Hot Chocolate Cocktails

Cocktails to Warm Your Heart This Winter

There’s nothing better in winter than to sit around a fire with a lovely mug of hot chocolate.....unless you count hot chocolate with extras! Yes, adults only hot chocolate is a different type of cocktail that you can serve to your family and friends this winter and here I have listed some of the best hot chocolate cocktails for you to enjoy

There are simple to make hot chocolate cocktails along with a couple of more time consuming (yet still mouthwatering) hot chocolate cocktail recipes.

Whether you enjoy your hot chocolate with a hint of mint, enhanced with chocolate or a little nutty I have a hot chocolate cocktail recipe which you will simply adore.

These adult hot chocolates are like being given a big hug on a cold night, in fact they're so good I've been known to drink them during the summer too!

Celebrate Christmas with a Hot Chocolate Cocktail

Delicious - It's Like a Chocolate Hug!

While you're busy wrapping gifts......what could be better than sipping on a delicious hot chocolate cocktail at the same time? Personally I think it's a great way of spending Christmas Eve after the children are in bed while you're waiting for them to drop off to sleep so that 'Santa' can make his little visit.

Hot Chocolate Cocktail Menu

Your Ticket to a Very Happy Place!

On this page you'll find the following -

• Hot Chocolate with Peppermint
• Hot Chocolate with Coffee
• Hot Chocolate with Nuts
• Irish Hot Chocolate
• Hot Chocolate with Fruit
• Hot Chocolate with Rum

Hot Chocolate with Peppermint

Minty Heaven in a Mug!

Now the simple hot chocolate and peppermint cocktail is called the Snuggler and features on my Valentine's Day Cocktail page as it's delicious and ideal to drink while snuggling up and watching a movie.....it's also really easy to make.

The Snuggler

Make a mug of hot chocolate as per the instructions on the packet (I recommend Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate) and then add 1½ oz peppermint schnapps, stir and add whipped cream if desired.

Now if you want to get fancy there is another variation on Peppermint Schnapps flavored Hot Chocolate. This variation is delicious and a great 'holiday' cocktail or one to make when you're trying to impress.

Hot Chocolate Peppermint Schnapps

1 quart milk
6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped or use chocolate chips
9 ounces peppermint schnapps
Whipped cream, for serving
6 peppermint sticks, for serving

Heat one cup of the milk over a low heat and while the milk is heating add the chocolate while stirring. Once the chocolate is fully melted add the remaining milk and increase the heat to medium. Do not let the milk boil. Whisk the hot chocolate as it warms up and serve in a mug or an irish coffee glass. Add 1½ oz peppermint schapps to the mug/glass and top with a dollop of cream and a peppermint stick - delicious!

Another way to get the flavor of mint into your hot chocolate is to use creme de menthe which is where the Midnight Snowstorm comes into play.

Midnight Snowstorm

2 oz white creme de menthe
Hot Chocolate
1/2 oz green creme de menthe
whipped cream

This is another cocktail where you use a store brought hot chocolate of your own choice. Make up the hot chocolate as per the packet instructions and pour into a glass with 2 oz of the white creme de menthe and stir. Next add the whipped cream and pour the green creme de menthe over the top for a festive look that makes this particular hot chocolate cocktail ideal for Christmas time :)

This next cocktail takes the peppermint chocolate trip on an even more intense turn combining not just schnapps, but creme de menthe for a mint explosion. Let's hear it for the Hot Peppermint Patty, which is essentially a warm version of the classic Peppermint Patty cocktail.

Hot Peppermint Patty

1 oz peppermint schnapps
½ oz dark creme de cacao
1 tsp creme de menthe
hot chocolate
whipped cream
shaved chocolate for garnish

Pour the peppermint schapps, creme de cacao and creme de menthe into the bottom of an Irish Coffee Glass and top up with your favorite hot chocolate. Add whipped cream on top and a little shaved chocolate (or cheat and crumble some Cadbury Flake bar over the top).

Hot Chocolate with Coffee

Hot chocolate and coffee is such a popular combination that it even has it's own name - Mocha! It's hardly surprising that there should be some Mocha cocktails then is it?

Hot Mocha Cocktail

4 ½ cups whole milk
4 oz coffee liqueur (I use Kahlua)
3 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
3 cups espresso
1 ½ cups sugar
1 ¼ cups unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup powdered sugar
1 cup whipping cream

First place the milk and cinnamon sticks into a saucepan on a high heat and bring to a simmer, once that's done remove from heat, cover and leave for 15 minutes to allow the cinnamon flavor to really infuse the milk.

