We’re bringing in the new year with a bang! What better way to celebrate the beginning of 2022 with a delicious cocktail [or mocktail]!
Red Berry Spritz
A light and refreshing cocktail to sip on New Year’s Day.
1 bottle (750ml) Pinot Gris (or sweet white wine of your choice)
3 cups (750ml) soda water
¼ cup (60ml) agave syrup
250g strawberries, sliced
Fresh mint or lemon thyme to serve
In a 2-litre jug combine the wine, agave syrup, soda and sliced strawberries. To serve, pour over ice and garnish. Serves 6-8 (5 standard drinks).
Blood Orange Elderflower Cocktail
For a festive pop of colour with an even bolder taste.
30ml gin
20ml elderflower liqueur
15ml fresh lime juice
75ml ginger ale
30ml blood orange juice
In a serving glass, combine gin, elderflower liqueur, lime juice and ginger ale. Top with ice. Slowly pour in blood orange juice. Serve with blood orange slices and fresh lemon thyme sprigs.
Recipe from The Little Epicurean
Lemon Lavender Mocktail
The perfect summer mocktail – so good you’ll want to continue drinking it on New Year’s Day.
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
1 ½ tbsp lavender simple syrup (recipe below)
¼ tsp grenadine
3 dashes bitters
Lavender Simple Syrup
Combine ½ cup water, ½ cup sugar and 1 tbsp dried lavender to a saucepan. Bring to a boil then turn off the heat and let the mixture cool. Strain out the lavender with a sieve.
Combine the lemon juice, lavender syrup, grenadine and bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a glass and top it off with soda water. Garnish with fresh lavender.
Optional: Add a drop of food colouring to the end of a toothpick and dip it in each drink for a purple hue. Add 30ml of vodka to the shaker for a martini.
We wish you all a very happy new year filled with love, laughter and joy. Now it's time to celebrate – you deserve it!