buds to infuse the mixture with their scent, then remove from the heat and leave to cool completely before using.

Once you’ve made the gomme syrup, and shaken up the creamy chocolate mixture, add your favourite non-flavoured vodka and Briottet rose liqueur. This is a beautiful pink liqueur from France, made from real rose petals and which has a delicate flavour that won’t overwhelm the other ingredients in your chocolate cocktail.

Fancy having a go at making the decadent Dark Rose? Simply follow our recipe below and serve your drink in a wide-rimmed cocktail glass. Scatter a few crushed rose buds over the top for a professional finish.

How To Make a Dark Rose Chocolate Cocktail

1. Add the chocolate sauce, milk and cream to fill a Boston cocktail shaker. Add the rose gomme, vodka and rose liqueur. Add ice then shake.

2. Fill a goblet glass with crushed ice. Pour the cocktail over the top and sprinkle over more crushed rose buds. Add two straws and serve.

The Dark Rose was created byThe Trading Housebar, London

Ingredients

• 1tbsp chocolate sauce
• half glass milk
• half glass cream
• rose gomme, made with 2tsp caster sugar mixed with 2tbsp water and handful dried rose buds, then draining
• 25ml vodka
• 25ml Briottet rose liqueur

You will need:

• a Boston cocktail shaker

Love to mix upcocktail recipesfor friends and family? Then this fruit shrubs recipe is a handy one to have up your sleeve for dinner parties and summer gatherings. Fruit shrubs syrup forms the basis of many a berry cocktail.

Fruit shrubs syrup is a homemade drinking vinegar that can be topped up with Champagne, gin or sparkling wine to make a delicious fruity cocktail. Fruit shrub cocktails are an old-fashioned cocktail that’s enjoyed a revival in recent years. They have become a fixture of hip bar menus and a favourite with mixologists. If you’ve got a glut of summer fruits, making a shrub is the perfect way to get creative and make sure the fruit doesn’t go to waste.

To make a fruit shrub syrup, all you need is vinegar, fresh fruit and caster sugar. You simply heat the vinegar (we like white wine or apple cider vinegar) with the berries then steep them together overnight to make a flavoursome mixture. Then you heat the fruity vinegar with the sugar to make a delicious syrup. If you’re a fan of sweet and sour flavour combinations then fruit shrubs are something you have to try.

Once you’ve made your fruit shrubs syrup, it will keep in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a month. It’s a great get-ahead cocktail recipe ingredient if you’re planning a summer barbecue or party. To turn it into fabulous cocktails, just top up with vodka, gin or your favourite sparkling wine. Try serving it in Champagne coupe glasses with a few fresh berries added for a stylish finish. Delicious.

How to Make Fruit Shrubs

1. Heat the vinegar in a saucepan with the berries, simmer for 5 minutes then put into a glass bowl. Cool, cover and leave in the fridge overnight or for up to 4 days.

2. Now strain it through a fine sieve into a measuring jug and discard the fruit pulp. Add a third of the liquid volume in sugar, ie if you have 600ml liquid, add 200g sugar. Heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Put into a sterilised jar or bottle and store in the fridge. It will keep for a month. Delicious as a base with sparkling wine and gin!

Ingredients

• 500ml vinegar
• 750g berries, chopped, plus extra berries to serve (optional)
• caster sugar

Take your gin and tonic to the next level with this deliciouscocktail recipe. For a playful twist on a classic ‘g&t’ we’ve made a delicious green tea syrup, which forms the basis of this zesty gin cocktail.

Making your own sugar syrups for cocktails couldn't be easier and once you've mastered how to make one, you'll want to make them all the time in all different flavours. Our recipe adds to the basic combination of sugar and water with freshly-brewed green tea and plenty of lemon zest. The result is a fragrant syrup which mixes well with your favourite gin. The earthy, complex flavour of green tea, and the zesty lemon make perfect partners to gin and tonic. Serve with a slice of lemon or lime for a delicious finish.

