Mixologist's Garden launches range of fruit garnishes to boost your Christmas home bartending

An innovative new range of exciting ready-to-use fruit garnishes, which is designed to help create eye-catching drinks infused with natural fruit flavours and colours at home, has been launched by Mixologist’s Garden.  

The five delicious fruity options, Lemon, Lime, and Strawberry slices, plus whole Raspberries and Blueberries, act as bar-ready condiments, instantly transforming the appearance and taste of any drink, without having to buy, store, prepare and potentially waste, fresh fruit ingredients.  

Hand selected for their superior quality and freeze-dried to capture 100% of the fruits’ flavour and appearance, Mixologist’s Garden garnishes are convenient and easy to use. The fruits quickly rehydrate on contact with liquid, providing the ultimate at-home bar hack for creating classic and experimental cocktails, plus enhancing fizz, spirits and soft drinks.  

And there's no need to refrigerate as the fruit garnishes have a long shelf life and are available in handy 10g resealable pouches, each one containing the equivalent of approximately 100g of fresh fruit, meaning the perfect serve is always at hand with no slicing or prep needed.  (So no need to keep plasters handy as there are no sharp knives required!)

When faced with a party full of thirsty guests or you simply fancy a tasty aperitif, Mixologist’s Garden provides an effortlessly quick and inexpensive way to elevate any drink at hand. 

Even more versatile than fresh fruit, the garnishes can also be used as a sweet and sour swizzle, a powder for stencilling and a crunch for the glass rim, meaning Instagrammable pours are only a shake or stir away. They can also be mixed with spirits to create bespoke liqueurs. 

For those looking for ways to make their drinks a little ‘extra’, Mixologist’s Garden has a range of serve suggestions to enjoy at home, including a cosmo updated for Autumn/Winter 2023, a party punch perfect for entertaining and even luxury winter truffles.   

Mixologist’s Garden Lemon, Lime and Strawberry slices and whole Raspberries are now available in selected Asda stores nationwide. RRP £2.75 per 10g pouch.  

Mixologist’s Garden Strawberry slices, whole Raspberries and Blueberries are now available in East of England Co-op stores. RRP £2.75 per 10g pouch.  

For more information, please visit them at www.mixologistsgarden.com 

Seven Exciting and New Christmas Cocktails to Brighten Your Christmas Season

As the Christmas season rushes toward us, it's high time to get into the festive spirit with some creative and delicious Christmas cocktails. While classics like mulled wine are always comforting, why not add a dash of excitement to your holiday gatherings with some new and innovative Christmas cocktail recipes? 

In this blog post, we'll explore seven exciting and fresh Christmas cocktails that are sure to dazzle your taste buds and impress your guests.

Christmas Mule

The Moscow Mule gets a festive makeover with the Christmas Mule. Swap the traditional copper mug for a red or green one, and mix vodka, cranberry juice, ginger beer, and a squeeze of lime. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary for a truly holiday-inspired cocktail.

Candy Cane Martini

Nothing screams Christmas more than candy canes. This Candy Cane Martini is a delightful blend of vanilla vodka, white crème de menthe, and peppermint schnapps. Crushed candy canes rimmed on the glass give it that classic Christmas look and an extra burst of peppermint flavour.

Winter Wonderland Punch

Perfect for large gatherings, the Winter Wonderland Punch is a delightful combination of white rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice, and a splash of blue curaçao. The result is a beautiful, icy-blue drink that's reminiscent of a snowy Christmas day. Serve it in a punch bowl with floating star-shaped ice cubes.

Spiced Pear Bellini

If you prefer a touch of elegance at your Christmas brunch, the Spiced Pear Bellini is the way to go. Combine pear nectar, a pinch of cinnamon, and a splash of Prosecco for a bubbly and aromatic drink. Garnish with a slice of fresh pear for an extra touch of sophistication.

Cranberry Pomegranate Sangria

Sangria isn't just for summer! The Cranberry Pomegranate Sangria is a winter twist on the classic Spanish beverage. Mix red wine, cranberry juice, pomegranate seeds, and a hint of cinnamon. Let the flavours meld together in the fridge, and serve it over ice for a refreshing, fruity Christmas drink.

Hot Buttered Rum

Warm up your holiday gatherings with a comforting and classic Hot Buttered Rum. Blend dark rum with a spiced, buttery batter made from brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Add hot water, stir, and top with a dollop of whipped cream and a cinnamon stick.

Gingerbread Old Fashioned

Give the Old Fashioned cocktail a gingerbread twist. Muddle sugar, Angostura bitters, and a slice of orange in a glass. Add bourbon, a splash of ginger liqueur, and a dash of cinnamon. The result is a warming, spicy, and nostalgic drink that embodies the essence of the holidays.

This Christmas season, don't limit yourself to the same old holiday drinks. Step out of your comfort zone and explore these exciting and new Christmas cocktails that will make your celebrations even more joyful. Whether you're hosting a festive party or looking for a cosy drink by the fireplace, these creative cocktails are sure to delight your taste buds and create lasting memories with family and friends. Cheers to a joyful and spirited holiday season!

That's Christmas would like to point out that by using alcohol free versions of famous spirt drinks you can create tasty alcohol free versions of these seven utterly delicious cocktails for designated drivers or for those who do not consume alcohol. 

(Image courtesy of Михаил Прокопенко from Pixabay)

Christmas Cocktails - Add a Touch of Magic and Elegance to Your Festive Celebrations

With the expert assistance of Devon's very own multiple award-winning Salcombe Gin, you'll be able to add more than a touch of class and magic to your Christmas and New Year festive celebrations this year with two stunning cocktails curated by the expert distillers at Salcombe Distilling Co. 