Whisk in the espresso (this should be cold), sugar and one cup of the cocoa, put the saucepan back on the heat and bring it up to a simmer whisking regularly.

Once the hot chocolate is simmering again you can take it off of the heat and remove the cinnamon sticks (it should be smelling delicious) and add the coffee liqueur.

Meanwhile place the powdered sugar and remaining cocoa powder in a bowl with the cream and whisk until it's thick.

Ladle the hot chocolate into mugs and spoon the cream mixture on top.....a little time consuming, but well worth it :)

A much easier version is called the Kahlua Java, I can't remember where I came across this recipe but it is named after one of my favorite liqueurs (even my dog is named Kahlua!) so I knew it would have to taste good.

Kahlua Java

Hot Chocolate
Coffee
1½ oz Kahlua

Mix hot chocolate and coffee in equal amounts into your mug (although to be honest I have often done 1/3 coffee to 2/3 chocolate which is also very nice) then add the Kahlua and stir. Whipped cream and marshmallows is also an optional garnish if you're trying to impress.

Hot Chocolate with Nuts

This hot chocolate will warm the cockles of your heart in no time, I call it hot chocolate with benefits and you'll see why once you taste it :)

Hot Nutella Cocktail

3 cups milk
½ cup chocolate chips
1 cup half-n-half
½ cup rum
½ cup sugar
½ cup hazelnut liqueur (I recommend Frangelico)

Melt the chocolate whichever way you're most comfortable with - I use my Chocolate Factory, but you can use the microwave or a double boiler.

Next in a saucepan heat the milk, half and half and sugar until it comes to a simmer - keep stirring until the sugar is totally dissolved. Add one cup of the milk mixture to the melted chocolate stirring well and then pour the chocolate into the remaining milk and stir until smooth.

Add the rum and hazelnut liqueur and then gently reheat before serving in some lovely mugs.

Irish Hot Chocolate

Bailey's is a classic Irish drink and it mixes so well with chocolate that we just had to try it with hot chocolate - delicious!

This is another really easy to prepare hot chocolate drink that is sure to be popular in your house once you've tried it.

Bailey's Hot Chocolate

1 oz Baileys
hot chocolate
whipped cream

Pour the Baileys into a mug or Irish Coffee glass and top up with your favorite hot chocolate, stir and add whipped cream to the top. I have also tried this with the Baileys Caramel which is even more divine.

Hot Chocolate with Fruit

Chocolate and fruit go together really well especially berries and oranges.

When I was given some Chambord (black raspberry liqueur) all kinds of delicious cocktails were created, but this hot chocolate cocktail was actually given to me by a friend. My friend’s recipe called for white creme de cacao, but I only had brown and it tasted delicious so I’m assuming it doesn’t matter which one you want to use.

Raspberry Hot Chocolate

8 oz Hot Chocolate
1 oz White Creme de Cacao
1 oz Chambord Raspberry Liqueur

Pour the Chambord and Creme de Cacao into a coffee mug and top up with hot chocolate - very berrilicious!

There’s something about orange and chocolate as well and when you’re using orange peel you get that bitter orange flavor that goes really well with hot chocolate – add cognac to the mix and you can feel the warmth spreading right down to your toes!

Bitter Orange Hot Chocolate

1 ½ oz. cognac
1 cup hot chocolate
1 Orange peel
1 tbsp. Whipped cream

Make up the hot chocolate according to the packet and then add the orange peal, next add warm cognac and stir well. Add whipped cream to the top of the hot chocolate and sit back and enjoy :)

Hot Chocolate Rum

Rum and chocolate – what more can you say? Black rum has an intense sweetness about it that really compliments the hot chocolate, although the cream is really needed this time to help cut into the sweetness for a delicious mug of cheer.

Black Hot Chocolate

8 oz. hot chocolate
1 1/2 oz. Black Rum
Whipped cream

Another extremely easy hot chocolate cocktail, simply prepare the hot chocolate according to the packet and then stir in the rum. Whipped cream on the top and you have a delicious hot chocolate cocktail.

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Non Alcoholic Halloween Cocktails

Who said you have to have alcohol to enjoy a few good Halloween cocktails? A cocktail without alcohol is called a mocktail and there are some delicious Halloween one's available.

You can find this one along with others on my Halloween Cocktails site

Devil's Juice

You will need -

3oz cranberry juice
3oz tomato juice
1 tsp Tabasco sauce
1 tsp lemon juice
dash of black pepper, dash of salt

Mix all of the ingredients together and serve them in a collins glass over ice.

