Experiment with cocktails

If you have always fancied yourself as a cocktail maker of note, why not try and perfect some of East London’s most favourite cocktails? 

While our local barmen were not willing to give away the recipes to their best-sellers, they were prepared to give us the ingredients they use to make them.

Why not pick one, buy the ingredients and spend the season making it perfect, tasting as you go, of course:

• The Cafe Neo (Tipsy Bastard):

Red Bull; tequila; vodka; Blue Carousel; sugar syrup, crushed ice.

• Verbal Warning:

Rum; dry gin; vodka; tequila; lemonade. Crushed ice.

• Fifty Shades of Grey:

Cake-flavoured vodka; vanilla ice-cream; top with whipped cream and strawberries.

• Dark and Lovely:

Whisky; rum; tequila; orange liqueur; cherry liqueur; Coca-Cola, ice cubes.

• Wonderlust:

Vodka; orange liqueur; granadilla pulp; vanilla syrup.

• Primi WitzBlitz:

Peach schnapps; vodka; rum; apricot syrup; tequila; lime juice; ginger ale. garnish with fresh apricot halves, ice cubes.

• Jagger On Acid:

Coconut-flavoured rum; apple sour; syrup; pineapple juice; orange juice, ice cubes.

• Fish Bowl:

Vodka; gin; tequila; rum; Blue Carousel; sour mix; lemonade, ice cubes.

A few cocktail recipes:

Between the Sheets

Between the Sheets is a spirited, citrusy martini packed with Captain Morgan and orange liqueur spice.

Makes 1

25ml Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold

25ml orange liqueur

25ml brandy

25ml lemon juice

Twist of lemon peel zest

How to make

Fill a cocktail shaker with cubes of ice. Using a jigger, measure 25ml Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold, 25ml orange liqueur, 25ml brandy and 25ml fresh lemon juice into the shaker. Shake until cold. Strain into a chilled martini glass using a cocktail strainer. Using a sharp knife, pare a thin strip of lemon peel zest. Snap to release the flavouring oils, and then drop into the drink.

Mojito Ho Ho

The Mojito Ho Ho cocktail recipe features a splash of Caribbean rum and a drop of joviality in the spirit of Santa. 

Makes 1

50ml Captain Morgan Original Rum

130ml Schweppes ginger ale

20ml lime juice

2 tsp castor sugar

6 mint leaves

10 cranberries

1 slice ginger

1 mint spring to decorate

How to make

Muddle castor sugar, ginger, cranberries and mint leaves in a highball glass using a rolling pin or spoon to extract flavour and aroma. Fill the glass with crushed ice.

Pour in Captain Morgan Original Rum and lime juice. Mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well combined. Top with Schweppes ginger ale. Garnish with mint and cranberries.

Tip: Add a dash of mandarin/orange liqueur to spice up your mojito!

Baileys Cinnamon Spice

Rich, aromatic and creamy, the combination of Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur and Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka creates an indulgent drink that entices the drinker with vanilla and nutty notes, plus a fragrant, spicy, cinnamon finish.

Makes 1

25ml Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur

20ml vanilla- flavoured vodka

120ml milk

1 cinnamon stick

1 pinch cinnamon

How to make

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Using a jigger, measure 25ml Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur, 20ml Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka and 120ml milk into the shaker. Shake the mixture vigorously until the surface of the cocktail shaker feels chilled. Use a cocktail strainer to strain the mixture into a martini glass. Garnish with cinnamon powder and a cinnamon stick.

Bloody Mary

The ultimate brunch cocktail, the world’s favourite savoury drink, the Bloody Mary delivers a balance of sweet, salt, sour and umami flavours that is unlike any other. 

Makes 1

50ml vodka

100ml tomato Juice

1 squeeze lemon

4 dashes Tabasco sauce

4 dashes Worcestershire sauce

2 grinds pepper

1 stalk celery

2 lemon wedges

How to make

Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Using a jigger, pour 50ml vodka and 100ml tomato juice into the glass. Add 4 dashes of Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce, the juice of half a lemon and 2 grinds of black pepper. Stir the ingredients together slowly using a bar spoon. Place a celery stalk in the drink at an angle to garnish your Smirnoff Bloody Mary. — All recipes from thebar.com