Cool cocktails you can stir up to kick off the festivities and wind things down.
Berry vodka soda
Serves 4
Total time 20 min
Ingredients
For the berry compote
Frozen mixed berries 2 cups
Sugar 1 tbsp
Lemon juice 2 tbsp
For the soda
Vodka 3/4 cup
Cranberry juice 2 cups
Ice 2 cups
Soda water 750ml
Rosemary sprigs to serve
Method
For the berry compote
1. Place the frozen berries, sugar and lemon juice in a pot over medium heat.
2. Stir constantly to break up the berries. Bring to a simmer and continue to stir for 10-15 minutes until reduced.
3. Remove from heat and cool.
For the soda
1. Put two tablespoons of the berry compote into each glass.
2. Add the vodka and cranberry juice to a cocktail shaker with some ice and shake until cold. 3. Strain into four glasses until half full. Fill the remainder of the glasses with soda water and a few blocks of ice. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.
Top tip
Spoon any leftover berry compote into an ice tray, fill it up with water and freeze it to make berry-flavoured ice cubes for your next summer drink.
Peach and mango punch
Serves 8-10
Total time 10 min
Ingredients
Fresh peaches or nectarines 2
Ice 6 cups
Mango fruit juice 2L
White wine or soda water 750ml
Fresh mint sprigs to serve
Method
1. Thinly slice the peaches or nectarines and place them in a large clear bowl.
2. Add the ice. Then add the juice and the wine or soda water and stir.
3. Pluck a few leaves from some mint sprigs and scatter them over the top before serving.
Top Tip
Soda water is a great filler in non-alcoholic cocktails. It adds a good foundation and, better still, it takes on the flavour of the main ingredient.
Chocolate martini
Serves 4
Total time 45 min + 2 hr refrigeration
Ingredients
Dark chocolate, chopped 150g
Baileys Irish Cream liqueur 3 cups
Chocolate liqueur 1 cup
Method
1. Place 4 martini glasses in the freezer.
2. Carefully melt the chocolate over a double boiler or in a microwave.
3. Remove the glasses from the freezer.
4. Using a spoon, spread a layer of chocolate in the shape of a half-moon on the inside of each glass.
5. Combine the liqueurs in a cocktail shaker or screw-top jar filled with about 1 cup of ice. Shake until thoroughly chilled.
6. Strain the martini into the prepared glasses.
7. Serve your martinis with a few gingerbread stars (perfect for dipping) dusted lightly with icing sugar.
Recipe & styling: Sjaan Van Der Ploeg
Photography: Zhann Solomons
