The Holiday Cocktail – The Method
WThis is a home-style version of a beverage found on the seasonal menu. Designed as a large-volume premix that is bursting full of tastes of the holiday season, making it ideal for a celebration. Save the extra syrup to use in breakfast cocktails, desserts, or for another batch of the drink.
The Bikini Cocktail
Yields 10 people
To make the Clementine Cordial (produces 750ml)
300ml fresh clementine juice
200ml recently pressed lemon juice
500g fine sugar
To make the Cocktail (produces 850ml, enough for 10)
400ml decent vodka
100ml London dry gin
150ml peach schnapps
200ml citrus syrup (as made above)
Fresh cranberries, as a garnish
Mandarin essential oil, to finish
Method
To prepare the Citrus Syrup: Place every components into a pot, heat until it reaches a gentle boil, stirring so the sugar melts. Next, remove from the burner allowing it to cool completely. Decant into a clean bottle, seal and store chilled, it will last for around four weeks.
To make Batch Mix: Mix all the spirits and syrup into a large bottle, allow it to infuse for one hour, then filter it , ideally through muslin, to ensure it's completely strained.
For serving: Measure 85ml of the cocktail base to a cocktail shaker containing ice, and agitate lightly for a minute to cool it down. Pour into a chilled martini glass or a similar vessel, top with a few cranberries adding the final touch with a light spray of mandarin oil above the glass.