The other alternative to creating sumptuous Halloween mocktails is by simply using everyday Mocktail recipes and giving them new names along with serving them in Halloween glassware or using other Halloween inspired drinks decor.

Of course you can always add black or red food coloring to lemonade if it's for children as opposed to mixing different drinks for them.

If you're after even more non-alcoholic Halloween Cocktails then there's a cool article at Halloween Mocktails which contains a few recipes as we.

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Halloween Cocktail Costumes

With Halloween fast approaching I've decided to look at cocktails a different way, usually I'm trying to think of some more delicious Halloween cocktails to write about, but what about dressing up as a cocktail for Halloween?   I think it's a cool costume idea.

You can dress up as a martini, a daiquiri, a cosmo or more, let's look at a few of the costumes I've found for you -













If you havent' decided on a Halloween costume yet then why not try one of these, you'll look great and let's face it - is there ever a time when cocktails aren't a good idea?!

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Vampire Cocktails

Well October is here which means it's time for Halloween drinks to make an entrance again  {{cue spooky music}} today I'm going to look at Vampire Cocktails.   Talking of vampires - what blood group are you?   I'm B positive and if you are too you'll probably enjoy the sweet tasting cocktail known as Vampire's Delight!

Vampire's Delight

2 oz dark rum
1 banana
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
grenadine

First you need to add the rum, banana and ice cream into a blender and blend together.   Now take a couple of Champagne flutes and add a little grenadine into each one - swirl it around so that it coats the inside of the glass and then pour in the banana mixture.

Delicious!

I've also discovered a Vampire's Kiss recipe that doesn't seem to be a 'real' vampire cocktail as it contains garlic!   It does however contain the Blavod vodka which is great to make Halloween cocktails with.   The Blavod vodka is a black vodka and is great for making Halloween style Screwdrivers and other spooky looking cocktails.

Back to the Vampire's Kiss cocktail -

Vampire's Kiss Martini Recipe Postcard by TheMartiniDiva
Get Postcard designs on zazzle.com

Isn't it a cool idea to be able to buy your Vampire cocktail recipe on a recipe card - no need to try and remember where you came across it before, you merely keep the card in an index box by your bar and you'll be mixing up Vampire Kisses on any day of the year!

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, I am also a Zazzle Affiliate and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Celebration Cocktails

My mum's arriving today a few days ahead of my dad so that we can have some quality time together while dd is at school and hubby's at work - sounds great doesn't it?   This means that it's time for some celebratory cocktails........there are lots of times when you need to celebrate things such as anniversaries, birthdays, meeting deadlines, Christmas, New Years etc etc.

What are some quick and easy cocktail recipes to have on hand?

Well I always think of celebrations and Champagne in the same breath so I try to make sure that I always have a bottle of bubbles in my bar fridge ready to be opened and there are so many different choices for what to add to the Champers to make a gorgeous cocktail.

I think one of the best has to be the Kir Royale - even the name sounds like it's something special!

Kir Royale Recipe

1/2 oz creme de cassis
Champagne

Pour your Champagne into a Champagne flute and add your creme de cassis - give it a gentle stir and enjoy.

For other great celebratory cocktails check out my post on Champagne Cocktails.

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Halloween Cocktail Party Time

It's already the end of August and time to think about Halloween cocktails.   I have lots of different recipes that I regularly use for Halloween inspired cocktails, but as I mentioned in last years Halloween cocktail post you can also use regular cocktail recipes that you already know and rename them for Halloween.

I like to make sure I have some great Halloween glasses to serve my cocktails in, that way you can serve very plain looking drinks such as a gin and tonic or vodka martini and still have them looking - spooky or kooky or whatever theme you're using this Halloween.

I've compiled a selection of different types of Halloween glasses in one place for you to browse at your leisure - Halloween Glasses, make sure you get in early as Halloween glasses do sell out quickly some years.   Also don't forget to check back here closer to the date for some fantastic Halloween cocktail recipe ideas.

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

An Alcoholic Trifle? Dessert Cocktails Are Delicious!

If I was to mention an alcoholic trifle I'm sure you would be thinking of a sherry trifle wouldn't you?   Well you'd be wrong!   I absolutely love trifle, but I've never really taken to the sherry trifle version - my Gran's trifle was delicious, my dad's was yummy and when my mother-in-law produced her's I was a little concerned, but it was delicious too.

In other words I love my trifle so when I find a cocktail that's based on this great old British pudding I naturally have to try it - it's my duty to make sure that they're not giving people false hope after all, or did I say it was my job to try and report back.......

