Velvety, nutty and low-ABV, this sherry flip makes an excellent alternative to eggnog during the festive season
Try our sherry flip, then discover our sherry sour, Tiojito sherry cocktail and frozen sherry cobbler cocktail. Also, try more Christmas cocktails. Sherry flip cocktail
This is a really easy way to offer people a bite with drinks without going to too much effort. You can swap the soured cream for mayo, if you prefer
Try our scampi with soured cream dip recipe, then try scampi po’ boy, prawn massaman curry, garlic prawns and more seafood recipes. Also check out more party recipes such as our jalapeño poppers and chicken tenders. How to make scampi with soured cream dip... step-by-step recipe View Green Video on the source website Scampi with soured cream dip recipe
Match earthy mezcal with spicy ginger beer for a smoky yet refreshing cocktail that is perfect for barbecues
Try this recipe for our mezcal mule, then check out our grapefruit daiquiri, negroni, picante cocktail and cherry margarita. Now discover more three-ingredient cocktails. Mezcal mule recipe
Easy, speedy and pink-tinged thanks to Chambord liqueur, this is a deliciously refreshing drink to enjoy all summer long
Try our recipe for lemon margarita with raspberry, then try our pineapple mezcal margarita, spicy margarita, picante cocktail and green tomato spicy marg. Now try more tequila cocktails. Lemon margarita with raspberry recipe
We’ve made a sherry cobbler even more refreshing and summery by creating this frozen version, perfect for a hot day
Try our recipe for a frozen sherry cobbler cocktail, then try our frozen margarita, frozen strawberry daiquiri, frozen strawberry lemonade and strawberry margarita slushies. Now try more frozen cocktails. Frozen sherry cobbler cocktail recipe
Tequila's popularity is soaring - replace gin with tequila for an effortless home drink that is great for entertaining guests
Try this tequila and tonic, then check out our easy margaritas, watermelon cooler and more tequila cocktail recipes.
Combine hummus with your favourite flavours, such as pepper or smoked salt, to create an effortless entertaining platter. Serve with veg, focaccia or savoury biscuits
Try this hummus platter with all the veg, then check out our summer deli board, beetroot tartare and ricotta toasts and effortless entertaining recipes for more inspiration. Cook's tips: Use plain hummus as a base, then add your favourite flavours. Stir in finely chopped roasted red peppers, add whole chickpeas or even smoked salt to change up the flavours and textures.
Combine the smoky notes of mezcal with the sweetness of pineapple juice – the citrus notes from the lime and the spicy Tajin rim balance the drink nicely
Try this fruity mezcal cocktail, then check out our margarita cocktail, mezcal sour cocktail, mezcal paloma and mezcal sunset cocktail. Then discover more Mexican cocktail recipes. Set in a new building at Chelsea Barracks, Campaner provides a modern look at Spain, from the Barcelona restaurant group Los Reyes del Mango. Dishes make use of local ingredients or those sourced from producers of excellence. Seafood is a star, whether that’s oysters with bloody mary cream, Catalan socarrat with prawns, or fish from the Josper grill. Hidden away under the airy restaurant and accessed by an outer door is The Clandesti, a bar with the opposite vibe – darkly secret. thecampaner.com
Upgrade your shandy game with this sophisticated spin on a pub classic. Flavourful and easy drinking, it makes a lovely late summer/early autumn aperitif
Try our IPA and Campari shandy then check out our beer cocktail ideas and Campari cocktails. Drinks expert's tip: Campari goes surprisingly well with hoppy IPAs – pale ales or wheat beers also work well, too.
Try this classic punchy cocktail from Kent's Updown restaurant, with an optional smoked eel gilda garnish to elevate
Try our vodka martini then check out our dirty martini, French martini, olive martini and more martini recipes. Also try our seabreeze cocktail, sex on the beach, screwdriver cocktail and other vodka cocktails.
