Nothing gets the party started like an exotic cocktail or few; offering a world of taste in technicolour, they're a fabulous way to add sparkle and fizz.
A typical cocktail contains two or more ingredients, at least one of which must be a spirit. From punches and toddies to sours and slings, from bourbon and bitters to gin fizzes and more, cocktails have come a long way since they were served surreptitiously in the speakeasies of 1920s America. But one thing we know for sure is that they taste fantastic, so sugar the glasses, dig out those umbrellas and get shakin'!
CRANBERRY PUNCH
What you need
- 500ml cranberry juice
- 500ml pineapple juice
- 165g granulated sugar
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 500ml ginger beer
- Ice cubes, optional
- Add alcohol where necessary
- In a very large bowl, stir together the cranberry and pineapple juice, sugar and almond extract until the sugar is completely dissolved. Chill for 1 hour.
- Add the ginger beer, stir gently and serve into glasses, adding ice cubes if required
