We have a tradition with friends – every winter we get out into nature. We used to do this almost every weekend, but now, apparently, we are getting old … It is becoming more and more difficult to get together with the whole company: someone has a job, someone has sick children, someone has gone to hot countries.
But, probably, precisely because we don’t meet often, I want to spend such winter gatherings somehow in a special way, so that they warm the soul with memories for a long time to come.
In our company, I am usually in charge of alcohol. And this year I decided to surprise my friends: I will treat them with cocktails! I came up with a good idea, but how to bring it to life? After all, making cocktails at home is not easy, but in nature …
But I’m a man! He said there will be cocktails – so there will be. Here are some fairly simple recipes I found.
What are the best cocktails to make?
In my opinion, the main thing in winter drinks is their ability to warm from the inside. You can achieve the desired effect both by the temperature of the cocktail and by the ingredients, for example, strong alcohol or aromatic spices.
Hot cocktails
These drinks can be prepared at home and taken with you in a thermos or brewed right on the fire. On the fire, of course, it tastes better.
Grog
Initially, this cocktail consisted of rum and water in equal amounts, and to improve the taste, sugar and lemon juice were added to the mixture.
The modern recipe involves the use of tea (usually black) and spices – cloves, cinnamon. The non-alcoholic base is brought to a boil, removed from the heat, sugar and seasonings are added to it. A few minutes later – lemon juice and rum, preferably dark (for example, Castillo Silver (Castillo Silver)), from ½ to ¼ volume.
Mulled wine
Known since medieval times, the drink is traditionally prepared on the basis of dry red wine (for example, Lykhny). For a bottle you will need:
- 40-50 grams of sugar or honey;
- spices – cloves, cinnamon, ginger, pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, anise, bay leaf;
- apples, citrus.
It is better to take spices as a whole, not ground, but fruit – cut into large pieces. Wine with all the ingredients is brought to a boil over medium heat, sugar is added immediately, honey – directly into the cups.
You can make mulled wine a little less strong by adding a little water – up to a quarter of the volume. In this case, all the ingredients are boiled in it until boiling, and the wine is poured last.
Strong cocktails
Shots with layers of different density are considered difficult to prepare, but there are recipes that can be easily prepared on the go. All you need is a flat surface.
“Boyarsky” and his “daughter”
The first two layers of savory cocktails are identical – you need to drop Tabasco sauce on 25 ml of Grenadine. And on top, with the help of a spoon, the alcohol component is placed:
- vodka (for example, “Husky”) – it turns out “Boyarsky”;
- light sambuca (for example, Cezare (Cesare)) – more delicate “Boyarsky’s Daughter”.
The amount of alcohol in both cocktails is 25 ml.
It is important to drink in one gulp so that the syrup from the bottom softens the taste.
“Lolita”
I don’t know why the cocktail got its name, but it’s worth a try.
It is necessary to pour 2-3 rings of fresh chili pepper with a teaspoon of lime juice, grind lightly, add 25 ml of peach liqueur (for example, Wenneker (Wenneker)). Let stand for a few minutes, pour the liquid into a stack, put 15 ml of tequila on top (for example, Don Julio (Don Julio) Blanco).
Weak cocktails
Soft drinks are pleasant to the taste, well suited for quenching thirst.
“Michelada”
A colorful Mexican cocktail based on pale lager. You will need voluminous glasses, the edges of which must be greased with lemon juice and dipped in salt. In a bottle of 0,33–0,5 liters of beer (for example, Corona (Crown) Extra), 50 ml of tomato juice, fresh juice from half a lemon or lime, a few drops of Worcestershire and soy sauce, Tabasco are added. Everything is mixed and Michelada is ready.
“The Burning Doctor Pepper”
Quite a light drink with a spectacular presentation.
Despite the apparent complexity, the only equipment required is a table or bench, a spoon and a burner.
Pour 200 ml of light beer (for example, Stary Melnik) into a tall glass, 25 ml of Amaretto liqueur into a pile, on which put the same amount of super-strong Bacardi rum (Bacardi). Set it on fire, let the glass warm up a little and lower it into the beer.
Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health. Take care of yourself!
These are the cocktails I like to drink in the winter by the fire. Do you have picnics during the cold season? What drinks do you prefer?