Anyway here is the recipe for the Trifle Martini...

Trifle Martini

2 1/2 shots of blackcurrant vodka

2 shots of drambuie

1/2 shot of chambord (I love this liqueur, it's also great in a jam donut shot!)

It's a simple cocktail recipe, you simply add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well before staining into a cocktail glass to serve.

This cocktail is definitely one that is staying on my list of delicious dessert cocktails, if you're after recipes of more dessert cocktails then you'll want to check out my Dessert Cocktails post - it's a great idea to serve up one of these after dinner with friends.

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Japanese Cocktails

Have you tried a Japanese inspired cocktail before?   They are really gaining popularity and when I sat down to think of what to write today the radio played an old 80s song - Turning Japanese - this has subsequently gotten stuck in my head which is why we're going to look at some awesome Japanese inspired cocktails today!

One way to make a Japanese inspired cocktail is by using the Japanese liqueur Shochu which is gaining popularity with drinkers around the world due in part to it's lower calorie content than other liqueurs.   As a liqueur it has an earthy taste which mixes well with a number of different flavors.

One cocktail to try is the Shochuini which combines Shochu with another Japanese alcohol - Sake.

Shochuini Recipe

3 oz Shochu

2 oz Sake

1 oz vodka

1 oz fresh lime juice

1/2 oz simple syrup

Pop all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well before straining into a cocktail glass to serve.

If this recipe doesn't appeal to you then check out the selection of recipes that I have compiled for you on my Japanese Inspired Cocktails website.   It includes the recipe for my favorite (at the moment anyway!) one which is Melon Cream Soda.

I'm not the only person writing about Japanese inspired cocktails it seems that Eastern influences continue to gain popularity and this has culminated in a great book which is written by a Japanese lady now living in New York by the name of Yuri Kato.

Japanese Cocktails

I particularly liked the cover of the book when I first saw it as it really seems to embrace the Japanese influence.

Yuri Kato was not only born in Japan, but is well known in cocktail circles as she is a publisher of the Cocktail Times among other things.   In this book she compiles over 60 cocktail recipes that range from the classic ones that include ingredients such as the two above as well as Japanese whisky to original ones which creatively blend traditional Japanese flavors with non-Japanese spirits like vodka and tequila.

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Heavenly Chocolate Cocktails

There are some gorgeous chocolate cocktails around and as you can no doubt tell from past posts I adore most of them!   I really like the Macaroon - you can check out the Macaroon recipe here - and was planning on making one last night, but you know what we had no amaretto!

I decided to use Frangelico in it's place and the result was very much like another chocolate cocktail that I'm sure I have talked about - it was delicious.

6 parts vodka
1 part chocolate liqueur
1 part frangelico

Shake the ingredients together with ice and serve.

What should I call this cocktail though?   Perhaps you can help me to christen it and then I can label it and add it to one of my cocktail pages.   Try it out and think of the perfect name and post it here - there are no prizes just the sense of pride you can feel in yourself because you've christened a cocktail!

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Choc Nut Delight - A Heavenly Cocktail

When my mum comes over to stay I like to mix up a cocktail for us to celebrate. She loves creamy and chocolatey cocktails, like me. Last time she was here I made us the following concoction:-

Choc Nut Delight

30ml dark creme de cacao
15ml kahlua
15ml frangelico
30ml cream
30ml milk

I placed all of the ingredients into my shaker with ice and shook well. Then I strained it into a cocktail glass and topped it with grated chocolate - delicious.

I added the kahlua because cofee flavors can sometimes help to intensify the chocolate flavor. I only put 15ml of the frangelico because I wanted the nutty flavor to be in the background and not overpowering. Why did I use cream and milk - I was feeling lazy! Obviously you can use half'n'half, I just didn't want to make any - we had gossiping to do!

This illustrates a fun thing with cocktails - if you don't have something, substitute and make up a name for your 'new' cocktail!

If you're after more chocolate cocktails then why not check out my page at - Chocolate Cocktails.

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Perfecting Your Daiquiris for Summer

With summer nearly upon us, or here already depending on where you live it's time to crack out your favorite daiquiri recipes.   The basic daiquiri is a perfect blend of rum, sugar syrup and lime juice and is fantastic anytime of the year, but summer is when the frozen daiquiri makes a very welcome appearance.


I love making up a batch of frozen daiquiris and hiring a frozen daiquiris machine (I think they're officially called a frozen drinks machine!) so that people can serve themselves at a summer party.

