Making cocktails at home has never been more popular thanks to most supermarkets having all you need to create a well-stocked bar at home, be it bitters or mixers. So enjoy one of these lovely libations, Whether you’re poison is gin, vodka or rum, whip up a cool cocktail in minutes with these refreshing summer recipes provided courtesy of CAU Henley. From the mojito to the martini, raise a glass (or two) and celebrate with these stylish, yet simple easy cocktails. Cheers!

MOJITO

Ingredients

40ml rum

½ lime cut into 4 pieces

2tsp castor sugar

or 15ml sugar syrup*

10-15 mint leaves

Method

Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add two of the lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with crushed ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with soda water/presecco/champagne to top up. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge and mint leaves.

AMERETTO SOUR

Ingredients

40-50ml ameretto

15-20ml lemon juice (approx 1/2 lemon)

15ml sugar syrup*

one egg white

grenadine

Method

Combine the egg white, amaretto, lemon juice and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into a glass over fresh ice. Garnish with fresh lemon peel and a dash of grenadine to finish it off.

FRENCH MARTINI

Ingredients

25ml vodka

25ml Chambord® raspberry liqueur

50ml pineapple juice

2 raspberries (garnishonly)

Method

Pour each of the above into a shaker including ice, mix, strain and pour into a martini glass, and serve with two raspberries. To make the drink longer add additional pineapple juice/Prosecco or Champagne

CAIPIRINHA

This is a traditional Brazilian drink prepared with cachaca (rum)

Ingredients

1 lime cubed

2 tsp sugar (want granular texture)

50ml of cachaca (rum) if not available use vodka and it becomes caipiroska

Method

Wash the lime and roll it on the board to loosen the juices. Cut the lime into pieces and place them in a glass and sprinkle with the sugar. Crush the lime pieces (pulp side up) with a pestle just enough to release the juice, otherwise it’ll get bitter. Add the cachaça and stir to mix. Add the ice and stir again. It is delicious and potent!

drink responsibly: www.drinkaware.co.uk

courtesy of CAU HENLEY http://www.caurestaurants.com/

* Sugar Syrup – 1 part sugar to 1 part water – bring the water to the boil, add the sugar and dissolves the sugar completely, remove from heat and allow to cool. Do not allow the mixture to boil for too long otherwise you will end up with a thick mixture.