03 April 2020 14:47:29

Food & Beverage

When life gives you quarantine, make cocktails

By now, the coronavirus pandemic has almost certainly forced the closure of your favourite local watering hole.

While you may not be able to leave the house to socialise, that doesn’t mean you can’t bring the bar to you. These 10 at-home cocktail recipes are sure to make your self-quarantined days a little bit sweeter.

Because with everything that’s happening in the world, we all need to make the best of the situation.

The Quarantini

Put simply, The Quarantini is an inventive little cocktail made from whatever spirits and mixers you have on hand at home. The ideal ratio to follow is 2 parts spirit, 1 part sour, and 1 part sweet. A ‘part’ is about 30ml or 1 ounce.

For example, you could pair 2 parts vodka/gin with 1 part orange/lemon/lime juice and 1 part sugar syrup (which is made by boiling equal parts sugar and water together until the sugar dissolves).

Shake it all together with a little ice and voila, The Quarantini.

Pineapple Mojito

A tangy twist on the much-loved mojito, this cocktail is about as close as you’ll come to a tropical getaway anytime soon.

30ml pineapple juice
4–5 lime wedges
6–8 mint leaves
90ml aged rum
30ml triple sec
1 slice fresh pineapple
Ice, to serve
1 slice fresh pineapple and mint sprig, to garnish

Muddle the pineapple juice, lime wedges and mint in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add the rum, triple sec and a handful of ice and shake well.

Strain into a highball glass filled with ice and garnish with a slice of fresh pineapple and a sprig of mint. Take a sip, close your eyes and imagine you’re lying on a beautiful sandy beach…

The Perfect Bloody Mary

If you went a little too hard at your virtual house party last night, this bloody mary is a vodka-soaked nutritional breakfast and hangover cure all in one. Plus, it’s a great source of vitamin C to support your immune system and fight off nasty viruses.

Here’s the recipe for 2 serves:

100ml vodka
500ml tomato juice
1 tbsp lemon juice
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
Dash of Tabasco
Pinch celery salt
Pinch black pepper
Ice, a celery stick and lemon wedge, to serve

Pour the vodka, tomato juice and lemon juice into a large jug. Add 2 shakes of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco (or more if you like it spicy), a pinch of celery salt and pepper. Stir well, strain into 2 tall glasses and top with ice, a celery stick and lemon wedge.

Credit: @eddie_this_is_my_life

Espresso Martini

Let’s face it, no cocktail list is complete without one of these – and the recipe couldn’t be simpler:

30ml vodka
30ml Kahlua
30ml coffee

Cold drip coffee works best, but you can also use a shot from your capsule machine. If you only have access to instant coffee, mix 1 tsp with 30ml of hot water and pop it in the freezer to cool.

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, add some ice, and shake like it’s your only form of exercise for the day. Strain the liquid straight into a chilled cocktail glass, using a super-fine sieve to achieve that beautiful creamy froth.

If you’re feeling fancy, garnish with 3 coffee beans.

Frosting Shots

Aries, these are for you. If coronavirus wrecked your birthday plans this year – it’s time to get the party going (indoors with your isolated group, of course). All you need is two ingredients:

1 cup canned frosting (vanilla or chocolate works best)
60–120ml vodka (depending on how strong you want it)

If using canned frosting, heat until it is warm and pourable (20 seconds in the microwave should do). Pour it into a jar or cocktail shaker with the vodka and shake until its blended. If you want to add a pop of colour, dip the rim of each glass in honey or syrup and then dip into sprinkles.

It’s like an alcoholic birthday cake in a glass!

Simple Sangria

Wine lovers, this one’s for you.

1 bottle of red wine (grenache, pinot noir or shiraz are great)
2 cups chopped fruit (apple, orange, pineapple or berries)
1 cup orange juice
2–3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Optional: ¼ cup brandy, vodka or ginger ale
Ice, to serve

Pour a bottle of your favourite red or white wine into a jug or punch bowl, followed by a splash of orange juice and a sprinkle of sugar and cinnamon. Dig through the fridge and find any leftover fruit (orange, apple and pineapple work brilliantly together), chop it up and stir it in.

If you want to give it an extra kick, add a dash of either vodka or brandy. Ideally, refrigerate the mixture for a few hours so the flavours can mingle. However, if you’re so thirsty you can’t wait, the sangria can be served immediately with ice.

The Ultimate Negroni

The ultimate balance of sweet, bitter and boozy, the negroni is an Italian classic for a reason.

30ml London dry gin
30ml sweet vermouth
30ml Campari
Orange peel, to garnish

Shake with ice for 20–30 seconds, then strain into coupe glass and garnish with orange peel.

Frozen Mango Margarita

If summer was a drink, this would be it.

1 cup mango
30ml tequila
1 tbsp orange liqueur (Cointreau)
1 tsp caster sugar
¼ cup fresh lime juice
2 cups ice
Sprig fresh mint and lime wedge, to garnish

Simply put all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and a lime wedge and you’ll be instantly transported to a beach in Mexico.

The Feisty Hurricane

Packing a punch since the 1940s, the hurricane is a New Orleans classic best served in a fun, curvy glass. With plenty of citrus juices to boost immunity, it’s sure to be a hit at home:

50ml dark rum
50ml white rum
1 passionfruit
30ml orange juice
30ml lemon juice
1 tbsp sugar syrup
1 tsp grenadine
Cocktail cherries and orange slices, to garnish

Shake it all up and garnish with cocktail cherries and orange slices.

White Russian

Essentially an adult milkshake, the white Russian is a decadent and creamy concoction made famous by the 1998 movie The Big Lebowski.

30ml vodka
30ml Kahlua
30ml cream (or milk)

Fill a glass with ice, add the vodka and coffee liqueur, then gently pour the cream on top.