Christmas cocktails

There is something about the ritual of crafting a cocktail that makes it perfect for Christmas. Gathering the best ingredients, combining seasonal flavours and the time and consideration it takes to present it, just so, like a jewel-coloured gift.

We’ve picked our favourite seasonal drinks that takes us back to noisier times, crowding around the table, woodland walks scented with pine or the taste of a dessert from a vintage cookbook.

All our recipes are for four people. Christmas cocktails are always best shared with friends.

Lakes Negroni

Never, ever shaken.

The spice of the bitters, the scent of orange and a local gin made from waters straight from our local mountains makes it a seasonal classic over 100 years old.

Makes 4:

100ml Lakes Gin

100ml Campari

100ml Antiqua Formula Vermouth

Garnish – Flamed orange peel

Glass – Rocks

Method:

Fill glass 2/3 full with ice cubes. In a shaker, combine liquor, then strain in to the glass and stir once. Use peeler or knife to cut strip of orange peel then flambe/lightly burn with lighter for the smell of Christmas.

Bramble

A nod to seasonal berries found in British hedgerows, the hint of sweetness and smack of sour gives even those set against gin a good reason to drink it.

Makes 4:

200ml Plymouth Gin

60ml Crème de Mures

60ml gomme

100ml lemon juice

12 blackberries

Garnish – 8x thyme sprigs

Glass – Collins

Method:

Muddle blackberries with the lemon juice in the Collins Glass, half fill with crushed ice. In a shaker, shake liquor, gomme and juice with ice, strain and pour. Muddle again. top with crushed ice and garnish.

Winter Sour

With flavours of Christmas cake, the scent of pine needles and the aromatics of orange, this newcomer to the list is a sure-fire hit.

Makes 4:

100ml Lakes Damson

100ml Campari

50ml honey gomme

8g orange bitters

Plus:

4x egg whites

100ml lemon juice

Garnish – Rosemary sprig, sprinkle of nutmeg

Glass – Diamond Highball

Method:

Fill glass ½ full with crushed ice. Muddle rosemary leaves and lemon in cocktail shaker. Add in the liquor, bitters, juice and egg white and dry shake. Fill ½ full with ice then wet shake, strain into glass, top with ice if needed, and garnish.

Nutcracker

Invented by our very own cocktail enthusiast, Alex. Rooted in the foundations of an eggnog, but with the edge of a spiced rum, a crowd pleaser on any seasonal cocktail list.

Makes 4:

140ml Frangelico

140ml white Crème de Cacao

60ml Kraken rum

4x egg whites

Garnish – Sprinkle of nutmeg

Glass – Brandy

Method:

Fill glass ½ full with ice. Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker and dry shake. ½ fill with ice and shake. Double strain into glass over ice and sprinkle over with pinch of nutmeg.

Bedrock Gin & Tonic

A classic London Dry gin with juniper, coriander and citrus all playing a part.

Makes 4:

200ml Bedrock gin

Fevertree Mediterranean to taste

Garnish: Wedges of lime, basil

Glass – Copa de balon

Method:

Fill glass ½ full with ice. Pour gin over ice, squeezing lime wedges in and dropping them in the glass. Take 3 leaves of basil and pinch them gently to release their perfume and add them to the glass.

Book your stay and share a taste of Christmas in The Living Space