Isolation is undeniably boring. Starving ourselves of human interaction is neither natural nor fun, but there are some upsides to the situation. It gives us valuable time to slow down and focus on ourselves, whether that means putting some time towards learning something new, finish a book that we could never find the time to finish or finally start watching those films that we’ve been meaning to watch for years. It’s also important to remember to enjoy ourselves as much as we can or the coming weeks and months may begin to wear on us. In that spirit, we turn to the spirit cupboard for some evening tipples.
We’ve rounded up some of our favourite cocktail recipes that can be made using the usual suspects found in a spirit collection. So, in this trying time, add a new skill to your hosting repertoire and perfect some classic cocktails in time for summer.
Old Fashioned
Dating back to the early 1800s, the Old Fashioned stands as one of the original cocktails. While it has grown over the years to include more steps and ingredients, it remains one of the easiest and most-loved cocktails of them all. Altogether, it’s a great place to begin a journey to cocktail mastery.
Ingredients
- 1-2 teaspoons of syrup or 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar
- 3 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 60ml of Scotch whiskey or bourbon
- Orange peel
- Ice
Method
- Place syrup, bitters and whiskey in the glass.
- Stir well before adding 1 or 2 large ice cubes.
- Stir 3 times to chill.
- Add approximately 2 inches of orange peel.
Vodka Martini
Do we need to explain the cultural relevance of the Martini? Loved by discerning ladies and gents alike, the Vodka Martini exemplifies that, when done correctly, simplicity is the highest sophistication. With very few ingredients and a making time of around 3 minutes, the martini is a surefire win.
Ingredients
- 60ml of vodka
- 1 tablespoon of dry vermouth
- Olive or lemon peel
Method
- Stir the vodka, dry vermouth and a small amount of ice together or, if you’re a Bond lover, shake.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
- Serve with an olive on a cocktail stick or lemon peel.
Negroni
Hailing from Italy, the Negroni is an apéritif. That means that the cocktail is typically served before a meal to cleanse the palette in preparation for the flavours to come. It’s a simple, punchy drink with great depth and history.
Ingredients
- 30ml of gin
- 30ml of campari
- 30ml of sweet vermouth
- Orange peel
Method
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass along with ice and stir until chilled.
- Strain into a glass topped up with large ice cubes.
- Serve with orange peel.
Photography courtesy of Nordic Spirits Lab.
Looking for the perfect cocktail glass? Be sure to browse tableware at OPUMO.
We've got you covered over the coming weeks. Here's how to perfect the night in.