This sophisticated serve wouldn’t look out of place at a cool London cocktail bar, where imaginative gin cocktails are more in demand than ever. Think of it as a trendy update on the Long Island Ice Tea. And even though this is most certainly delicious in summer it also makes a fabulous winter cocktail, too - offering something a bit lighter to the usual eggnog or creamy cocktails drinks at Christmas parties.

You can garnish your green tea G & Tea cocktail any way you fancy, just as you would a regular gin and tonic. We've used lemon or lime in this recipe but slivers of fresh grapefruit or cucumber also work well.

To make sure you get the best finish on your fancy new gin and tonic remember to have plenty of ice cubes on hand - larger ones work best as they melt slowly and will keep drinks cooler for longer.

HOW TO MAKE A G & TEA COCKTAIL

Ingredients

For the green tea syrup:

• 200ml water
• 200g caster sugar
• peeled zest of 2 lemons
• 1 green teabag

For the G & Tea cocktail:

• 2tsp green tea syrup
• 25ml gin
• 150ml tonic water
• slice lemon or lime, to serve

Method

1. For the green tea syrup, dissolve the water and sugar with lemon zest over a gentle heat. Remove from the heat, let it cool slightly then add the teabag and leave to infuse for 10 minutes. Remove the teabag, leave in the lemon and allow to cool.
2. For the G & Tea cocktail, add 2tsp tea syrup to your gin and tonic with a slice of lemon or lime.

Fancy making your ownedible giftsfor friends and family? You’ve come to the right place. If you know someone who loves to get the cocktail shaker out when entertaining, then make them a bottle of this homemade pomegranate vodka as a present.

Homemade pomegranate vodka makes a thoughtful gift for foodies. This delicious spirit will work in lots of differentcocktail recipesand pair with all sorts of mixers, like tonic water, soda water or elderflower tonic. Your recipient will be so impressed, but what they won’t realise is that making this foodie gift is actually a doddle.

You don’t need lots of equipment to make your own pomegranate vodka. All you need is a Kilner jar (don’t forget to sterilise it first). Once you’ve made a simple sugar syrup in a saucepan and allowed it to cool, simply add this to some fresh pomegranate seeds and vodka in the jar. Leave the vodka mix for at least 4 days, giving it a shake once a day. Leaving it for longer will give the flavours more time to infuse and ensure the delicate floral taste of the pomegranate seeds really comes through.

Once you’re ready to package up your pomegranate vodka, decant the mixture into stoppered bottles. Add a pretty label and a handful of fresh pomegranate seeds before sealing up the bottle. This delicious pomegranate vodka makes the perfect Christmas or Mother’s Day gift.

Ready to make your own homemade pomegranate vodka? Grab your vodka and follow our simple recipe below.

How to Make Pomegranate Vodka

1. Put the pomegranate seeds and vodka into a sterilised Kilner jar.

2. Dissolve the sugar in a pan with 200ml (7fl oz) water, then bubble for 3 to 4 minutes. Cool slightly, add to the vodka mix and give it a good shake. Leave in a cool, dark place for at least 4 days. Strain off the pomegranate seeds, return the vodka to the jar and decant into sterilised bottles. Add fresh pomegranate seeds a few days before giving as a gift.

Ingredients

• 1 large pomegranate, seeds removed
• 75cl bottle vodka (should be 40% ABV)
• 200g (7oz) caster sugar

Looking for an unusualcocktail recipethat will impress your friends and family? This fruity ginger and goji berry punch could be the drink for you. The exotic ingredients will certainly be a talking point at your next summer drinks gathering orbarbecue.

This ginger and goji berry punch recipe is the creation of the bartenders at Plateau, a popular rooftop restaurant and bar in Canary Wharf, London. They’ve used an unusual spirit called Fair Goji Liqueur to form the basis of this delicious concoction. The Fairtrade liqueur is made in France using goji berries, the Chinese berry which has become a big hit with healthy eaters in recent years.