Margaritaville Tahiti Frozen Concoction Maker, DM3000
I am definitely tempted to get my very own frozen daiquiri machine and this one seems perfect because you can make more than one drink. Imagine a daiquiri of your choice and a margarita of your choice and an alcohol free frozen drinks for sober drivers, moms to be or children.

This machine would certainly get the party started in style and having read the reviews I am even more tempted....... it would certainly save on the rental, plus it's available for those impromptu gatherings as well....

If you have one please let me know how you've found it in the comments.

In the mean time have you perfected your daiquiri making skills for the upcoming summer? Whether you decide to stick to classic daiquiri recipes or embrace some frozen daiquiri recipes we do all have our favorites don't we? I love the abundance of strawberries in summer which is why I want to talk strawberry daiquiris (my hubby is muttering about an abundance of mango, but as I don't like them and I'm writing this I'm going to stick with strawberries!)

How to Make Strawberry Daiquiris

Strawberry Daiquiri Recipes

Strawberry Daiquiri By The CulinaryGeek
from Chicago, USA

If you're making your strawberry daiquiri during the strawberry season then you'll often find that they are sweet enough to not require any added sugar so be sure to taste them first (the overly sweet bagged concoction of strawberry daiquiri concentrates that are available are enough to put you right off the drink!).

Here is a recipe that doesn't call for ice, just in case your teeth are feeling a little sensitive or you don't think it's a warm enough day for a frozen drink -

Sugar Free Strawberry Daiquiri Recipe

This makes four servings so it's perfect for when your closest girlfriends come over.

6 oz rum
4 oz fresh lime juice
1 pint strawberries, hulls removed, reserving 4 for garnish

Place all of the ingredients into a blender and process until blended smooth.

Pour the mixture into 4 tall glasses and garnish with the reserved strawberries.

Homemade Strawberry Daiquiri

Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri Recipes

Please don't buy those bags of mix, making your own can be so easy by following some of these recipes -

Super Quick Strawberry Daiquiri Recipe with Frozen Strawberries

1 cup light rum
2 cups frozen whole strawberries (1 16-ounce bag)
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup of lime juice

First of all place your rum and lime juice into your blender and then add sugar allowing it to dissolve.

Add a few strawberries to the blender; pulsing to break them up then add more until mixture is nice and smooth.

Pour into chilled or frozen glasses as room temperature glasses allow your daiquiri to thaw too quickly. If it's an impromptu gathering and you don't have any chilled glasses then fill the glasses with ice before starting to make the daiquiris and empty them before adding the drink - it will help to cool the glasses down quickly.

Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri with Fresh Strawberries

2 parts light rum
1 part triple sec
5 large strawberries
1/2 cup crushed ice
lime juice as needed

Add all of the ingredients to the blender including just a little squeeze of lime juice and blend until the mixture is smooth - taste to see if you need a little more lime juice or not.
Rim the edge of a martini glass with lime juice and then fine sugar and fill with the strawberry daiquiri.

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Party Decorations (and cocktails) for your 4th of July Party

Celebrate Independence Day in style with some of these party decoration ideas, and a few of these drinks too.

I discussed some fantastic red, white and blue cocktails last time, but you need more than just cocktails to have a good 4^th of July and I love the idea of decorating your table with these Patriotic Top Hats.

Patriotic Top Hats (1 dz)

Pop a couple on each table as table pieces and you’ll get a very festive feel at the beginning of the party and you know that as the party wears on people will start wearing them, rather like the paper hats we all don at Christmas dinner.   At the end of the party you’ll find a number of people will leave wearing these hats which will act as a reminder of what a great time they had at your place.

American Flag

If you’re after a stunning looking shooter then an American Flag is the drink for you –

1 part grenadine

1 part white crème de cacao

1 part blue curacao

Pout the grenadine into the bottom of a shot glass, layer the crème de cacao on top and then layer the blue curacao on the top of that.

While we’re talking of the American flag – buy a whole lot of them to add as decorations in your food, drinks, on your table etc.   You can never have too many American flags on Independence Day!

USA Plastic Flags (144 pc)

Now if your get togethers are anything like mine then half of the guests will prefer to drink beer instead of cocktails (silly people!) and if you’ve got a keg on hand for them then you’ll need some patriotic cups to drink from.

Patriotic Plastic Flag Cups

Of course if you’re serving bottles or cans then your guests can drink out of them instead – whatever is easier I always say.

Another great idea for table decorations are these cute Patriotic rubber duckies.   I first came across these a few months ago and fell in love with them – I also love celebriducks so I guess I was bound to love these.

