5 Classic Cocktail Recipes to Make this Summer
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Thinking of hosting before summer ends? Not sure on which drink to serve? Below you’ll find a list of classic cocktails and their respective recipes. The beauty of a classic cocktail is that it never entails a large list of ingredients or steps. I hope this serves you well!
THE MARTINI
INGREDIENTS
- 100ml gin, or vodka if you prefer
- 50ml dry vermouth
- 2 pitted queen olives, or twists of lemon peel
METHOD
- Place 2 Martini glasses in the freezer to chill, preferably an hour in advance
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the gin and vermouth, tweaking the ratios according to your taste; the more gin you add, the drier and stronger the drink will taste. Stir vigorously and strain into the frozen glasses
- Garnish with an olive or a twist of lemon
VARIATIONS
Dirty Martini
Make as in the main recipe, adding 1 tbsp olive brine to the shaker. Garnish with more olives.
Millionaire’s Martini
For a decadent edge, add a splash of Champagne after straining into glasses.
THE NEGRONI
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ounce gin
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- Garnish: orange peel
METHOD
- Add the gin, Campari and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice, and stir until well-chilled
- Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube
- Garnish with an orange peel
VARIATION
Mezcal Negroni
Replace 1 ounce of Gin with 1 ounce of Mezcal as make as in the main recipe. Garnish with an orange half-wheel.
APEROL SPRITZ
A personal favourite of mine. The Aperol Spritz has made a comeback within the last few years. It’s sweet, tangy and crisp.
INGREDIENTS
- Ice
- 1.5 ounces Aperol
- 2.5 ounces Prosecco
- 1 ounce soda
- Garnish: orange slice
METHOD
- Fill a large wine glass with ice
- Add Aperol, prosecco and soda
- Give a quick stir
- Garnish with an orange slice and serve!
MINT JULEP
INGREDIENTS
- 8 mint leaves
- 1/4 ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces bourbon
- Garnish: mint sprig
METHOD
- In a rocks glass, lightly muddle the mint leaves in the simple syrup
- Add the bourbon then pack the glass with ice
- Stir until the cup is frosted on the outside
- Garnish with a mint sprig
GIN & TONIC
INGREDIENTS
- 2 ounces Gin
- 4 ounces Tonic Water
- Garnish: 2 lime or lemon wheels
METHOD
- Fill a highball glass with ice
- Add Gin
- Top with Tonic water and stir
- Garnish with lime or lemon wheels
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