The goji berry punch has a complex, sweet and sour flavour thanks to the addition of fresh pineapple, orange juice and freshly-squeezed lime. Liquorice bitters add an unusual edge that will get your friends talking. Add to the mix vodka and a dash of ginger ale, and you’ve got yourself a delicious cocktail that tastes of the tropics, but that clocks in at just 100 calories per serving.

To serve this cocktail, go a little tongue in cheek and top with fresh berries and a retro garnish like pineapple leaves, as Plateau have done. Or take things one step further and add a cocktail umbrella for a bit of fun. Just leave out the glace cherries and plastic monkeys to keep the drink playfully chic rather than full Del Boy.

How To Make a Ginger and Goji Berry Cocktail

1. Shake all the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker, apart from the ginger ale. Strain and serve on crushed ice in a wine glass, topped up with ginger ale.

2. Garnish with pineapple leaves and fresh berries.

This exclusive recipe is courtesy of Plateau Restaurant, London. Goji liqueur is available to buy online fromThe Whisky Exchange.

Ingredients

Fresh pineapple

3 cloves

4 drops of liquorice bitters

25 ml fresh orange juice

10 ml fresh lime juice

25 ml FAIR. goji liqueur

25 ml vodka

• A splash of ginger ale.

Rum punch is a versatile summer orChristmas cocktailthat is perfect for balmy evenings or to warm your cockles on chilly winter nights. Our traditional rum punch recipe is inspired by travels to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. We’ve used the heady, festive flavours of nutmeg and dark rum combined with the refreshing tastes of apples, oranges and limes to give you a real taste of the tropics.

Rum punch is a popular party drink in many countries. Not surprisingly it’s a favourite in the Caribbean, where rum is made with sugarcane juice. Recipes vary from country to country, but usually contain some sort of citrus to make a zesty contrast to the rum. In the Caribbean rum punch is usually drunk as an aperitif.

We love this Saint Lucia rum punch served up in a big old-fashioned punch bowl at Christmas cocktail parties for friends and family to help themselves. We’ve styled it up in a modern, clear glass punch bowl which looks stunning. Try adding slices of lime for a colour contrast against the orange drink.

Once you’ve mastered the basic rum punch recipe, try tweaking it with a few fun twists. Swap the dark rum for white rum (such as Bacardi), or add a little coconut water to the mix for a really tropical taste. There are no hard and fast rules on the kind of mixers you use either, if you don't like apple or orange juice try pineapple, grapefruit or even mango juice for a fun and fruity twist on this classic cocktail mix.

The best thing about this easy recipe is that it serves 20 people. If that's not an excuse for a party then we don't know what is. Get your friends and family round, make up some delicious rum punch and have a good old get together.

HOW TO MAKE RUM PUNCH

Ingredients

• 700ml dark rum
• 1.2 litres apple juice
• 500ml freshly squeezed orange juice
• juice 8 limes, plus extra slices to serve
• good grating nutmeg
• generous dash Angostura bitters
• 2-3tbsp grenadine

Method

1. Place all the ingredients in a punch bowl, mix well, adjust the nutmeg, bitters and grenadine to taste, and serve with lots of ice and lime slices.

The Kir Royale is a classiccocktail recipeand one of the easiest to make, too. Even if you don’t have much cocktail equipment at home, being able to mix up a quick Kir Royale means you’ll always have a go-to drink to impress your guests.

The Kir Royale is traditionally served in a champagne flute and makes the perfect palette cleanser for parties or an impressiveChristmas cocktailoffering. Traditionally, this French cocktail recipe is made with Champagne and a blackcurrant liqueur called Crème de Cassis, which gives it its hallmark light purple colour. We’ve given our Kir Royale a bit of a twist by using Framboise, a raspberry liqueur. It makes the perfect pre-dinner drink to have with nibbles and goes really well with classic canapes like smoked salmon blinis or pear and goat’s cheese crostini.