Patriotic Rubber Duckies

Now you could just scatter them around or you could decide to revive the 80s cocktail – the fluffy duck and make the drink in larger glasses with ducks floating in them.   Here’s the recipe for a fluffy duck –

Fluffy Duck

1 part white rum

1 part advocaat

1 part cream

Lemonade

Add the rum, advocaat and cream to a cocktail glass (I like to use a hurricane glass personally) and then slowly top up with lemonade.   Be aware that the cream and lemonade have a chemical reaction to each other which causes the drink to rise and froth (tastes delicious, but if you add the lemonade too quickly it can get messy).

Before we go here’s another drink for your 4^th of July get together –

4^th July Lemonade Drink (bear in mind this is not your usual lemonade – it is an alcoholic cocktail!)

1 part Jack Daniels

1 part triple sec

1 part sweet and sour mix

4 parts lemon-lime soda

Pour Jack Daniels, triple sec and sweet and sour mix into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.   Pour into a highball glass and top up with the lemon-lime soda, stirring gently.

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Red, White & Blue Cocktails

The 4th July will be upon us in no time so it's time to start thinking of what cocktails we want to be serving up - how about a collection of red, white and blue cocktails?

There are a number of different red cocktails from the super easy Bloody Mary to a Campari Cocktail and more.   I've actually compiled a collection of red cocktails for Valentines day on another page, but you could give them more of a patriotic name and use any of them at your 4th July celebrations - Red Cocktails.

Bloody Mary


1 part of vodka
tomato juice
celery salt
Worcestershire sauce
Tabasco sauce

Pour 1 part of vodka into a highball glass that has ice in it, top up with the tomato juice.    Add a dash of celery salt, Tabasco sauce and a couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce, give it a stir and it's done.

Campari Cocktail


2 parts Campari
1 part vodka
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Pop all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.   Strain into a cocktail glass to serve.

Now let's move onto white cocktails and personally I think the best white cocktail is the White Russian and as the saying goes 'forget the rest and have the best,' but I'm thinking you probably want a selection of drinks so here are a few more ideas.    Hair of the Dog and Brandy Alexander are two other white cocktails that you can choose from.

Hair of the Dog


1 part Scotch whisky
1 1/2 parts single cream
1/2 part honey

Gently mix all of the ingredients together and pour into a shot glass over ice to serve.

White Russian


2 parts vodka
1 part kahlua
1 1/2 parts cream

This is served in an old fashioned glass over ice and there are a number of different variations on the mixing of it - although it can be nice to float the cream on top in this case I think you should make it the way I do so that you have a 'white cocktail.'    Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well before straining into an old fashioned glass over ice.

Now let's talk about blue cocktails.   One of my favorite ways of creating a blue cocktail is by using Blue Curacao and when it comes to summer cocktails you don't get many that are as refreshing as the Blue Lagoon.   Other blue cocktails include the Sapphire Martini and the Blue Carnation.

Sapphire Martini

2 parts gin (frozen)
2 dashes dry vermouth
2 dashes blue curacao

Take a chilled cocktail glass and add your dry vermouth and blue curacao - swirl around the glass to add a coating before pouring in the gin.   It's very important that the gin has been kept in the freezer over night as this martini is best served extremely cold.   Be aware that this is a very strong cocktail that would do the likes of Winston Churchill or Ernest Hemmingway proud.

Blue Carnation

1/2 part white cream de cacao
1/2 part blue curacao
2 parts cream

Now this is a delicious, creamy cocktail which is always a plus in my books and it's also incredibly easy to make as you simply pop all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and 'shake, baby, shake,' next strain into a cocktail glass to serve.

So there you have it some red, white and blue cocktails for your 4th July celebrations - have fun and be safe. Remember to make sure you have some designated drivers and have drinks available for them, a really easy way of creating red, white and blue drinks for drivers is by using lemonade and food coloring.   For more great ideas check out my Mocktails page.

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Blue Lagoon Cocktail

One of the great summer cocktails just has to be the Blue Lagoon, it's definitely one of my favorite (non chocolate and non creamy that is) cocktails.   Blue Lagoon is an ideal cocktail for summer afternoons as it's a long cocktail as opposed to some of the stronger 'knock you off your feet' cocktails that you get served over summer like frozen margaritas and daiquiris (but we'll still talk about them on other posts!)

