Easy Cocktails

Ingredients

• 45ml lemon vodka
• 15ml triple sec
• 30ml cranberry juice
• 10ml lime juice
• ice

For the garnish

• orange zest, or a lime wedge on the rim of the glass.

Method

• STEP 1

Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

• STEP 2

To make the garnish: hold a 3cm round piece of orange zest about 10cm above your cosmo and very carefully wave it over a lit match or lighter flame. Bend the outer edge of the zest in towards the flame so that the orange oils are released, then drop the zest into your drink.

Ingredients

• 35ml pink gin
• 25ml rose vermouth , or sweet white vermouth
• 15ml Aperol
• ice
• wedge of pink grapefruit and a basil leaf, to garnish

Method

• STEP 1

Combine the pink gin, vermouth and Aperol in a tumbler with a small handful of ice. Stir until the outside of the glass feels cold.

• STEP 2

Garnish with a wedge of pink grapefruit and a basil leaf.

Ingredients

• 6 limes, plus 1 lime sliced, to serve
• 4 tbsp granulated sugar
• 4-5 mint sprigs
• ice
• 350ml white rum
• 600ml sparking water

Method

• STEP 1

Chop each lime into six pieces and drop them into a two-litre jug. Add the sugar and squish the lime wedges with a muddler, or the end of a rolling pin. Keep crushing to get out all the juices.

• STEP 2

Pick the leaves off a mint spring and lay them on one of your hands. Clap the other hand on top to bruise the leaves ever so gently, then drop them into the jug. Repeat with the rest of the mint spring.

• STEP 3

Fill up the jug about three-quarters full with ice, then add the rum. Stir with a long-handled spoon to mix all the ingredients together gently and top up with the sparkling water. Stir once more, then serve poured into tall glasses with a few extra ice cubes and lime slices.

Try these 3 twists

Strawberry mojito
Muddle 9-10 strawberries, 2 chopped limes and 2 tbsp granulated sugar in a large jug. Bruise the leaves from 2 mint sprigs and add to the jug with a pinch of black pepper. Add lots of ice and stir in 350ml white rum and 600ml sparkling water.
Blueberry mojito 
Put 100g blueberries, 3 chopped lemons and 2 tbsp granulated sugar in a jug and muddle. Bruise the leaves from 2 mint sprigs and add them to the jug with lots of ice. Pour over 350ml white rum and 600ml sparkling water and stir together.
Mango & pineapple mojito 
Tip 50g pineapple pieces, 50g chopped mango, 3 chopped limes and 2 tbsp light brown sugar into a large jug and muddle together. Bruise and add the leaves from 2 mint sprigs, then top with ice. Stir in 150ml white rum, 200ml pineapple rum and 600ml sparkling water.