Festive cheer MIA? You're in the right place: get yourself a glorious Christmas hamper; head to a festive popup or munch your way through a Christmassy lunch; and get in the mood by buying a few foodie Christmas gifts – for loved ones or, ahem, for yourself.
If that's still not done the trick, there's only one thing for it: heading to the bar cart and whipping up a Christmas cocktail.
From winter warmers to festive twists on the classics, these delicious drinks are a sure-fire way to brighten your spirits.
Whether you're heading out or hunkering down in the run up to the celebration, 'tis the season to make sure you always have a drink in your hand, and this lovely lot will have you feeling very merry indeed...
Le Magritte Bar's festive Mob Toddy cocktail
The Mob Toddy is a nod to the 1920s, the decade that inspired Le Magritte. Bar manager Antonino Lo Iacono wanted to create a drink that would've been enjoyed by the likes of Hemingway and Fitzgerald
Safely put all of the cocktail ingredients into a teapot and let them infuse for a few minutes.
Once infused, pour the cocktail into a vintage port glass.
Pied à Terre's Christmas Flip cocktail
Velvety and richly spiced, this recipe for a Christmas Flip cocktail from Michelin-starred Pied à Terre is basically a dessert in itself
Makes 1
Preparation time 5 mins
Ingredients
50ml spiced rum (made by infusing a bottle of spiced rum with 1 stick of cinnamon, 1 star anise and 2 cloves)
10ml Baileys
10ml Tia Maria
Half an Egg Yolk
Nutmeg
1 Star Anise
Method
Place the spiced Rum, Tia Maria, Baileys, and egg yolk in a cocktail shaker. Shake with plenty of cubed ice.
Strain and serve in a small cocktail glass. Garnish with the star anise and a grating of nutmeg.
Luca's Cafe Irlandese, an Italian riff on Irish coffee
Italian restaurant Luca is all about putting an Italian spin on British classics. Head bartender Matt Ottley's Christmas cocktail is a festive, Italian take on an Irish coffee
Anton Rodriguez
Makes 1
Preparation time 5 mins
Cooking time 5 mins
Ingredients
30ml Vecchia Romagna (ideally Italian brandy but any brandy will do)
10ml demerara sugar syrup
120ml coffee
100ml double cream
10ml Branca Menta
Method
Start by making your syrup. Add equal amounts of demerara sugar and water (100g each) to a saucepan on a very low heat. Stir until dissolved then allow to cool.
Next, warm the glass with a little hot water and prepare the coffee (any coffee will do as long as it tastes nice) before combining with the syrup and brandy, giving it a quick stir. Add to your warmed glass.
Finally, prepare the cream float. In a cocktail shaker (or a protein shaker if you don’t have a fully equipped bar at home) add the cream and Branca Menta. Give a quick dry shake (without ice) to combine the ingredients and aerate the cream.
Using the back of a teaspoon positioned above the drink, slowly pour the cream over the back of the spoon, it should float perfectly on top of the coffee.
Garnish with a mint leaf and enjoy
Mount Gay's Merry Maple Sour
Short, sharp and with just a dash of sweetness, Mount Gay's maple sour is bound to make you feel merry this Christmas
Makes 1
Preparation time 5 mins
Ingredients
50ml Mount Gay XO
30ml fresh lemon juice
15ml maple syrup
15ml egg white
Method
Add all ingredients into shaker.
Dry shake, then shake with ice.
Fine strain into chilled coupe.
Express lemon oils over the surface.
Garnish with a lemon peel.
Coal Rooms' Fairy Tale of New York Christmas cocktail
This festive spin on the New York sour replaces whiskey with brandy, and the red wine float with mulled wine
Makes 1
Preparation time 5 mins
Ingredients
50ml cognac (Hennessy VS would be ideal)
25ml sugar syrup
25ml lemon juice
15ml mulled wine
Dried orange wheel, to garnish
Method
Chill a coupe glass, combine all wet ingredients in a shaker with lots of ice, shake vigorously.
Double strain into coupe and gently float the mulled wine over the back of a bar spoon onto the top of the cocktail.