The beauty of a good Kir Royale is that although it’s traditionally made with Champers, because you’re blending it with liqueur you don't need the most expensive fizz to make the drink taste delicious. Sparkling white wine, prosecco or cava will taste just as nice when topped up with a little fruit liqueur. You can also use still white wine, which turns this drink into a Kir (rather than a Kir Royale).

If you're feeling like being particularly fancy, then have a go at making some traditional garnishes. Peel thin strips of lemon rind and wrap them around a pencil before warming and then chilling to create pretty yellow spirals or simply thread a cocktail stick with a few raspberries for a simple but effective finish. We've given quantities for one drink only but if you're making these for lots of guests then just get a few bottles of Prosecco in the fridge to chill and multiply the quantities accordingly. Want to have a go? It really is as simple as the one step below.

HOW TO MAKE KIR ROYALE COCKTAILS

Ingredients

• 1tsp framboise raspberry liqueur
• 1 glass sparkling wine, around 100ml

Method

1. Pour the framboise into the bottom of your champagne flute and carefully top up with sparkling wine, pouring slowly. Garnish depending on what you fancy that day and drink!
   

The Midnight Kiss drink is the perfect New Year’s Eve orChristmas cocktailrecipe. This decadent cocktail is made with vodka, a little Champagne, and a delicious homemade basil and strawberry syrup. If you’re looking for a chance to show off your mixology skills to friends and family, this could be the cocktail recipe for you.

Thanks to its name, and the sparkling champagne, we think this special drink would be the perfect choice to celebrate with at midnight come the bells of New Year. This versatile cocktail is also ideal for a romantic night in, so why not try it onValentine’s Dayor for a special dinner for two?

Don’t be daunted by the idea of making your own syrup. It’s very easy to do, and is the basis for so many different cocktail recipes, so it’s a useful trick to learn. The syrup will bring out the flavour of the fresh basil and strawberry, making a fragrant base for the drink. Friends will love that you've tried something a little bit different and will be so impressed by your mixology skills.

Basil and strawberries are a surprisingly effective pairing, and a popular flavour combination in Italy. Together with a little mint to garnish, they give a delicious taste of summer, so why not try this cocktail recipe in the warmer months, especially if you have basil and mint growing in the garden. Fresh British strawberries will be in season and on offer in the shops too, so why not mix up a batch of this delicious cocktail for a lazy summer evening in the garden? There’s no bad time of year to enjoy this beautiful cocktail.

HOW TO MAKE A MIDNIGHT KISS COCKTAIL

courtesy of Ketel One

Ingredients

• 30ml Ketel One, or your favourite vodka
• 20ml fresh lemon juice
• 25ml basil-strawberry syrup
• Champagne
• 1 kg crystal sugar
• 50gm of fine chopped basil
• 10 large mashed strawberries
• mint

Method

1. Boil 1 litre of water with the crystal sugar, add chopped basil and mashed strawberries.
2. Cool down for 24 hours in your refrigerator.
3. Shake the Ketel One, syrup, lemon juice and 1 bar spoon chartreuse vert with ice for about 15 seconds.
4. Pour in Collins glass with ice cubes and top with Champagne and crushed ice.
5. Add mint covered in powdered sugar and some rose water bitters to top off.
6. Garnish with mint sprig covered with powdered sugar and a strawberry.

Transport yourself to the Caribbean by making a batch of these delicious rum and gingerChristmas cocktails. Our rum and ginger cocktail is packed with delicious ingredients to give it a festive twist including warming honey, cranberry juice and a grating of fresh nutmeg.

