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
Nothing says refreshing like grapefruit and mint. Put your twist on this popular cocktail recipe to create the perfect springtime cocktail. Want to make your Grapefruit and Mint Mojito even more spring-like? Garnish with edible flowers to add that wow factor.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons water
Fresh mint
4 tablespoons lime juice
60ml white rum
60 ml fresh grapefruit juice
120ml sparkling water
Slices of grapefruit for garnish
Extra mint and edible flowers for garnish
Method
Simmer together the sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. Let cool.
Muddle together the mint and lime juice in tall glasses
Top each glass with ice
Stir in the rum and grapefruit juice in each glass
Add your sugar syrup
Top with sparkling water
Garnish with grapefruit slices, mint, and edible flowers.
Frozen Margarita
Cool off in the summer with one of the most popular cocktail recipes around. Frozen Margaritas are as delicious as they are easy to make; they're the perfect choice for a garden party or summer event. Just multiply the ingredients for extra servings.
Ingredients:
50ml tequila
25ml triple sec
25ml lime juice
15ml sugar syrup
Ice
Lime wedge to garnish
Method
Place all the ingredients into a blender (except for the garnish)
Blend well until smooth
Pour into a margarita glass
Garnish with a lime wedge
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 favorite 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.
