Don't shoot! It's National Tequila Day

Ola señoritas! Today is not only one of the hottest days ever (seriously, is anyone else fed up of the under-boob sweat yet?) but it's also National Tequila Day 2014.

But before you go to grab a bottle with a little plastic Mexican hat and lime wedges, make something altogether more classy than the standard shot. Tequila Rose, a personal favourite of mine after my Christmas spent sipping this deliciously divine drink with family, is a great base for some deliciously sweet cocktails.

It tastes just like strawberry milkshake and is best served cold with a cube or two of ice. It's imported from America, so keep your eyes out for it and when you can grab a bottle, do!

If you want to try and get a bit more creative with this sweet drink, here are a few tried and tested cocktails. We loved the Tequila Rose Angel, definitely give this one a go!



Tequila Rose Strawberry Margarita

50ml Tequila Rose
50ml Tequila
A dash of triple sec
Pink sprinkles for decoration

Method: Pour ingredients into a tall glass, fill with crushed ice and scatter the sprinkles on top.

Tequila Rose Strawberry Kiss

50ml Tequila Rose
15ml White Rum2
25ml Chocolate Liquor

Method: Shake all the ingredients together and strain into a chilled Martini Glass garnished with chocolate sprinkles. Serve with fresh strawberries.

Tequila Rose Angel

Fresh mint leaves
50ml Tequila Rose
20ml Black
Raspberry Liqueur
20ml Half & Half

Method: Shake the ingredients with ice and strain into a cold glass, garnish with the fresh mint leaves.

If you really must drink it in a shot, layer Tequila Rose with Black Sambuca. Or try it with an equal measure of Malibu for a refreshingly sweet sip.

For more recipe suggestions and further information head on over to the Tequila Rose Facebook page.

Image courtesy Russ Bowling.

Interested? Read on...

#LFW: Cocktail Recipes for London Fashion Week

It's London Fashion Week, in case you haven't heard. And while you lot all bang on about Burberry this, and 'why has she got Duplo all over her person' that, and while I wonder how to mute that damned hashtag, and while I'm sitting here in my boyfriend's grey Next tracksuit bottoms and milk-stained red dressing gown (it's how us writers roll, ok?) cocktails are always something I can get on board with. Even if fashion confuses and bores me.

Benares Bar, located in Mayfair, have created these cocktails suitable for any budding fashionista. I've been privileged to meet Atul Kochhar in his Kent restaurant, so we're so pleased to be able to bring you guys these delicious LFW concoctions. I'm definitely feeling the Milan, dahlink.

London

50ml gin
Handful of fresh berries
10ml vanilla sugar
100ml approx sparkling wine or prosecco to top

Muddle the berries with the sugar, add the Gin and shake hard. Top with sparkling wine. Serve in a long glass.


















New York

40ml vodka (infused with strawberries)
20ml Visciolata Cherry Wine
30ml passion fruit puree
10ml gomme syrup

Mix all the ingredients together and shake hard. Serve in a long glass.


















Paris

40ml Martell VS
20ml Frangelico Liqueur,
30ml chocolate (infused with chilli)
10 fresh mint leaves
20ml whipped cream

Mix the Martell, Frangelico, chocolate and mint leaves together, shake hard and double strain. Top with cream and serve in a martini glass

















Milan

30ml Bitter Campari
30ml Cocchi Vermouth
10ml fresh ginger
10ml fresh orange juice
2 dashes homemade bitters

Mix all the ingredients together, shake hard and double strain. Serve in a Martini glass.

Interested? Read on...

Gin cocktails even cupid would approve of

Yeah, we know. Everything heart-shaped and smelling of strawberries at the moment. But the one good thing that comes of it all is finding out awesome new cocktail recipes to drink while laughing with your [choose: best friend/significant other/parents] on the most 'romantic' day of the year.

Bonus points: We've also linked to two recipes that make awesome gifts if you're looking for a handmade present for your partner.







Raspberry and Lavender fizz

Ingredients
25ml Tanqueray London Dry (try your local supermarket/Waitrose)
15ml Lavender Liqueur (click for recipe - it's super simple)
Prosecco to top
Four fresh raspberries

Method: shake all ingredients together and pour into a coupette, top with prosecco and garnish with a raspberry or rose petal









Clover Club

Ingredients:
35ml Tanqueray London Dry
15ml raspberry syrup (recipe here - takes max 40 minutes)
20ml fresh lemon juice
Dash of egg white

Method: shake all ingredients together and strain into a martini glass, garnish with a raspberry

Interested? Read on...