We used a golden rum called The Dappy Share, which is a blend of rums from Jamaica and Barbados, to make this irresistible cocktail, but any good, aged rum will work. The rum and ginger cocktail packed with flavoursome ingredients which give it a tropical taste. Fresh lime juice provides a sharp contrast to the rum, while the fizz from ginger beer and optional Prosecco give it a real kick. We’ve used 10ml of ginger wine in the drink, but if you can’t get hold of any just add 10ml of extra Prosecco instead.

Christmas means countless mince pies and chocolates, so this is the ideal Christmas cocktail recipe if you’re looking for a party drink to provide a sharp, zesty contrast to all that rich food. It will transport you to the Caribbean on a cold and grey day, but those tropical flavours also make it the perfect drink forBBQsor sultry summer nights.

It's up to you how you serve up this Christmas cocktail. Try pretty champagne saucers instead of flutes for a vintage feel. Rocks glasses or high-balls (add plenty of ice to turn this into a longer serve), would look great, too. You could even try serving it in a glass punch bowl and add a vintage ladle to serve.

HOW TO MAKE A RUM AND GINGER CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL

Recipe courtesy of The Duppy Share

Ingredients

• 50ml The Duppy Share rum
• 30ml ginger Beer (we love Fever Tree Ginger Beer)
• 10ml ginger wine
• 20ml cranberry juice
• 15ml freshly squeezed lime juice
• 10g fresh ginger
• 5ml honey
• nutmeg, grating
• prosecco, (optional)

Method

1. Chop or grate the fresh ginger. Muddle the ginger with lime juice and honey in a shaker glass.
2. Shake with the rum, cranberry juice and ginger wine.
3. Sieve into a champagne coupe or flute over ice and top up with either ginger beer or prosecco. Dust with nutmeg and drink.

Everyone loves a classic gin and tonic. After a hard day at work, there’s nothing better than sipping a cool G&T with a slice of lemon. But sometimes it’s fun to mix things up a little. This pink grapefruit gin and tonic gives the classic G&T a fun foodie twist and turns it into an easy but sophisticated cocktail recipe.

Love gin cocktails, but need an easy recipe to serve to a crowd? This pink grapefruit cocktail couldn’t be simpler to assemble, but the surprising addition of grapefruit will really wow your guests. All you need to do is segment a fresh grapefruit over a bowl to catch its juices. Because grapefruit is so sharp you only need a little to give your g&t a sharp edge. Divide the juice between your favourite g&t glasses (try serving this as a long drink in high-ball glasses), then add the gin and tonic. Don’t forget the ice too, especially if you want to make this a long drink.

For a final foodie flourish, we’ve served these pink grapefruit gin and tonics with a sprig of fresh rosemary. Your guests can use their rosemary sprigs as a stirrer. The combination of woody rosemary and zesty grapefruit is unexpectedly delicious, a little taste of the Mediterranean on a summer’s evening. This easy gin cocktail makes a perfect aperitif or to serve with nibbles at a summer drinks party. It goes really well with seafood and simple canapes like smoked salmon blinis or chilli prawn skewers. We love it served with a bowl of toasted, candied nuts like pecans and almonds too. Sprinkle the nuts with rosemary and sea salt for a delicious nibble worthy of a top New York bar.

How to Make a Pink Grapefruit Gin and Tonic

1. Peel and segment 1 pink grapefruit over a bowl to catch the juices.

2. Divide the juice between 6 glasses. Add 25ml gin to each glass and top with tonic water.

3. Garnish with a grapefruit segment and rosemary sprig.

Ingredients

• 1 pink grapefruit
• 150ml gin
• tonic water
• rosemary sprigs to garnish

If you're wondering how to make eggnog then you're in the right place. This simple eggnog recipe couldn't be easier and it's so quick to mix up, making it perfect for serving up to friends and family members as aChristmas cocktailor a winter party drink.

Eggnog is a traditional Christmas drink which has been enjoyed in the US, Britain and Europe for centuries. Historians disagree on where the name comes from (some believe nog was a Medieval English word for beer), but agree that by the 18th Century eggnog was a popular drink on both sides of the Atlantic. These days it’s a holiday staple at Thanksgiving and Christmas in the US, and a fixture on Christmas drinks party menus in the UK, too.

