GIVE ME 10... QUARANTINE COCKTAILS
By Tanisha Thomas and Izzy McCarthy / 22 April 2020
Illustration by Elli Smith
The uncertain times we are living in are currently very strange for everyone across the globe...
Most of us are separated from friends and family, and all of us our adjusting to a limited lifestyle that will ultimately save lives. It's easy to get down about our unprecedented situation, however, it's not all doom and gloom. In the UK the sun is starting to emerge and the weather is getting hotter (thank god!) - if like us the one simple pleasures you miss terribly is spending a sunny afternoon in a beer garden with an espresso martini in hand then this article is for you.
Luckily with the help of technology we can stay connected. Why not try setting up a 'virtual pub night' with you friends or hosting a virtual cocktails masterclass with one of these 10 fun and easy cocktails you can make from the comfort of your kitchen!
(Hopefully without adding to your next essential shop trip)
Izzy's Seasonal Cocktails...
Raspberry Daiquirí
With the summer ahead of us, raspberries are in season! There’s no better time to take advantage of the punnets in your local supermarket and make a raspberry daiquiri.
A Daiquiri was invented by a Cuban American mining engineer, called Jennings Cox, during the Spanish-American War. Since its inception, the daiquiri has become a firm favourite across the world, especially because the fruit involved can be swapped out for another.
Ingredients: Made with fresh, natural and sweet ingredients that won’t disappoint the tastes buds.
- ¼ oz Lime Juice
- ¼ oz Lemon Juice
- ½ oz Rum
- ½ oz Sugar Syrup
- 6 Raspberries
Method: Combine all the ingredients into a blender with crushed ice until smooth. Pour into a cocktail glass and enjoy!
Apple Mojito
Another delicious cocktail or mocktail is the mojito – a classic and refreshing Cuban classic which was rated the most popular global cocktail in 2013. Mojo is an African word for magic which is the perfect way to describe the drink. It really is a classy but simple to make drink.
Ernest Hemingway is the man to thank for publicising the drink during his time in Cuba. Ever since, the mojito has been internationally renowned – used in multiple James Bond’s and as Johnny Depp’s go-to in Pirates of the Caribbean.
Ingredients:
- 6 mint sprigs
- 15ml sugar syrup
- 10ml fresh lemon juice
- 15ml fresh lime juice (rejuvenates skin)
- 75ml freshly pressed green apple juice
- Ice
- Lemon and lime slice and mint sprig to garnish
Mint activates the saliva glands, which in turn promotes taste. In some cases, Corona is affecting taste and smell, so use mint to help if this is the case.
For those of us who don’t drink or are testing themselves this isolation period, the apple mojito is a great alternative mocktail. If you wish to make it alcoholic (like myself), then replace the apple with rum.
Strawberry Rhubarb Margaritas (Rhubarbs are in season!)
The curator of the margarita is still unknown. However, the popular phenomenon is that Carlos “Danny” Herrera crafted the delicious beverage at his restaurant, Rancho La Gloria, around 1938. His aim was to combine a tequila shot into a drink, by ensuring that lime and salt were immersed into one single drink. The result is not disappointing.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups white tequila
- ½ cup fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup triple sec, such as Cointreau
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves
- Crushed ice
- 8 fresh strawberries, finely diced
Method:
Place all the above ingredients into a shaker. Combine all the ingredients until well mixed.
To touch up the drink, I strongly recommend a rhubarb syrup. Even though it takes some preparation, it adds an extra taste and is rewarding to make.
For the rhubarb syrup, use 1 ½ cups sugar and 2 large stalks of rhubarb, coarsely chopped.
1) Put the 1 ½ cups sugar and 1 ½ cups of water in a saucepan over a medium heat. Cook until the sugar is dissolved - this will take a few minutes.
2) Add the rhubarb and let it soften.
3) Remove from the heat and leave for an hour to let the flavours diffuse amongst each other.
4) Drain the liquid into a small saucepan and cook over high heat until slightly reduced. This will take about 5 minutes.
5) Pour the syrup into a bowl and refrigerate for one hour.
Rum Punch
Whilst in quarantine, we can’t help but wish we were isolating somewhere tropical, hot and exotic! Thankfully, the rum punch can prepare you for summer and boost your mood.
Ingredients: to make one cocktail
For one cocktail:
- 1 ounce of white rum
- 1 ounce coconut rum
- 1 ounce spiced rum
- 1 ounce flavoured rum
- 2 ounces of pineapple juice
- Dash grenadine
Method:
1) Mix all ingredients in glass (or pitcher) over ice.