Whether you'll all be gathered 'round the festive fireplace with loved ones, or hosting a merry Christmas soirée for your friends and neighbours, Salcombe Gin's Christmas cocktails are the genuinely ultimate indulgence to make your Yuletide festivities sparkle and glitter.

'The Wanderer' features the multi-award winning classic citrus forward Salcombe Gin 'Start Point' and 'Southern Sky' features the equally excellent and highly decorated Salcombe Gin 'Rosé Sainte Marie', a dry rose gin with no sugar added.

'The Wanderer'

This elegant and wintery take on a classic Martinez is the perfect Christmas Eve tipple. 'The Wanderer' combines the complex flavours of Salcombe Gin 'Start Point' with seasonal notes of pine syrup and festive spice from the vermouth.

50ml Salcombe Gin 'Start Point'

15ml Knightor Rosso Vermouth

10ml William Fox Pine Syrup

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. Bourbon Cocktail Cherry to garnish

Chill a Nick and Nora glass with ice and place to one side

Place the 'Start Point', Vermouth, pine syrup and Angostura bitters into a cocktail shaker, fill with ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds

Remove the ice from the Nick and Nora glass, and use a hawthorn strainer to strain the mixture into the glass

Garnish with a cocktail cherry, leaving the stem on

'Southern Sky'

A celebration of sophistication. 'Southern Sky' is a delicate balance of Salcombe Gin Rosé Sainte Marie's floral and red berry sweetness, with the cherry citrus of Knightor Rosé Vermouth and sharp raspberry of Chambord, infused with an earthy thyme backbone. Its glorious peach colour is reminiscent of a low winter sunset over the Mediterranean Sea.

25ml Salcombe Gin 'Rosé Sainte Marie'

15ml Knightor Rosé Vermouth

15ml Thyme infused Chambord*

Champagne to top up

Chill a Champagne saucer with ice and place to one side

Place the 'Rosé  Sainte Marie', vermouth and thyme infused Chambord into a mixing jug, fill with ice and stir with a bar spoon for 20 seconds

Remove the ice from the champagne saucer and use a julep strainer to strain the mic into the glass

Top with your favourite Champagne

*To make the thyme infused Chambord, add 3 sprigs of thyme to half a bottle of Chambord and leave in the fridge for four days, shaking every day. Strain through a fine mesh sieve to carefully remove the thyme.

Enjoy these exceptional creations safe in the knowledge that every bottle of Salcombe Gin sold makes our oceans healthier, with 1% of the UK net sales revenue donated to the Marine Conservation Society to protect and regenerate precious ocean habitats.

For further information about Salcombe Gin, visit www.salcombegin.com, follow SalcombeGin on Instagram and Facebook. 

Celebrate the Christmas Magic With Luscombe's 'Open Fire' and 'The Sicilian' Cocktails

Whether  you're looking to host a festive gathering, toasting with loved ones or simply unwinding after a long fun-filled day at Christmas, Luscombe's Christmas cocktails will add a wonderful touch of style to celebrations.  

Capture the spirit of the season with their cosy fireside cocktail, 'Open Fire' or citrus delight, 'The Sicilian'.  Cheers to a joyful and merry Luscombe Christmas!

Open Fire

Combining the warmth of Luscombe's famous multi-award-winning Hot Ginger Beer with rum, the sweetness of honey and chestnuts and the zing of lime, 'Open Fire' is perfect for kicking off the festive season.

Ingredients

Luscombe Hot Ginger Beer

35ml Premium Navy Strength Rum

15ml Chestnut Liqueur

15ml freshly squeezed lime

15ml runny honey 

Garnish - Lime wheel

Suggested glass - Rocks or tumbler 

Method

1. Combine the rum, chestnut liqueur, squeezed lime and runny honey into a cocktail shaker filled with ice

2. After a good shake to dissolve the honey, strain into an ice-filled tumbler

3. Top with Luscombe Hot Ginger Beer

4. Garnish with a chunky lime wheel 

The Sicilian

Blending Luscombe's traditional Sicilian Lemonade with sloe gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, 'The Sicilian' is pure joy.  It's simply Christmas in a glass. 

Ingredients

Luscombe Sicilian Lemonade

35ml Premium Sloe Gin

20ml Campari 

20ml Sweet Vermouth 

Garnish - Clove-studded orange peel

Suggested glass - Rocks / tumbler 

Method

1. Stud a long slice of orange peel with cloves, don't be shy with the cloves!

2. Put the sloe gin, Campari and sweet vermouth in a mixing glass with ice and stir for a good 15 seconds

3. Strain into a rocks glass with the studded orange and lots of ice

4. Top with Luscombe Sicilian Lemonade

5. Give the drink one last little stir for luck and to get the cloves working

Luscombe

Luscombe is the proud holder of a Royal Warrant, over 100 Great Taste Awards from the Guild of Fine Food and was the first drinks brand to gain organic accreditation from the Soil Association. 

Passionate about crafting exceptional tasting premium organic drinks, they source the finest quality organic whole fruits from trusted growers around the world. Luscombe expertly blends these with their own source of Dartmoor spring water to create their range of fruit juices, crushes, bubblies, tonic waters and mixers. 

Owner and founder, Gabriel David, is justifiably famed for his pursuit of perfection and no compromise approach to creating an elegant and multi-award-winning range of drinks.  The team takes great pride that all of their drinks are made from gently pressed organic ingredients, picked at their ripest in the climates where they grow best.

For further information visit luscombe.co.uk or follow Luscombe on Instagram: luscombedrinks or 'Like' on Facebook.