If you like rich and creamy cocktails, our authentic eggnog recipe is the one for you. We’ve stuck to the traditional ingredients: milk, eggs, double cream and a sprinkling of nutmeg to serve. For the booze part, you can use Bourbon, rum or brandy. This is definitely not a cocktail for the clean-eating brigade.

Add even more festive flavour to this cream-based cocktail by throwing in a cinnamon stick while you're heating the cream. It will gently perfume your eggnog mixture for a festive taste and will make your house smell amazing at the same time, too.

If you have glass mugs then this looks great served up in those but don't worry if not, rocks glasses or ordinary mugs will do just as well. For younger guests you can make an alcohol-free version by leaving out the spirits.

HOW TO MAKE EGGNOG

Ingredients

• 1.2 litres (2pt) full-fat milk
• 4 free-range eggs
• 75g (3oz) golden caster sugar
• 150ml (¼pt) Bourbon, rum or brandy
• 150ml (¼pt) double cream, whipped (optional)
• freshly grated nutmeg, to serve

you will need

• 4-6 heatproof glasses

Method

1. Place the milk in a non-stick saucepan and heat to just below boiling point. Meanwhile, place the eggs and sugar in a large bowl and beat well until thoroughly combined. Pour on half the milk, stir well then return all the mixture to the pan with the rest of the warm milk.

2. Cook on a low heat until the mixture starts to thicken, but do not allow to boil. Add the Bourbon, rum or brandy and stir well.

3. Pour into heat-proof glasses and top with whipped cream. Grate over plenty of fresh nutmeg and serve immediately.

Mulled white wine makes a delicious Christmas cocktail or party drink to serve up during the cooler months. Friends and family will love that you've done something a little bit different and it gives those who don't love red wine a nice change from the classic recipe!

You can choose how you'd best like to serve up your mulled white wine but it looks great in a punch bowl with some pretty glasses and a ladle so that guests can help themselves. If you prefer you could also try serving up your party drinks in glass mugs or even tin cups for rustic charm.

One of the great things about this mulled white wine recipe is that you can easily use a slightly cheaper wine and friends won't notice the difference. The sugar and flavourings give a sweet and smooth edge to any wine and it'll taste just as good - plus once everyone' had a couple there'll be no wine experts! Ready to get started? Follow our simple recipe for mulled white wine below and whip some up in just two steps.

HOW TO MAKE MULLED WHITE WINE

Ingredients

• 1 bottle white wine
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 6 cardamom pods
• ½ lemon, sliced
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 5tbsp caster sugar

Method

1. Warm a bottle of white wine with a couple of sprigs of fresh rosemary, 6 cardamom pods, the lemon slices, cinnamon stick and caster sugar. Heat until the sugar melts and the raw alcohol flavour burns off.

2. Serve in heatproof glasses, or teacups, to make a delicious hot cocktail.
   

The mojito is one of the world’s best-loved cocktails. Hailing from Cuba, it is now one of the most ordered cocktails in UK bars, too. Not surprising when you consider that one sip of a classic mojito can whisk your mind away from rainy Britain to sun-drenched Caribbean beaches.

If you love throwing drinks parties and mixing upcocktail recipesfor friends and family, then the mojito is one recipe you simply have to master. There’s nothing better on a warm summer’s evening than sitting in the garden sipping a chilled mojito. It’s the perfect cocktail for summer drinks parties andbarbecues, too, especially as you can make up large batches of the drink then serve it in pitchers.

The mojito was invented in Cuba. Like many iconic drinks, no-one is sure exactly when and where it was first made. Ernest Hemingway was said to be a fan, and fond of a mojito or two when he was in Havana. Its popularity is due to its simplicity. A classic mojito is a mixture of white rum (use Havana Club for that authentic Cuban taste), mint leaves, sugar syrup and lime. The refreshing mint and lime help to cut through the rum and sugar and make this a light and zesty long drink to sip over plenty of ice. Mojitos are usually served in tall high-ball glasses.

