WHEN it comes to enjoying a tipple or two, a fancy cocktail is always my drink of choice.

Decadent, elegant and packed with punch, cocktails are no longer passé and are totally ‘in vogue’. Forget the paper umbrellas, naff glasses and gawdy colours, these days cocktails are a sophisticated affair. They’re also a whole lotta fun!

As summer is well and truly upon us, I thought I’d share with you my three favourite cocktails that are perfect to enjoy in the sunshine (or at any other time of the year).

There are of course literally hundreds to chose from, so if you do get the taste for these and become a cocktail whizz, I can well recommend throwing a cocktail party in the future.

But first, to practice these beauties!

So grab your cocktail shaker, fetch a glass and let’s vamp up the glamour drink stakes!

————

Cosmopolitan

If I was ever to be granted a last drink, this simply fabulous cocktail would most definitely be mine.

Made famous in Sex & The City, this sophisticated cocktail is my all time number one. Over the years I have tried many different versions but my preference is the classic. Just like your favourite little black dress, this cocktail will never go out of style.

Recipe (taken from Cointreau)

• 20 ml (1 oz) Cointreau (or any other brand of orange liquor)
• 10 ml (¾ oz) lime juice
• 20 ml (1 oz) cranberry juice
• 40 ml (1½ oz) vodka

To make:

Pour into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, shake well, then serve in a chilled martini glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

TIP – Personally, I think the perfect cosmopolitan is one in which you can actually taste the cranberry juice (many cosmopolitans are served strong!), so don’t be afraid of adding more of the juice to the drink, little by little, if you all can taste is the alcohol!

 ————

Bellini

Created in Venice, back in the 1930s, the bellini is the king of all champagne cocktails!

Refreshing and light but yet filled with enough bubbles to make you giddy, this drink is perfect for a summer wedding or sophisticated garden party. I must warn you though, once you get the taste for this one, you won’t ever want to stop drinking it.

Recipe (taken from BBC Food)

• 2 ripe peaches (peeled, halved and stone removed) or the equivalent using tinned peaches in natural juice
• chilled champagne
• 2 chilled champagne glasses

To make:

Place the peaches in a small blender and purée until totally smooth.

Spoon half into the chilled champagne glasses and slowly top up with champagne, stirring as you pour. You should ideally have one third peach purée to two thirds champagne.

TIP – If you need to live your champagne lifestyle on a shoe-string budget, just replace the champagne in the recipe with a cheaper – but no less delicious – sparking wine such as Prosecco.

 ————

Blossoms Breeze

This fruity little number is a new cocktail that’s been brought to my attention and is a modern twist on the classic cocktail, the Sea Breeze.

Created by expert cocktail mixer David Coveney in partnership with Blossoms Syrup, this refreshing cocktail is just the thing to relax with at the end of a long day working on the garden or when all the kids are finally in bed.

If you like some tang and sharpness to your drink, then this is the one for you. Delicious!

Recipe (taken from Spabreaks.com)

• 35ml Blossoms Pomegranate syrup
• 50ml Lemon Vodka
• 150ml Pink Grapefruit Juice
• Lemonade

To make:

Shake all ingredients  together except the lemonade. Strain into a highball glass over cubed ice. Add the lemonade to top up the drink and garnish as you wish.

I really hope you enjoy making these decadent drinks as much as I enjoy drinking them! :)

If you want some further tips on how to make the perfect cocktail (including my beloved Cosmo!), check out this short video from Spabreaks.com

Till the next time, cheers!

Katie

Disclaimer – this post was created in collaboration with Spabreaks.com