Try this simple mix of cognac, lemon juice and Cointreau – it tastes more complex than you might think
Try our sidecar cocktail recipe then check out our manhattan cocktail, cosmopolitan cocktail and more cocktail recipes. Our drinks expert, Hannah Guinness, shares her at-home bar tips to help you take your sidecar to the next level. What is a sidecar? Thought to have originated around World War One, this classic cognac-based creation is winningly easy to make with just three ingredients. Zingy and citrussy, it’s a great choice for those who like sour cocktails – if you enjoy drinking margaritas then you’ll love the sidecar. Sidecar ingredients Opt for a younger cognac here, where the fruity and floral flavours will work well in the drink. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is also best. A sidecar is open to variation so feel free to play around with the base ingredients. You can swap the cognac for aged dark or golden rum, or bourbon whisky. Alternatively, try using a ginger liqueur instead of the Cointreau. Bar hacks and garnishes A sidecar is often served with a sugar rim on the glass to sweeten the cocktail as you sip. It’s not essential but as the cocktail is fairly dry and sour, it can balance out the flavours if you have a sweeter tooth. Sidecar recipe
A dirty martini is a must for savoury cocktail lovers – we like using the brine from a jar of gherkins or, for an aromatic twist, try brine from a jar of preserved lemons
Try this pickle martini, then check out our olive martini, very dirty martini, vodka martini, vesper martini, dry gin martini and more martini recipes. How to make a pickle martini... step-by-step video View Green Video on the source website Pickle martini recipe
Also known as devilled eggs, there are three different toppings here but the possibilities are endless – we've decorated with nori flakes, sesame seeds and spring onion curls; urfa chilli flakes, coriander leaves and chopped toasted almonds; and chives, fish roe and radish slices
Try these dressed eggs, then check out our chopped egg salad on salt and vinegar crisps, parmesan crisps, tajín cauliflower bites and also discover more vegetarian canapés recipes. What is effortless? Easy on the eye and simple to make, thanks to shop-bought ingredients and no fiddly techniques. These recipes can be made ahead or require 30 minutes or fewer of prep – they’re go-to ideas for entertaining special guests.
Mix up this fragrant mezcal highball, topped with grapefruit soda and rose water and garnished with edible flowers for a floral finish
Try this mezcal highball, then check out our mezcal paloma, mezcal sour cocktail, mezcal sunset cocktail and more mezcal cocktails. Make your own elderflower cordial at home to use in this recipe - it's well worth the extra effort. Then try more floral recipes.
Limoncello is a surprisingly good twist to a negroni in place of vermouth, served over ice and garnished with a lemon twist
Try this limoncello negroni, then check out our homemade limoncello, limoncello spritz and more ways to use limoncello.
Nothing says summer sipping like a cold glass of homemade iced tea, finished with real peach slices and fresh mint
Try our peach iced tea, then check out our easy iced tea, iced tea cocktail and more jug cocktail ideas. For another cooling summer drink, try our bubble tea. How to make Peach iced tea...step-by-step video View Green Video on the source website How to make the perfect peach iced tea: mixologist's tips This peach iced tea will store in the fridge for up to five days. Don’t rush to throw away the leftover peach pulp – stir through some yogurt and finish with chopped pistachios for a simple dessert. For a boozy twist to this refreshing summer tipple, add 50ml of dark rum or bourbon to each glass along with some ice and peach slices, then top up with the iced tea. Peach iced tea recipe
Add fresh strawberries to a classic lime-and-rum combo for a summery take on a Mojito. Best served in the sunshine, with plenty of fresh mint
Try our strawberry mojito, then check out our classic mojito, virgin mojito, frozen strawberry lemonade and more easy cocktail recipes. How to make a strawberry mojito... step-by-step video View Green Video on the source website How to make the perfect strawberry mojito: mixologist's tips To get the maximum juice out of your limes, roll them under your hands on a worksurface a couple of times to help release the juices. Switch up the berries – you could try raspberries or blackberries instead. Strawberry mojito recipe
Stir up a pretty pink cocktail when the occasion calls for it, from zingy woo woos and rose gin fizz, to blush-coloured margaritas
