Christmas cocktails: Gin more than a think pink drink

Gin is a traditional day-time summer drink for a reason. It just works. Nothing wrong with a G&T, especially a pink one, but you might want to offer something more exotic on this day.

Honest love affair

Delicious in a way that actual savoury solid dishes are, because of the herbs. Just one of the best drinks ever, but in order to get the depth of flavour, you do need to follow instructions to the letter.

For one drink: 2 tots gin / splash (maybe ½ tot) absinthe / juice of 1small lemon / 1 tot sugar syrup (sugar melted into hot water, ½ and ½) / sprig rosemary / six basil leaves / ice cubes.

Pour absinthe into glass, tip glass and light with match. Rub burning absinthe all over inside of glass with the sprig. When you smell the rosemary aromatics, chuck in a few ice cubes to put out the flames, leaving rosemary in glass. In a cocktail shaker or jar, put a few more ice cubes, the gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and torn basil. Shake vigorously, then pour into tumbler.

Inveroche amber martini

This incredible golden gin from Stilbaai makes for a better than usual martini.

For one drink: 1 tot dry Martini / 3 tots Inveroche / ice / 3 martini olives.

Put ice cubes into a martini glass to chill glass.

Put more ice cubes, Martini and gin into cocktail shaker, jar or even tumbler, and swirl about gently until the container has much condensation on it.

Discard cubes that were in glass. Pour in the booze, stir and add olives.

Drink immediately.