The Blue Lagoon cocktail is really easy to make and I usually just serve mine in a highball glass like this one - 

The same glasses that I'll also serve iced tea in in fact, and now for the recipe -

Blue Lagoon

2 parts vodka

1 part Blue Curacao

lemonade

Basically you pop ice in your highball glass and then pour in the ingredients as listed, stir with a straw (you could use a spoon, but as I serve it with a straw I give it a stir with the straw it's being served with) and voila - one blue lagoon cocktail.

There are lots of other great cocktails that begin with B and you can find the recipes for them (along with this Blue Lagoon recipe) at ABC of Cocktails.   These recipes include Bellinis, Black Ice Martinis and Black Velvets among others.

Now you have some Blue Curacao, however, what else can it make?   This delicious liqueur is also a striking color which leads to some pretty cool looking (and tasting) cocktails so it pays to have a couple of Blue Curacao cocktail recipes up your sleeve to impress people with.   There are lots of great cocktail recipes like the Blue Lagoon that you can make with this liqueur and you can check some of them out at the Top Blue Curacao Cocktails  - I'll give you a little peek at some of the names of the cocktails in that top ten - Blue Hawaiian, Envy, Electric Blue Margarita and Blue Monday - don't they sound delicious?

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Cocktails Beginning with A

There are so many delicious cocktails that begin with A is hard to know where to start, I've even devoted a webpage to cocktails beginning with a, b and c which you're welcome to check out - ABC of Cocktails.

I think one of the most popular cocktail that starts with A is the Appletini or Apple Martini, the basic recipe calls for -

3 parts vodka

1 part apple schnapps

1 part cointreau

Shake the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain to serve in a cocktail glass like this one - this is a fun way to drink appletinis in a glass made specially for them!

Of course there are several other versions of the appletini available and you can find recipes for the sour apple martini and extreme apple martini amongst others at Drink Recipes: Appletini or Apple Martini.

Of course there are far more cocktails that begin with the letter a than just appletinis as you will know if you've already clicked on the first link.   One which I think is a great cocktail that most people won't have tried before is the Asian Pear Martini, this is a very modern cocktail and is sure to be a hit when you serve it.

Asian Pear Martini

2 shots sake

1 shot pear liqueur

1 1/2 shots fresh pear juice

1/4 shot fresh lime juice

Pop all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well before straining into a cocktail glass to serve.

Asian style cocktails are very in vogue at the moment and you can get a range of different types from the Asian Pear Martini here to some very exotic Vietnamese and Indian cocktails.   For more information on Asian Inspired Cocktails I do have a resource for you to check out that is aptly called Asian Inspired Cocktails!

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Royal Wedding Cocktails

With the Royal Wedding between William and Kate taking place today it seems only appropriate to have a selection of Royal Wedding Cocktails.

Now of course any wedding should include champers so and Champagne Cocktails would be fantastic to kick off the Royal Wedding especially the following one which contains William in the ingredients........okay it's not Prince William, but the pear liqueur - Poire William.

Royal Silver

1/2 shot Poire William

1/2 shot Cointreau

1 1/2 shots pink grapefruit juice

Champagne

This cocktail is served not in a Champagne flute as you'd imagine, but in a wine goblet, a jewel encrusted goblet would definitely add to the occasion, but Kate and William may prefer a touch of fun with these wine glasses -

Now to how to mix this right royal cocktail.

Add the Poire William, Cointreau and grapefruit juice into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.

Pour into the wine goblet and top up with Champagne - delicious!

I always think of strawberries as being a romantic fruit so it seems appropriate to also offer a strawberry mocktail for guests who can't or don't want to drink, after all the Queen will be there so we don't want too many drunken antics do we?

Strawberry Kiss

12 strawberries
1 1/2 shots lemon juice
1/2 shots double cream
1/2 tsp caster sugar

Pop all of the ingredients, along with a handful of ice, into a blender and blend well.   Serve in a wine goblet with a strawberry garnish - this looks and tastes so good you won't even miss the alcohol.

Will Kate wear white?   If she does then a White Lady seems appropriate.   It's a gin cocktail and gin always seems like a very British drink doesn't it?

White Lady

1 shot gin
1 shot cointreau
1 shot lemon juice

Shake all of the ingredients together with ice and strain into a cocktail glass to serve.   Some people will say you should add egg white, but the original recipe didn't call for it and the Palace really doesn't want to wake up the next day with Salmonella Poisoning hits Wedding Guests plastered all over the world's press does it?

So there we go some delicious cocktails for the Royal Wedding..........even if you're only watching on television!

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Randy Little Kiwi Cocktail

Well I haven't long got back from a trip to New Zealand and so when I was sorting through some old files in the office and came across a recipe for a cocktail called Randy Little Kiwi I just had to post it.

