Leaving winter behind with a few hot cocktails

Sick of the cold weather? Let’s show it the door by throwing a farewell party with some yummy cocktails.

Just like when it is warm, there are ingredients that lend themselves to cold weather drinks. Warming ingredients in cold beverages include spirits, wines and spices like chilli, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.

The list of warming ingredients also includes flavours of beetroot, carrots, chocolate and savoury umami that include mushrooms, ginger and soy sauce.

“The idea of a beverage giving warmth has to do with more than whether it is heated or not. Cold drinks containing ginger or coffee can give us the feeling of being warmed from the inside out.

“What’s more, plenty of these ingredients are locally made and farmed and readily available to those wanting to try something new and delicious,” said head mixologist at Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, Melrick Harrisson.

“The added value of thinking of the warmth of colours, scents and spices is that enjoying a wintery beverage can become a multi-sensory experience where the senses of sight, smell and taste are all used,” said Harrison.

Here are warming winter drink recipes from Harrison.

Biscotti Martini

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

50ml Musgrave pink gin

20ml Amaretto liqueur

35ml Espresso

10ml Lucky Byrd Ginger Syrup

5ml Simple Syrup

Mint sprigs

Method:

Add all ingredients to a shaker. Add ice and give it a good shake. Strain into a martini glass and serve garnished with three to four coffee beans and a sprig of mint.

White Sage Gluhwein

Serves: 5

Ingredients:

6-8 mint leaves

5 sprigs of sage

125 local chenin blanc

25ml of pineapple, vanilla and orange syrup  made by boiling 100ml pineapple juice, 1 vanilla pod and until syrup consistency.

2 cinnamon sticks

1 tsp allspice

4 cloves

25ml any orange liqueur

Method:

Mix all ingredients besides the pineapple syrup in a pot on the stove. Bring to a boil. Garnish with pineapple syrup. Serve warm.  

If you’re not a cocktail person, here is a great Rooibos beer recipe to stun your guests with if you’re hosting. International Beer Day is celebrated in August. You might be late as the  date is August 4 but the beer will still taste great. Home brewing beer allows you to be creative with your beer recipe. Go on and offer your guests a cuppa of beer

Rooibos Beer Recipe

Makes: 7.25 litres   

Preparation time: 20 minutes (excluding fermentation time)

Ingredients

5ml sugar

500ml lukewarm water

10g instant yeast (15ml – 1 packet)

600g castor sugar (750ml)

15ml tartaric acid

250ml lemon juice

20ml lemon rind

3l strong Rooibos tea

3.5l cold water

Method

1. Dissolve the 5ml sugar in 500ml lukewarm water. Sprinkle the instant yeast over and set aside until frothy, about10 minutes.
2. Mix the remaining dry ingredients with the liquid and juice together with the activated yeast mixture and stir until well mixed.
3. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrapping and leave in a warm place for about 12 hours.
4. Strain the mixture through a muslin cloth and pour the beer into bottles with tops. Leave in a cool place for 3 days. Chill before serving.

Hint

As the beer is very fizzy, ensure the bottles are opened slowly and carefully, allowing the fizz to subside before totally removing the lid. It must be stored in a cool place or the yeast will ferment too quickly, and the bottles could explode (preferably use plastic bottles).

• Courtesy of I Love 2 Bake via Meropa Communications