Try one of our pretty pink cocktails for Galentine's or Valentine's Day, or any occasion you see fit. For more cocktail inspiration, shake up our favourite fruity cocktails, spring cocktails, tea cocktails and mocktails and retro cocktails. We also have ingredient-led collections, perfect for using up a bottle of vodka, gin or tequila. Equip your home cocktail bar with the best cocktail accessories, then explore our guides to the best cocktail glasses, best reusable ice cubes and cocktail ice cubes. 15 pink cocktails Woo woo Guests will be swooning over this zingy vodka cocktail. The sweetness – which comes courtesy of peach schnapps and cranberry – is balanced by tart lime. Cosmo margarita Shake fragrant hibiscus tea with tequila, a dash of triple sec and lime juice to make this stylish pink-hued margarita. Garnish with a lime wedge for a sophisticated finish. Rhubarb and rose gin fizz Romance will be in the air with this elegant fizz, which combines rose water and homemade rhubarb syrup to create a lovely blush pink colour. Delicate in flavour and creamy enough for dessert, it's a romantic number that's perfect for Valentine's Day. French martini Try this fragrant blend of raspberry liqueur, pineapple juice and vodka at your next dinner party. For a fruity finish, garnish with a single raspberry. Lychee martini You'll taste fruity and tart flavours in this silky tropical pink cocktail from London bar Humble Chicken. It makes an elegant aperitif for Valentine's Day, too. Rhubarb gin Reap the rewards of making your own pink gin with our simple recipe, in which gin is infused with rhubarb and sugar. Serve neat over ice or in a pink-tinged G&T, sour cocktail or negroni. Paloma cocktail Starring refreshing grapefruit, the trendy paloma cocktail is a softer, breezier relative to the punchy margarita. Cosmopolitan You only need four ingredients to fix yourself a classic cosmo. Garnish with a little orange peel, if you like. Rosé negroni sbagliato A classic Italian aperitivo is given a fresh pink twist, courtesy of sparkling rosé wine. This easy cocktail needs just three ingredients and has a beautiful balance of fruity and herbal flavours. Mezcal sour cocktail Turn your hand to this mezcal sour, featuring a potent concoction of mezcal, pisco, aperitivo, egg whites, lime juice and cranberry bitters. Pink lemonade cocktail This deliciously fresh lemonade cocktail sings of summer and mixes vodka with raspberry liqueur, lemons and soda. Serve at a relaxed lunch with friends. Sink the pink cocktail A cocktail with serious wow-factor, this tipple sees pink grapefruit juice mixed with gin, lemon juice and a plum-flavoured syrup. Strawberry margarita slushies Nothing gets the party started quite like a round of margarita slushies. Combining strawberries, tequila, Cointreau, sugar syrup and limes, it's a super-refreshing and speedy choice. Frozen strawberry daiquiri Blitz a punnet of strawberries, rum, lime juice and ice together to make our reddish-pink frozen daiquiri. Quick and refreshing, it's one of our go-to summer tipples. Watermelon cooler Whizz together this watermelon and tequila refresher for your next BBQ – it's a perfect thirst-quencher to serve to guests on a hot, sunny day.
Expert bartender tips for mastering cocktails at home
You too can be a mixologist with the help of these expert bartender tips. Learn how to make oleo saccharum from scratch, spruce up a classic margarita and invest in a blender for serving cocktails to a crowd
Master cocktails at home with tips from award-winning bartenders from London and the UK’s top cocktail bars. Add shrubs to boost complexity in cocktails, make a DIY chilli-infused tequila for sprucing up margaritas and shake up a batch of negroni ahead of guests' arrivals. Elevate your home cocktail kit with the best cocktail accessories, from shakers and strainers to ice buckets and blenders, then explore our guides to the best cocktail glasses, whisky glasses, best reusable ice cubes and cocktail ice cubes. After, listen to our podcast on the 10 things you need to know about cocktails at home with drinks journalist and author Alice Lascelles. For more cocktail recipes, take a browse through our easy cocktails, vodka cocktails, gin cocktails and tequila cocktails. 1. Invest in a blender for cocktails en masse "A blender is the perfect solution for ‘shaking’ cocktails en masse," says Sweeties head bartender, Jack Sotti. "Add four ice cubes per cocktail in the batch and blend until all the ice has melted. Perfect for frothy sours with egg whites for a silky smooth texture. Just pop your glasses into the freezer beforehand and serve." Jack Sotti has worked across the drinks industry, from head of advocacy at Diageo to co-founding drinks consultancy agency Supernacular. He joined Sweeties as head bartender early this year. standardhotels.com/sweeties For more cocktails for a crowd, take a look at our best jug cocktails. Check out the best blenders to buy here, from our sister brand BBC Good Food. 2. Pre-batch and freeze your martinis “When entertaining I like to pre-batch and freeze a few martinis. Any combination of gin or vodka, various styles of vermouths and sherries, savoury brines or even fruit liqueurs. Bottle in attractive decanters and present the frosty bottles with elegant glassware. Prepare an array of garnishes – lemon twists, cornichons, cocktail onions and olives – so guests can personalise their drinks.” Shannon Tebay is former head bartender at The Savoy’s American Bar and Death & Co in Manhattan. thesavoylondon.com/american-bar 3. Make a vortex for thirsty guests "All you need to keep lots of guests happy at the same time is a vortex!" says Mayahuel bartender Elena Foschi. "Choose your favourite dry gin or vodka as a base (these are the easiest spirits to match flavour-wise), add lemon, sugar and a pinch of salt – a great trick to enhance flavours – then customise the drink with raspberries, strawberries or apples. Blitz in a blender, add water if needed and chill, ready to pour. For a fizzy drink, top up with soda or prosecco." Elena has worked across buzzy Marylebone restaurant Cavita and Mayahuel as a bartender since the restaurant opened in May 2022. She has developed a love for mezcal and pairing drinks with Mexican flavours. mayahuelmezcaleria.co.uk Take a browse through our best vodka cocktails. 