The Ultimate Cocktail Recipe Guide For All Seasons

Whether you enjoy making cocktails at home or love heading out to your nearest bar to try their latest cocktail creation, a perfectly mixed drink with balanced flavours is something special. Extravagant, indulgent and exciting, cocktails are the ultimate in creative drink mixing. They're also perfect for all seasons. From refreshing zesty creations enjoyed with friends in the summer to warming mixes sipped around a cosy fire in winter, cocktails are a celebration of flavour and creativity ! whatever the weather. If you're looking for cocktail recipes to inspire your next mixology adventure, we've put together some of our favourites for all the seasons.

Cocktails for Spring:

Spring cocktails are all about fresh and bright flavours. It's time to ditch the spicier tastes of winter and introduce something a little lighter to your cocktail making. We recommend adding plenty of colour too, mimicking the new blooms blossoming after a long winter.

Grapefruit and Mint Mojitos

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • Fresh mint leaves
  • 4 tablespoons lime juice
  • 60ml white rum
  • 60ml fresh grapefruit juice
  • 120ml sparkling water
  • Slices of grapefruit, for garnish
  • Extra mint leaves and edible flowers, for garnish


Method:

  1. Simmer the sugar and water together until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool to create the sugar syrup.
  2. In tall glasses, muddle together some fresh mint leaves with lime juice.
  3. Top each glass with ice.
  4. Stir in the white rum and fresh grapefruit juice into each glass.
  5. Add the prepared sugar syrup to each glass.
  6. Top each glass with sparkling water.
  7. Garnish with slices of grapefruit, extra mint leaves, and edible flowers.
  8. Serve and enjoy your refreshing Grapefruit and Mint Mojitos, perfect for springtime!

Frozen Margarita

Ingredients:
  • 50ml tequila
  • 25ml triple sec
  • 25ml lime juice
  • 15ml sugar syrup
  • Ice
  • Lime wedge, to garnish
Method:
  1. Place all the ingredients into a blender, except for the garnish.
  2. Blend well until smooth.
  3. Pour the mixture into a margarita glass.
  4. Garnish with a lime wedge.
  5. Serve and enjoy your refreshing Frozen Margarita, perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day!

Cocktails for Autumn:

While easy fruity cocktails are the domain of the summer months, autumn is the perfect season to get creative with your mixing. From spiced flavors to sweet caramels, there's something really special about a well-mixed autumn cocktail recipe. Just throw on your favourite cozy jumper and enjoy.

Apple Cider Mimosas

Move over orange juice, there's a new mimosa in town. This basic cocktail recipe is incredibly easy to make and will be the star of any autumn brunch with friends. Ingredients 1 bottle of prosecco (or champagne for special occasions) 235ml apple cider 2 tablespoons of brown sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon Method: Combine the sugar and cinnamon on a small plate Dip your champagne flutes in water to wet the rims Dip the rims into the cinnamon sugar to coat Fill the flutes ¼ full with cider Top with prosecco or champagne

Pear Sour

Enjoy the last of the summer fruits with this easy fruity cocktail recipe. A twist on the traditional sour recipe, this Pear Sour is the perfect combination of sweet and tangy. Enjoy before dinner as a delicious aperitif or make a batch to share with friends around the fire. Ingredients: 60ml brandy (choose pear brandy if you can find it) 60ml pear juice 20ml lemon juice 15ml sugar syrup Egg white (optional) Ice Pear slice to garnish Method Add the brandy, pear juice, lemon juice and sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker. If you are using egg white, add this to the shaker too Add ice Shake well until combined Strain into a martini glass Garnish with a pear slice

Cocktails for Winter:

As winter approaches, so does the season of celebration. From Bonfire Night to New Year, there are plenty of opportunities to get creative with your cocktail making. During the cooler months, we naturally turn to spicier flavours and warmer drinking experiences, but there is more to winter cocktail recipes than just mulled wine.

Chocolate Orange Vodka Martini

Chocolate and orange are a match made in heaven. Combine this festive flavour favourite in a cocktail to really impress your guests over the festive season. This recipe serves 4, so you may need to make in batches. Ingredients: 100ml vodka 100ml crème de cacao 60ml orange syrup 40ml orange juice Ice Grated dark chocolate to decorate Method In a cocktail shaker, add the vodka, crème de cacao, orange syrup, and orange juice Add ice Shake well until combined Dip the rim of each martini glass in water Dip the dampened rim into the dark chocolate the coat Pour in the cocktail mixture and serve.

Winter Pimm's

A mainstay of the summer months, there's no reason why you can't enjoy this cocktail recipe over winter too. A few simple substitutions will make this popular punch a favourite at your next winter party or event. Ingredients 500ml Pimm's 500ml brandy 1.5l apple juice Ice 2 cinnamon sticks Sliced apples and oranges Cranberries Method In a large jug filled with ice, combine the Pimm's, brandy and apple juice Add the cinnamon sticks Add the apples, oranges and cranberries Stir well to mix Serve

Let's Summarise…

Whatever you have planned for the year, there are plenty of delicious cocktail recipes to choose from for your next event (or to enjoy just because!). We hope you have been inspired to pick up your cocktail shaker and create your new favourite drink with our seasonal guide to our favourite cool cocktail recipes. For more inspiration, visit our blog to read about the latest alcohol trends and expert advice on creating new and exciting drinks.

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