5 Criminally Good Cocktails
At the end of the week, a smooth, silky, satisfying cocktail is pretty much what everyone wants.
What nobody needs is an eye-watering price tag, a tediously bearded mixologist, and a 25 minute wait at the bar.
Thankfully, our resident recipe curator has put together some truly delicious drink ideas that put a criminal twist on the cocktail classics.
These are all recipes anyone can make at home. There are no weird ingredients that you need to source from the foothills of southern Papua New Guinea and nothing you need to prepare 8 months in advance.
Just easy and delicious.
Bloody Murder
A Bloody Mary is the classic breakfast cocktail. Inject some extra fire into this subtle early-hours drink to give it a kick so strong even Bruce Lee would be jealous. This version uses gin instead of vodka for an in-your-face hit of booze, whilst minced garlic and horseradish summon a savoury spice.
Ingredients:
- 2 shots London dry gin
- 4 ounces (8 tbsp) tomato juice
- 1/2 ounce (1 tbsp) lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 ounce (1 tbsp) horseradish sauce
- 1/2 ounce (1 tbsp) balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Good pinch celery salt
- Good pinch black pepper
- 3 splashes of Tabasco sauce
- Garnish of your choice
Method:
Place all the ingredients in a glass with ice and stir well until fully combined, then sprinkle extra celery salt around the rim of the glass. Serve with celery stalk, olives, pickles, or nothing at all
Criminopolitan
A Criminopolitan is a surprisingly sweet and refreshing interpretation of the fan-favourite Cosmopolitan, known as a Cosmo to those who order it regularly. Blended peaches bring out a palate-cleansing freshness whilst maple syrup offers an earthy sweetness. Just what you need to kick off a naughty weekend.
Ingredients:
- 2 shots vodka
- 1/2 shot Cointreau (or other orange liqueur)
- 1 oz (2 tbsp) white cranberry juice
- 1/2 oz (1 tbsp) lime juice
- 1/2 oz (1 tbsp) lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 3½ oz (100g) tinned peaches (to blend)
- Mint leaves for garnish
Method:
Blend together all ingredients except for mint until smooth. If you don’t have a blender, you can buy peach puree and mix together with the other ingredients in a glass. Pour over ice and top with a mint leaf.
White Russian Mafia
When the Russian Mafia go on their summer holidays, this is what they drink by the side of the pool. The creamy, voluptuous original has been transformed into a paradise appropriate cocktail which combines coconut milk, honey, and cocoa powder to make nirvana in a glass.
Ingredients:
- 2 shots vodka
- 1 shot Kahlua (or other coffee liqueur)
- 3 oz (6 tbsp) full-fat coconut milk
- Squeeze of runny honey
- Cocoa powder for garnish (sprinkle on top)
Method:
Fill your glass with ice. Pour in the vodka, Kahlua, and honey and stir well. Top up with coconut milk and finally lightly dust with cocoa powder!
Murderita
Some drinks are so good you’d kill to have them. The murderita makes that list. A subtle interaction between the sweet strawberry, tart lime, and feisty tequila means this perfectly balanced cocktail could come straight out of the swankiest bar in Lower Manhattan.
Ingredients:
- Enough frozen strawberries to fill your glass
- 1 shot tequila
- 1 shot triple sec (any good strength orange liqueur will do)
- 1 oz (2 tbsp) lime juice
- Fresh strawberry (for garnish)
Method:
Blend together all ingredients until smooth then pour in your glass. If you don’t have a blender, put the strawberries in a sandwich bag and bash them to bits with a rolling pin. Then mix together with the remaining ingredients in your glass. Top with sliced fresh strawberry.
Caught Red Handed
Being caught in the act wouldn’t be so bad if you had one of these in your hand. This twisted take on a classic Bramble brings pomegranate to party, imparting a fruity start and floral finish to the drink. This drink is best made when blackberries are in season.
Ingredients:
- 1 shot London dry gin
- 1/2 shot Crème de mûre (or other blackberry liqueur)
- 1/2 shot Pama (or other pomegranate liqueur)
- 1 oz (2 tbsp) fresh lemon juice
- Good handful of fresh blackberries
- Pomegranate seeds (for garnish)
Method:
Fill your glass with ice (crushed is best) Gently squash the blackberries so they release their juice and strain into the glass (get as much juice as possible) Pour in the gin and lemon juice and stir lightly, then pour over the blackberry and pomegranate liqueurs. If you are using crushed ice, let the liqueurs trickle down the ice like lava. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and any remaining blackberries.
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