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Cocktails and Mocktails for perfect dinner parties

Cocktails and Mocktails for perfect dinner parties

Knowing how to whip up a good cocktail is an essential hosting skill, and much cheaper on the pocket! Here are some recipes for excellent cocktails and mocktails you can make at home with the most basic of ingredients.

1. Classic Martini

Ingredients

  • Cracked ice
  • 2½ ounces London dry gin, such as Beefeater
  • ½ ounce dry vermouth, such as Noilly Prat
  • Green olive for garnish

In a mixing glass or cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine gin and vermouth. Stir well, about 30 seconds, then strain into martini glass. Garnish with olive or lemon twist and serve in Modena Martini Glasses: sleek, contemporary, sophisticated. Trust me, your guests will be impressed. 

2. French 75

This one uses smaller amounts of spirits to allow the fizz to flourish.

You’ll need:

  • 10ml gin
  • 10ml orange liqueur
  • 10ml lemon juice
  • 5ml sugar
  • fizz of your choice, for topping up

Mix the gin, orange liqueur and lemon juice together in a champagne flute and top with chilled fizz. To serve these, I use the Wonderchef Modena Highball glass. It looks great and keeps the drink cooler for longer due to its sleek shape.

3. Mango Mule

Ingredients

  • 4-5 slices of cucumber
  • 1 oz honey syrup
  • 1.5 oz mango puree
  • 1.5 oz fresh lime juice
  • 1.5 oz ginger beer
  • Ice

Instructions

Muddle cucumber and honey syrup in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add the mango puree and lime juice and shake with ice vigorously. Strain into a copper mug. Top with ginger beer and stir. I use the Modena Juice Glass, 145 ml, to serve these tasty mocktails. A sure-fire hit with the guests. 

4. Citrus Fizz

Ingredients

  • 1.75 oz Seedlip Grove 42
  • .75 oz organic marmalade cordial*
  • Sparkling water, to top

Instructions

Combine Seedlip and cordial in a champagne flute and top with chilled sparkling water.

*Instructions for organic marmalade cordial: Mix 300g organic marmalade with 150 mL hot water, Fine strain and store in the fridge. I serve these in the Wonderchef Modena Champagne Glasses. They look elegant and are perfect for the teetotalers in your group.  

Author: Alina Gufran, writer and film-maker, who loves the outdoors and reading.

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