Two winter warming hot cocktails

Rekordernogg
Created by mixologist Joel Persson for Rekorderlig. Available at bars around the country.

30ml Dark rum
20ml Sweet sherry
10ml Sugar syrup
3 dashes Angostura Bitters
1/2 egg
200-250ml Hot Rekorderlig Winter Cider
Rekorderlig Winter Cider Tankard (250ml)

Mix all the ingredients together in a pan and whisk the egg into them. Heat pan on a stove, stirring gently. Pour into a Rekorderlig tankard. Dust with ground cinnamon, then serve with a candy cane and star anise.


Chinese Winter Punch
Created by mixologist Daniele Ziaco and available at Ping Pong restaurants.

15ml Zacapa Centenario, 23 year old rum
35ml Punch Abruzzo
1 dash of mocolatl mole Bitters
1 sliver orange zest
1 sliver lemon zest
1 cinnamon bark
10 grams of black chocolate tea

Pour Zacapa Centenario, 23 year old rum and Punch Abruzzo into a highball glass and ddd a dash of xocolatl mole Bitters. Drop in orange and lemon zest, and a stick of cinnamon bark. Into a single serve teapot add 10grams of chocolate tea and top with boiling water. Wait at least 45 seconds. Pour the hot tea over the rum, zest and cinnamon, inhale the aromas and enjoy!

Interested? Read on...

Ale-o Ale-o, what have we here then? Autumn cocktails, guv

The season of elderflower cocktails, lavender-infused gin and strawberry champagne is over. As we bid a fond farewell to sunny days, it's time to look forward to all that winter has to offer us. Mulled wine. Salted caramel mochas. And ale cocktails? Seriously, just read on.

Ale is usually the tipple of choice for red-nosed country folk in their local thatched pub. And with names like Fursty Ferret and Tangle Foot, it certainly brings to mind sitting in a pub in Norfolk next to a log fire while locals play cards and the rowdy young generation laugh over the day's fun. But apparently, Badger have created a range of cocktails using their selection of ales for you lovely folk to try out. Trust us. They may sound strange, but ale cocktails really work well. Let us know what you think!

Interested? Read on...

Five sweet shop and dessert inspired cocktail recipes

In a hunt for the best Birmingham bars I stumbled upon Fumo, who say they offer quirky cocktail creations to suit any palette. Now, being the cheeky sorts we are, we decided to put this to the test. Surely any mixologist worth their salt can come up with a bespoke cocktail for even the fussiest punter, right? Anthony Trueman rose to our challenge and created a range of cocktails based on old skool treats from way back when, ESPECIALLY for us! You have to give these six out of ten sweet treats a try!

Eton Mess Cocktail
This traditional old school dessert has inspired a sumptuous summery cocktail full of strawberries, cream and crushed meringue.

30ml sloe gin
20ml strawberry liqueur
1 teaspoon strawberry jam
1 x egg white
Double cream
1 teaspoon Demerara sugar

Mix and serve over ice. Garnish with cream, crushed meringue and sliced strawberry.

Interested? Read on...

Summery Swedish-style cocktail recipes

Svenska Cup 

2 strawberries (quartered)
4 cubes cucumber
8 mint leaves
10ml fresh lime juice
10ml elderflower cordial
30ml Absolut vodka
100ml Strawberry & Lime Rekorderlig
Glass large wine glass

Add ice to your glass, followed by strawberry, cucumber and mint. Pour in vodka, elderflower, lime and Rekorderlig. Stir gently. Garnish with mint.

Interested? Read on...

Elderflower cordial cocktail recipes

Elderflower Margarita

Ingredients
50ml Tequila
10ml Bottlegreen elderflower cordial
15ml Contreau
Juice of one lime
Lime wedge

How to make it

Salt the rim of the glass. Shake ingredients with ice. Strain into martini glass. Serve with lime slice.

Interested? Read on...

Cocktails for a lovely, er, spring day

The sun is shining, the birds are singing... oh wait. It ISN'T and THEY AREN'T.

It's meant to be spring. There are meant to be daffodils lining the roadside, and lambs frolicking in green grass. Instead, the majority of the country is being pounded with hail and snow and sleet and frost and smog. Maybe not smog.

However this shouldn't stop you from breaking out the picnic blanket and pretending it's spring anyway. Because imagination.

So, clear your front room up a bit and whack the heating on full power. Lay the blanket. Pack a hamper, and make a few sandwiches. Forget the Pimms because that's so two thousand and whenever, and go for one of these fresh and fruity juicy cocktails instead.

Interested? Read on...