We asked top mixologist Gaetano Chiavetta how to make the perfect mojito. Follow his quick recipe video then follow the simple three-step recipe below for perfect mojitos every time.

How to Make a Mojito

1. In a highball glass, squeeze the lime wedges and add lime juice. Gently bash the mint leaves to release their flavour and add them to the glass.

2. Add the sugar syrup. Fill the glass with crushed ice. Pour the rum over the ice. Mix well with a bar spoon, or a long spoon or skewer if you don't have one. Add more crushed ice and top up with soda water.

3.Garnish with fresh mint and a lime wedge.

Ingredients

• 5 lime wedges
• Dash of lime juice
• 8-10 mint leaves
• 15-20ml sugar syrup
• 50ml Havana white rum (or Havana Anejo gold rum)
• Splash of soda water

Mulled wine is a classicChristmas cocktailthat's perfect for getting a crowd into the festive spirit. Mulled wine is a traditional drink which has been enjoyed in various forms since Roman times. Most Northern European countries have their own version of mulled wine: think gluhwein in Germany or glogg in Scandinavia.

In Britain, it wouldn’t be the Christmas season without mulled wine. Sure you can buy pre-mixed bottles these days, but making your own mulled wine recipe is so much nicer than buying a pre-prepared mix, not to mention much better value, too. The warming flavours from oranges, lemons, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg all combine to give homemade mulled wine its distinctive heady and fragrant taste.

Once you’ve mastered our classiccocktail recipe, you could try spiking your mulled wine with different berries, herbs and spices. If you want a particularly fruity flavour you could try frozen summer fruits, just make sure they're thoroughly warmed through before you serve your mulled wine up to guests.

This mulled wine recipe is best made on the day, but that doesn't mean you can't prep ahead. Once you know you're going to be making mulled wine for your Christmas party you can get going by portioning up your spices. Little muslin bags are perfect for this, and then you can just drop them straight into your wine when you're ready to steep and serve your Christmas drinks. There’s no need to splash out on expensive wine as once you’ve added all those aromatic fruits and spices, even your biggest wine buff guests won’t be able to tell the supermarket-offer stuff from the Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

How To Make Mulled Wine

Ingredients

• 1 bottle red wine
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 50g (2oz) Demerara sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 whole cloves
• grating nutmeg
• 2tbsp Grand Marnier or Cointreau

Method

1. Place all the ingredients except the Grand Marnier or Cointreau in a saucepan with 300ml (1/2 pt) water. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Taste to see whether it is sweet enough and add more sugar if desired.

2. Remove from the heat, add the Grand Marnier or Cointreau. Stir well, strain into heatproof glasses and serve immediately.

Mulled cider is a popular alternative to mulled wine and makes a deliciousChristmas cocktailor winter party drink to impress friends and family. This simple mulled cider can also be made with apple juice, so you have an easy mocktail on hand for teetotallers and designated drivers.

The rich, apple flavour of cider makes it the perfect match for the warming spices popular in mulled wine. No wonder it’s a popular alternative to mulled red wine, which can be a bit rich and heady in large quantities and isn’t to everyone’s taste.

Apple and cinnamon is a classic flavour combination, so we’ve used cinnamon in this mulled cider recipe, while the lemon adds a refreshing edge which makes this mulled cider perfect for pairing with savourycanape recipesand nibbles like sausage rolls or antipasti like Parma hm.

This recipe serves up to four people, so if you're having a big get together then just scale up the quantities and there'll be plenty for everyone. And because it's so quick to make you can always make up another batch really quickly when glasses run dry.