4. Make a batch of negroni ahead of hosting "My tip for easy hosting is to make the drink ahead," says owner of Tayēr + Elementary, Monica Berg. "I normally batch the cocktail before the guests arrive and keep it in the fridge or freezer so that, when it’s time to serve, all you need do is pour. Take a negroni: use equal parts of gin, Campari, sweet vermouth and filtered water (to make up for not stirring it on ice), blend the ingredients together in a bottle and chill. To serve, fill a rocks glass with ice and a slice of orange, and pour the drink." Tayēr + Elementary, opened by Monica and her partner, Alex Kratena, has raked in plaudits, most recently reaching No 2 in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022. It’s two bars in one: Elementary, airy and industrial, is a casual, all-day space with cocktails on tap, while a partition leads to the intimate, boundary-pushing Tayēr. They also sell bottled cocktails online – from jasmine mai tais to a cedarwood old fashioned. tayer-elementary.com Discover our recipe for a classic negroni. 5. Shake up a DIY spicy tommy’s margarita "Making a decent cocktail at home needn’t be complicated. One crowd-pleaser is a spicy tommy’s margarita – and to get that heat in your drink is seriously easy," says Kricket's head of beverage, Will Rogers. "Just grab a bottle of your favourite tequila, or mezcal, take one fresh chilli, split it down the middle and drop it into the bottle and leave overnight. This will infuse the tequila and give it the added kick that will elevate your cocktail to something special. Shake 50ml of the chilli-infused tequila, 25ml of lime juice and 15ml of agave syrup, and pour over ice. Simple and spicy." Soma, a sleek subterranean bar on Soho’s Denman Street, lies underneath sister restaurant Kricket. Inside, expect pared-back, polished cocktails created by the restaurant’s head of beverage, Will Rogers, served in slinky minimalist surrounds with stainless steel bar, indigo walls and walnut furnishings. somasoho.com Take your pick from our best tequila cocktails. 6. Make-ahead oleo saccharum "One of my go-tos for serving cocktails to a crowd is to make an oleo saccharum the day before – peel citrus fruit and add the peels to a jar with sugar," says co-owner of bars Hide, The Arbitrager and Demon, and Wise & Partners, Paul Mathew. "Shake and leave overnight for the oils to be drawn out of the skin – the sugar will look damp. The following day, juice the citrus into the sugar and shake to dissolve. Strain out the peel, and use as a base for punches. You can add what you like to this but I’d suggest cold black tea (earl grey works a treat), grated nutmeg, star anise and vanilla. If you want to get more creative, rustle up a gin alternative by gently crushing some juniper berries, citrus peel, rosemary and a little thyme or fennel. Leave to soak in water, then strain and drink with tonic." Conservation biologist and bartender Paul Mathew has spent the past 25 years working in the drinks industry. Co-owner of bars Hide, The Arbitrager and Demon, and Wise & Partners in London, he launched Everleaf in 2019, a non-alcoholic aperitif that uses sustainably sourced botanicals. everleafdrinks.com Find our best gin cocktails here. 7. Surprise guests by swapping gin with mezcal "When I’m hosting a get-together, if guests are in the mood for a cocktail, I like surprising them with a twist on the classic negroni where you replace the gin with mezcal," says Lucia Massey, bartender at Doña. "I also like serving a short, neat mezcal with cool slices of orange sprinkled with tajin (a Mexican spice blend of salt, chilli and citrus), which really brings out the flavour." There’s something soothingly seductive about Stoke Newington’s Doña, with its basement setting and lavishly trimmed décor of wall-to-wall rich reds and pinks scattered with cacti, velvet seating and a pink-fringed bar. It functions as mezcal bar and community arts platform – with performances most nights. While Doña is a treasure trove of rare and small-batch mezcals, if you’re new to the spirit then we recommend starting with the cocktail list, which explores the versatility of this smoky agave spirit.bardonalondon.com Check out our more mezcal cocktails. 8. Add drinking vinegar to your cocktails "Shrubs or drinking vinegars – syrups of fruit and vinegar – offer an amazing range of flavours," says Chris Tanner, owner of Silverleaf. "Make your usual recipe for a collins or highball but add a teaspoon of drinking vinegar for complexity and depth of flavour. This also works for liquid yuzu ‘seasoning’ (£3/100ml, ocado.com). Often these tiny bottles include salts and acids as well as yuzu. If you make a punch or highball, add some to increase the range of flavour." Chris worked as director of bars at London whisky specialist Milroy’s of Soho before launching Silverleaf, a standalone bar at the Pan Pacific hotel in Bishopsgate, east London. We mean ‘standalone’ literally – the bar is hidden away in the adjacent Devonshire House, with luxe, dimly lit Tom Dixon interiors featuring metallics, mid-century furniture and plush banquettes. panpacific.com Find out how to make homemade shrubs here.
