Whether it be a New Year celebration, a graduation ball, a birthday treat, or whatever, one thing is certain: everybody will want a drink! Here’s a selection of special drinks to get your party underway.
Pineapple Crush (Serving Four Guests)
Peel one fresh pineapple and cut it into small pieces. Place them into a blender, along with 270g of crushed ice, and blend until the mixture is nice and smooth. Now, pour this into a large bowl and carefully mix in 1 litre of Ginger Beer. Pour into glasses and serve with fresh slices of pineapple.
Passion Fruit Margarita (Serving Two Guests)
Juice and sieve the pulp of six Passion Fruit and place them into a blender. Add in 80ml of Tequila, 30ml of Cointreau and 40ml of Lime Cordial, along with 135g of crushed ice and blend. Place the rim of your glasses into a solution of lemon juice and salt, and then pour in the Margarita. Thinly sliced limes can be used as a garnish.
Peach Cup (Serving a Party of Twelve)
Take 750ml of Peach Brandy, 750ml of Peach Juice (or cordial) and one whole bottle of your favourite Rosé, along with one bottle of Soda Water (or Tonic Water), and place them into a large punch bowl. Slice two large peaches in half, take out the stones, and then cut up into thin, even slices. Add these to the punch bowl and stir in gently. You can garnish with sprigs of fresh mint and serve with a ladle.
Champagne Strawberry Punch (Serving Twelve Guests)
Place 250g of freshly sliced strawberries into your punch bowl. Add in 50g of Castor Sugar, 125ml of Cointreau, along with 30ml of Grenadine and allow it to stand for an hour or so. Add in two bottles of your favourite Champagne and one bottle of Tonic Water (or Soda Water) immediately before serving.
Mint Julep (For a Party of Eight Guests)
Take the rind from three ripe lemons and place in a large pan. Add in 250g of sugar, 250ml of water and bring to the boil, gradually dissolving the sugar. Allow this to simmer on a low heat for approximately five minutes, then strain off into a serving bowl and leave to cool. Next, juice the three lemons, along with another two, and place them into the bowl, too.
Take 540g of crushed ice, 20g of fresh mint and place them into a blender. Mix just enough to crush the mint, and then add this to the bowl along with 125ml of your favourite whisky. To serve, dip the rim of your glasses into a solution of lemon juice and sugar and pour in the Julep. It can be garnished with sprigs of fresh mint.
Next, sit back and enjoy the party!