I'm not really sure where I found this cocktail, but it sounds divine (I'm certain I haven't actually tried it yet, but I'm planning on a little cocktail evening soon so....)

30 ml Absolut Citron

30 ml Midori

1 Kiwifruit

1/2 tsp sugar

Peel and quarter the kiwifruit.

Muddle kiwifruit and sugar in the bottom of your shaker.   

Add the Abolut Citron, Midori and ice.

Shake well, strain and serve in a martini glass.

Let me know what you think of the recipe.

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

The History of The Cocktail

Cocktails have been around for hundreds of years and yet the origin of the word is very murky with numerous urban legends on exactly where it came from.

One of the interesting stories I've heard is that it comes from a drink - Cock's Ale - that was served at cock fights.   Sounds plausible I thought to myself, so I looked at what Cock's Ale was and I'm afraid I lost my appetite for cocktails!

Cocks Ale

Ale
Chickens
Raisins
Brown Sugar

Ferment all of these ingredients together for 9-12 days.

All I can think of is food poisoning when I read that!

Let's move right along to another legend on the origin of the word cocktail.    Some say it's a mispronunciation of the French word Coquetier.   Now those of you who speak French are probably scratching your head right now thinking 'but coquetier means egg cup - what does that have to do with cocktails.'   Yes it does mean egg cup and the connection with cocktails comes from Antoine Peychaud.

Antoine Peychaud is famous in mixology history as being the creator of the Sazerac cocktail and when he opened his store in New Orleans he served this drink in egg cups.

Sazerac Cocktail

1/2 tsp absinthe
1 tsp simple syrup
4 dashes of bitters (Peychaud Bitters for an authentic flavor)
2 oz rye whiskey
strip of lemon peel

Place the absinthe into an old fashioned glass and swirl around so that the sides are coated and discard excess.   Next add the simple syrup, bitters and whiskey to a mixing glass with ice and stir gently until the drink is chilled.   Now strain the liquid into your old fashioned glass and twist the lemon peel over the glass to release some lemon oil, wipe the peel around the lip of the glass and then drop it into your drink - voila one Sazerac Cocktail ready to drink!

There are several more legends on where the word cocktail originated from, but I doubt we'll ever really know which version is really correct so we might as well just continue to enjoy a cocktail or two without worrying about their history!!

NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Valentine's Day Cocktails

Cocktails are such a special drink that it makes sense to drink them on special occasions such as Valentine's Day.   Valentine's Day cocktails can be fun and flirty, rich and sensuous or just plain delicious!   I personally think that cocktails for two make great Valentine's Day cocktails, here's one I prepared earlier!

White Chocolate Martini For Two

2 oz Amarula
2 oz Godiva White Chocolate
1/2 oz White Creme de Cacao
1/2 oz Chambord
2 oz cream

Shake all of the ingredients together with ice in a shaker and then strain into two chilled martini glasses, serve with a couple of strawberries on the side.   For an extra special touch dip the strawberries in white chocolate ahead of time - the little touches are always appreciated.

Now obviously I know a lot of Valentine's Day Cocktails and they are all listed on my site - Valentines Day Cocktails, but you don't have to stick to these recipes.   If you're daring enough you can try your hand at mixing your very own cocktail and naming it for your own Valentine.

The trick to making your own cocktail is like cooking - think of the flavors!   I always suggest that you keep things simple for example if you know that your partner likes Baileys with milk as a drink then use that as a base and add another flavor that they enjoy such as chocolate - creme de cacao or berries - Chambord.

I love chocolate flavored cocktails and you can check out some of the recipes at Chocolate Cocktails.   I know my chocolate really well so I know what flavors compliment it.   I started off by using creme de cacao and Baileys (they compliment each other really well) as a base and came up with lots of different combinations such as adding Frangelico for a nutty flavor, Kahlua to intensify the chocolate flavor, Chambord for a berry flavor - you get the idea.

Another idea for Valentine's Day Cocktails is to simply re-name a cocktail.   Serve it up in one of these fun Valentine's Day martini glass and there you have it!  


I can't actually take credit for this idea............we went to a place on Australia's Gold Coast called Draculas where we watched a show and ate dinner.   Before the show we went into the bar area and they had a number of cocktails with names that were very 'Halloween inspired', upon closer inspection I realized that I knew the recipes - management had simply changed the name!

This is a great idea if you already know a couple of cocktails that your partner enjoys, you can come up with your own name such as Romance's Chocolate Kiss or Everlasting Lovetini.


NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases