What do you mean you’re not feeling festive yet? Are you yet to experience the spirit of the season running warm through your veins like hot custard over Christmas Pudding? Perhaps it’s that the joy of December has been slightly dampened by the influx of people on Oxford Street… the twinkling lights and Maria Carey on a loop have given you a chronic headache… or maybe you’ve yet to watch Elf. Whatever the cause for any Grinch-like emotions, we have the answer – a collection of Christmassy cocktails sure to put a seasonal swing in your step.
MINCE PIE COCKTAIL at BOKAN
If you’re anything like us, then December will see you shovelling down mince pies at an unprecedented rate, fearful for when they once more leave the shops. So what could be better when we’re taking a break from eating them… than drinking them! Introducing the Mince Pie Cocktail from B?kan – a warming tipple made with homemade mince pie syrup, Sipsmith gin, cloudy pear juice and frothy egg white. Plus, admiring the 360-degree views on London all lit up like a Christmas tree is sure to inspire a glow of excitement.
A MARY CHRISTMAS at BENARES
A Christmas cocktail that also doubles as a hangover cure?! We’re sold! Many a December morning will have us craving this beauty from Benares restaurant and bar in Mayfair. The hair-of-the-dog properties of Olmeca Tequila and Nuestra Soledad Mezcal have been thrown together with fresh tomato juice and a homemade spicy masala mix, then served with a cooling salt and spice lassi on the side before being garnished with fresh carrot and celery sticks. Might just be your party saviour.
FESTIVE SPICE at BALA BAYA
The Festive Spice is ideal for those that want a bourbon-based cocktail redolent with all the warm citrus notes of Christmastime. A seasonal sour, this combines bourbon, lime, orange, cinnamon, honey and egg white for something smooth, silky, and rather comforting. The creations at Bala Baya are inspired by Tel Aviv, and this Middle-Eastern influence in this cocktail makes for a very tasty treat.
MULLED NEGRONI at 146 PADDINGTON
Ahhh, December. Where chocolate is a legitimate breakfast option, cheese becomes a food group in its own right, Pigs in Blankets are the epitome of dining happiness and, if you can mull it, you totally should. Enter the Mulled Negroni from vintage-inspired bar 146 Paddington – a combination of Belsazar Red Vermouth, Sloe Gin, Mondino Amaro and plum bitters. The perfect aperitif to whatever gravy-laced dinner you’ll be enjoying later…
‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS at CINNAMON CLUB
Looks gorgeous, tastes great – there’s very little not to love about the ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas cocktail. Who doesn’t want to be sipping from a Christmas tree ornament to get you a little tipsy? This warming concoction is a mix of Opihr spiced gin, cranberry, fennel, rosemary, tonic and orange peel, creating a herbal, fragrant, sweet and spicy bauble of delight.
MONTY STRUDEL at ROSEWOOD LONDON’S MONKEY 47 WINTER LODGE
A strudel-themed tipple made from German gin in a Black-Forest-inspired pop-up? We’re in Bavarian heaven! This festive season, Rosewood London has partnered with artisanal German gin brand Monkey 47 to create a mixture of hot and cold cocktails, all served within a winter forest themed lodge. The Monty Strudel is a mixture of sloe gin, apple juice, apple liqueur and spiced syrup, and can be enjoyed warm or chilled, depending on how toasty you feel, we assume.
