Festive Cocktails

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The winter season is nearly upon us, some may argue it’s already here!

And with only 5 more weeks until Christmas (I know, mad), I’m sure like me, you are getting ready for festive party season. When I lived in Scotland, I adored hosting intimate dinners with friends, especially around this time of year. To host is to stress, and the festive menu is definitely one that I would stress over. Often, I would busy myself so much over the food that drinks became an afterthought, and I’d default to wine. But no more -  with the help of V Rum and their delectable spiced rum, I am elevating this party season with festive cocktails. 

Sustainably made and British crafted, V Rum are pioneering rum and what better way to celebrate their newly launched than to mix up some cocktails. These three are so easy to make, even I can do it, so I hope you enjoy making them as much as I did.

Please drink responsibly 

Winter Apple Spice Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 litre Apple Juice

• 1 Cinnamon Stick

• 4 Cloves

• 1 Orange peelings cut into strips

• 1 Apple cut into wedges for garnish

• 100 ml Spiced V Rum

Instructions: 

1. Pour apple juice into a saucepan and place over a low heat. 

2. Add the cinnamon stick, orange peel and cloves and gently heat. 

3. Add the rum and stir, don't allow it to boil. Ladle into glasses and add cinnamon sticks, orange peel or apple wedges to serve.

Candy Cane Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 60 ml cranberry juice

• 30 ml red grapefruit juice

• 30 ml Sprite (optional)

• 30 ml Pomegranate Liquor

• 30 ml Orange Liquor

• 30 ml Spiced V Rum

• Ice cubes

• Crushed Candy for glass rim (optional)

• Candy Cane for garnish

For the Rims:

1. Add sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. This is called simple syrup.

2. Dip the rims of 2 glasses in the simple syrup, and then in the crushed candy canes.

Instructions:

1. Add a few ice cubes to the glass.

2. Mix the rum, pomegranate and orange liquors, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice and pour into the glass.

3. Top with sprite (optional).

4. Pour the cocktail into the rimmed glasses. Top with candy cane garnishes.

Serve immediately.

Gingerbread Cocktail

Ingredients:

For the Rims

• 2 tablespoons Sugar 

• 2 tablespoons Water

• 2 tablespoons Crushed gingerbread cookies or brown sugar

For the Frozen Gingerbread Cocktail

• 125 ml Gingerbread men biscuits or gingersnap biscuits

• 385 ml Vanilla bean ice cream 

• 125 ml Eggnog 

• 30 ml Spiced V Rum 

For Garnish

• 125 ml cup Whipped cream 

• 2 Gingerbread men biscuits 

• Nutmeg sprinkled on top

For the Rims:

1. Add sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. This is called simple syrup.

2. Dip the rims of 2 glasses in the simple syrup, and then in the crushed gingerbread cookies.

Instructions:

1. Add the gingerbread biscuits to a blender and pulse a few times to break them up.

2. Add vanilla ice cream, eggnog and V Rum spiced to the blender, and blend until combined.

3. Pour the frozen cocktail into the rimmed glasses. Top with the garnishes.

Serve immediately.