Whip up these quick and easy paprika crisps and fennel crudités with a mojo verde dip. Perfect for entertaining, they take only 10 minutes to prep with no oven required
Make these paprika crisps and fennel crudités, then check out our parmesan crisps, crab and prawn cocktail rolls, bloody mary prawn lettuce cups and more no-oven effortless recipes. What is effortless? Easy on the eye and simple to make, thanks to shop-bought ingredients and no fiddly techniques. These recipes can be made ahead or require 30 mins or fewer of prep – they’re go-to ideas for entertaining special guests. Play around with your choice of dippers – opt for carrots, cucumber, broccoli, breadsticks or whatever crunchy snacks you have to hand. Visit shop.olivemagazine.com for a unique selection of goodies, guaranteed to make your cooking even more fun. World of Zing salted caramel espresso martini is available on the olive shop and is a great liquid dessert when entertaining.
Try chef Rishim Sachdeva's floral and citrus, non-alcoholic acorn spritz for a sophisticated mocktail. Enjoy with plenty of ice and a grapefruit garnish.
Make this non-alcoholic spritz, then check out our virgin mary mocktail, gimlet mocktail and more mocktail recipes. It’s plants first at Tendril, and with an inventive menu from chef Rishim Sachdeva, your taste buds are on course for a surprise. Vegetables are treated with utmost care, and dishes sing with incredible balance – and don’t get us started on that tiramisu. As Tendril is a popup, the space is clean and simple, but that, coupled with the plain black uniforms of the knowledgeable waitstaff, allows the food to shine. tendrilkitchen.co.uk
You can prep this drink in advance by mixing all the ingredients without ice and refrigerating until serving. Simply double the ingredients to make two drinks
Make this largartija cocktail, then check out our classic margarita, paloma cocktail and more tequila cocktails. This largartija recipe comes from Margarita's book The Mexican Vegetarian Cookbook (£39.95, Phaidon). This is a recipe that Margarita shared as part of her guide to Mexican cuisine. Check it out to learn about the varied cuisine of this vast country, including taquitos dorados de papa (crispy potato tacos) and manzanas bicolor (wine-poached apples).
Sri Lankan tequila and curry leaf cocktail
This simple yet stylish short cocktail made using only tequila, lime, agave syrup and curry leaves is a must-have for your next cocktail party. This recipe comes from Soho restaurant Kolamba
Make this Sri Lankan tequila and curry leaf cocktail, then check out our spicy margarita, paloma cocktail and more tequila cocktails. Pair this cocktail with dishes such as egg hoppers, coconut sambal and more Sri Lankan recipes, plus read our insider guide to Sri Lankan food. Eroshan Meewella's Soho restaurant celebrates all that is best about Sri Lankan home cooking, an enthralling combination of Sinhalese, Tamil, Moor, Dutch and Malay tastes.
Customise this 50/50 martini by swapping the white vermouth for rosé. Choose your favourite gin and garnish with an olive, some brine, cucumber or lemon
Make this 50/50 martini, then check out our dirty martini, espresso martini, vodka martini, olive martini and more martini recipes. This is a very customisable drink – you can swap the white vermouth for rosé, choose your favourite gin, switch the garnish for a twist of lemon or, in the case of rosé vermouth, perhaps a slice of cucumber. Up the umami with an olive stuffed with blue cheese or dirty the martini with a splash of brine.
Juicy, tangy pineapple and spicy shichimi take the classic margarita somewhere new and refreshing
Make this pineapple margarita, then check out our classic margarita, blueberry margarita, picante cocktail and more fruity cocktail recipes. Alice Lascelles says: "Tropical tang meets Japanese fire in this margarita twist by Sydney’s Cantina OK! Bar. It’s best with freshly juiced pineapple but if you can’t get hold of the fresh stuff, use a dash of packaged juice plus some muddled cubes of fresh pineapple. Shichimi adds a spicy kick and a pop of vibrant colour." Recipe extracted from The Cocktail Edit by Alice Lascelles (£16.99, Quadrille). Photography by Laura Edwards.