2) Garnish with a cherry and pineapple wedge.
3) To keep the punch cold: freeze pineapple juice ice cubes ahead of time and/or fill a pitcher with frozen pineapple instead of ice.
Tanisha's classic cocktails...
Sex on the Beach
It’s the easiest and juiciest of cocktails, and often found on a drinks menu with a nice ‘241’ symbol next to it! This cocktail makes for a sweet and fruity drink that is easy to sip on throughout the evening and easy to make in batches.
Ingredients:
50ml of vodka
25 ml of peach schnapps
Orange juice
Cranberry juice
You can either juice two oranges, or the regular orange juice you would buy instore. Simply mix all the ingredients in a tall glass and it really is as simple as that!
(Cheeky tip - remove the orange juice from this recipe and you have a Woo Woo!)
Mojito
Ah, The Mojito. To me, the Mojito is a true summer holiday drink, Ice cold, refreshingly citrus, and a little sweet! The perfect accompaniment to the rising temperatures to make you feel like you’re relaxing abroad!
Ingredients:
50ml of white rum (substituting for dark rum can add a nice sweetness to your drink)
The juice of one lime
A handful of mint leaves
A teaspoon of granulated sugar
Ice
Soda water
Use the end of a rolling pin or a table spoon to muddle (crush ) the lime juice, mind and sugar in the bottom of a tall glass, add your rum and stir in, then top with the soda water. How much soda water you use is entirely up to what you prefer, and there you have it! A super easy Mojito!
Bloody Mary
For something different and the ultimate brunch drink why not try a Bloody Mary?
They are my personal favourite cocktail for their fresh and spicy taste. Customise it to your tastes by adding more or less tabasco or take inspiration from some of the optional additions!
Ingredients:
50ml Vodka
100ml Tomato Juice (or enough to fill your glass)
Ice
Tabasco Sauce
Worcester Sauce 3 drops
Optional Additions
Half a lemon (juiced)
Black Pepper
Fresh Rosemary
1 tablespoon of olive or pickle juice
+ Olives or pickles to garnish
Celery to garnish
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker or if you don’t have one just use a tablespoon to stir the ingredients in a tall glass. With the tabasco you want to add 1-5 drops depending on how spicy you like it, I recommend 3 drops but always start with a small amount and add if you want it spicier so you’re not stuck with a drink too spicy too enjoy!
Once you have stirred all the ingredients strain into a tall glass and garnish with your favourite extras!
Gimlet
Summery, fresh, and super simple! I could not make a list of cocktails to make during lockdown and not include something Gin based; a Gimlet makes for the perfect sipping drink as we head into Spring.
Ingredients:
50ml of Gin
Ice
50ml of Lime syrup or Lime cordial
If you want to make your own syrup
2 Limes (zested and juiced)
200g Caster Sugar
Water
For the syrup; (it’s worth making your own) – Add lime zest, 60ml of fresh lime juice and 40ml of water to a saucepan with the 200g of caster sugar. Heat slowly and gently whilst stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved, DO NOT LET IT BOIL.
Once the sugar has fully dissolved strain the mixture into a heatproof container and leave to cool
For the Gimlet; Mix the syrup (or cordial) with the Gin in a a jug with a few ice cubes and stir until combined and cold. Then, strain your cocktail into a chilled class to serve and enjoy.
Margarita
This one is my favourite cocktail of all time. It’s a strong and citrusy short drink and makes the perfect showcase to any Mexican dinners you might host! Pre-lockdown, my family and I had a habit of having taco and fajita nights to celebrate birthdays, and for sure my homemade margaritas would make an appearance!
Ingredients:
50ml of tequila
25ml of triple-sec OR Cointreau
One lime (juiced)
Ice
Simple Syrup (optional)
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker or if you don’t have one just use a tablespoon to stir the ingredients in a tall glass.
If you want to, now is the time to salt the rim of your serving glass. Sprinkle a little salt into a small plate, then use a wedge of lime to wet the rim of the glass and dip the glass rim into the salt
Strain your now shaken mix into your serving glass so there is no ice in your drink, and enjoy!
Can’t get hold of the ingredients for these cocktails, and don’t have the opportunity to add them to an essential shopping trip? This handy website lets you put in what ingredients you have (alcohol, mixers, fruit, and other garnishes,) and it generates a list of cocktails that you can make with whatever you already have! https://makemeacocktail.com/mybar/
These cocktails can be fun to make, and a great way to add variation to a lifestyle where each day feels the same but, as always, please drink safely and responsibly.
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