Winter Punch

This may not be the most flattering outfit(!), but I had to get a little festive to show you how to make my favourite Winter cocktail of 2023 (so far!), the Winter Punch.

Features my purchases from: Dubliner Irish Whiskey, Red Leg Rum, Disaronno, TheZestCo, Luxardo & Tesco.

Also features my early Christmas gift from Bare Barrel (available from Amazon UK).

Winter Punch Cocktail Recipe

1.5oz (45ml) Bourbon
0.75oz (22.5ml) Spiced Rum
0.75oz (22.5ml) Amaretto
0.75oz (22.5ml) Cranberry Juice
1 tsp (5ml) lemon juice or orange juice
Lemon or orange zest and cherries for garnish

Shake everything except the garnish with ice and strain into a coupe or cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon zest and cherries.

Juleps in July

Juleps hadn’t really been on my radar until recently – perhaps surprisingly given my love of the classics!

Yesterday I did my regular cocktail session with the P&O Cruises – UK Fan Page, and the juleps were the perfect collection of drinks for a crazy-hot day!

Juleps are a short drink, sweetened slightly and packed with ice… choose you favourite spirit, a syrup or liqueur and some herbs (usually mint), crack some ice and you’ve got the ingredients for a delicious julep!

Classic Mint Julep

The ultimate classic, which is always worth a try… with origins in the 1600s, this mix of alcohol and herbs, sweetened with sugar or honey, was once a way to administer medicines – with this you really can say “It’s medicinal” 😉

The name ‘julep’ followed much later, and the type of alcohol changed too. Where once it would likely have been brandy, whisky became popular – especially in America with the Kentucky Cup – and I really enjoy whisky or dark rum in mine.

Traditionally served in a silver or copper julep cup, it’s not unusual to now serve this in a rocks glass or small wine glass.

My favourite so far:
2.5oz Mackmyra Björksav
0.5oz sugar syrup (2:1)
4-5 mint sprigs

In a chilled julep cup or glass, gently muddle the herbs in the syrup. Add the whisky, then fill half the cup with crushed ice. Give it a stir and fill the rest of the cup with crushed ice, making a small mound on top. Garnish with mint leaves.

Classic Mint Julep

Fancy a twist on the classic?

The julep is a great cocktail that you can adapt to suit what you have available, here are some recipes to give you some ideas…