It looks great served up in a large bowl, a bit like punch, or even poured into pretty vintage-style glass bottles once ready - just remember that it's best served warm so try and get it into people's glasses as soon as possible. You could try this mulled cider recipe with any kind of fruit cider if you fancy something a bit different. Autumnal fruit flavours would work particularly well with the spices, so try blackberry or pear.

Ready to get started? All you''ll need are a few minutes to follow our two simple steps for making mulled cider.

HOW TO MAKE MULLED CIDER

Ingredients

• 1 litre cider
• 2 lemons, sliced
• 2 fresh bay leaves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2tbsp caster sugar

Method

1. Pour the cider into a large pan with the lemons, fresh bay leaves, cinnamon sticks and 2tbsp caster sugar. Heat until the sugar melts and the raw alcohol smell burns off.

2. Serve in heatproof glasses, or teacups. Everyone will love this lightly spiced mulled cider recipe.

A good espresso martini is perfect for perking up any party. This modern classic, a decadent combination of vodka and strong coffee, makes a delicious summer or Christmascocktail. The trick to making your espresso martini the best it can be is to use really good quality coffee. This will ensure the basis of the drink will be complex and rich, instead of bitter.

Our espresso martini recipe, by world-renowned mixologist Simone Caporale, has a clever twist. Simone uses a little bit of beer to add the rich flavour of hops to the martini, which makes the drink softer and more luxurious tasting than your average espresso martini. If you're having a few friends for over for adinner partythen you could make these cocktails as a fun evening activity. Everyone will love making their own Martini and learning how to master this delicious modern classic.

Classically, espresso Martinis are served up in wide Martini glasses but Simone has chosen to pour his into these stylish short glasses for a contemporary feel. Finished off with a Mikado chocolate stick, they’re bound to be a big hit with friends and family.

Fancy mastering this modern classic? Get your espresso martini ingredients recipe and follow our step-by-step recipe below.

HOW TO MAKE AN ESPRESSO MARTINI

Created by award-winning mixologist Simone Caporale for The House of Peroni.

Ingredients

• 40ml Peroni Nastro Azzurro
• 40ml vodka
• 20ml Tia Maria
• 10ml agave syrup
• 1 espresso coffee
• grated dark chocolate, to serve
• 1 Mikado, to serve

Method

1. Pour all ingredients into a blender or food processor with 4-5 cubes of ice - if using a shaker instead of a blender, fill shaker with ice and shake vigorously.
2. Pour into a glass and dust with hot chocolate powder or grated dark chocolate. Add a Mikado to serve.

Everyone loves a (n)ice cold G&T, so we're giving this cocktail a summer twist. Introducing: Gin and Tonic Ice Lollies. They're refreshing, delicious and a great way for you to drink without even realising. Genius.

They make a fabulous party piece, and your friends are sure to love them. Plus they're a well-deserved reward for slaving over that hot BBQ in summer heat! You can have them with your friends, or just as a special treat for yourself after a long day (no judgement here!)

We advise that you don't go overboard when adding the gin, as too much alcohol may stop the ice lollies from freezing - and nobody wants to eat liquid slush! They are best served in a bowl full of ice, so you and your guests can help yourselves and not worry about the tasty treats melting.

Not only do they taste great, but these lollies look so cute, and are guaranteed to make any occasion feel classier. There's just one problem: your kids may want to try them! Just make sure they know this is a special adult-only treat...

Go on - give it a go whilst the sun is still miraculously shining and BBQ season is still in full swing.

How to make Gin and Tonic Ice Lollies:

Ingredients

• 400ml good-quality tonic (Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic Water works well)
• 2 capfuls of gin
• Zest and juice of 1 lime
• ¼ cucumber, very thinly sliced

Method

1. In a jug, mix together the tonic, gin, lime zest and juice. Put the slices of cucumber in to an 8-10 hole ice lolly mould and top with the gin and tonic mixture. Freeze overnight. Take out of the freezer 5 minutes before serving.