Cocktails...don't mind if I do!

In my opinion there is nothing better than a cheeky drink with friends especially in summer, sat in the garden with a BBQ. I recently tried the frozen cocktails which my friends and I call “grown up capri suns” and they are definitely worth a try. I personally love anything fruity like a pina colada or something with blackberries in, but also love a darker Long Island Iced Tea. 

Cocktails are a sophisticated way to enjoy a drink or two with friends and are great as they come in fancy glasses of all shapes and sizes, my favourite being a jam jar, it just seems to add something else to the drink. They are easy to share and if you are with a bigger group of friends, the fish bowl is also a popular “glass” alternative!

Word of warning; when abroad make sure cocktails have the same names as at home. This year on holiday whilst I was in a lovely and respectable family friendly restaurant, when asked what I would like to drink, I ordered “Sex on the Beach” and the waiter looked confused as if to say why was I asking so bluntly in front of my friends and smiled at me so I had to clear up the situation quickly saying “The cocktail please!” …definitely an embarrassing situation!

Below is a list of some of the most popular cocktails and the ingredients they contain. Obviously depending on where you buy these drinks or if you make them yourselves, there can be variations and different flavours added. They are great fun to make at home and of course are much cheaper. Enjoy being creative!

Martini – 25ml French dry Vermouth, 45ml gin and an olive

Apple Martini - 25ml Smirnoff Green Apple Flavoured Vodka, 25ml Apple Juice and 17.5ml sour mix

Bloody Mary – 135ml tomato juice, 45ml vodka, ice cubes and Worcestershire sauce

Cosmopolitan – 15ml lime juice, 15ml pink grapefruit juice, 15ml Cointreau, 50ml vodka

Sex on the Beach – 44ml vodka, 22ml peach schnapps, 59ml orange juice, 59ml cranberry juice with an orange slice to garnish

Long Island Iced Tea – 15ml Tequila, 15ml Vodka, 15ml White rum, 15ml Triple sec, 15ml Gin, 25ml lemon juice, 30ml Gomme syrup and a splash of diet coke

Pina Colada – 70ml Pineapple juice, 30ml White rum, 60ml coconut cream and a pineapple segment

Margarita – 60ml lime juice, 30ml Triple sec, 60ml tequila, salt rim with crushed ice and a lime segment

Daiquiri – 25ml lime juice, 45ml White rum and a teaspoon of brown sugar

Mojito – 20ml Lime juice, 50ml White rum, 10 mint leaves, 2 teaspoons caster sugar, crushed ice and a dash of soda water

Sea Breeze – 50ml grapefruit juice, 120ml cranberry juice, 40ml vodka, ice and lime segment

Chocolate Martini -  59ml vodka, 44ml Chocolate Baileys and a sprinkle of cocoa powder

Tequila Slammer – 10ml Tequila, 10ml lemonade (Slammer Royale is the name given if Champagne is used instead of lemonade)

Tequila Sunrise – 45ml Tequila, 90ml Orange juice and 15ml Grenadine syrup

Woo Woo – 44ml Vodka, 44ml Peach Schnapps, 100ml cranberry juice, served with ice

White Russian - 50ml Vodka, 20ml Coffee Liqueur, 30ml fresh cream