From spiced mulled cider to boozy hot chocolates – blame it on the alcohol this festive season with London’s best Christmas cocktails
By Orlando Whitehead
Franklin and Clementine, Mews of Mayfair
An ever-popular festive staple, this cocktail fuses fresh clementine juice with Grand Marnier. Spiced with chocolate bitters and with a dash of dry vermouth, this modern variation of an old classic will appeal to all generations.
10 Lancashire Court, W1S 1EY; mewsofmayfair.com
Snow Comparison, Loyal Tavern
Snow in London is a rarity and if it does arrive, quickly becomes a slushy disappointment. For a festive tipple that won’t let you down, the Snow Comparison is the answer to your fruity Christmas cocktails craving. Taking a Zubrowka vodka base, master mixologists add apple, lemon, blueberries, and rhubarb bitters for unparalleled flavour.
171-173 Bermondey Street, SE1 3UW; loyaltavern.co.uk
Electric Lover, American Bar
As part of ‘The Savoy Songbook’ menu, this latest release pays homage to the late, great Prince. The hit anthem ‘Purple Rain’ is inspiration for this bright concoction that blends Hendricks Gin, quince liqueur, cinnamon syrup, glitter and prosecco.
The Savoy, WC2R 0EZ; thesavoylondon.com
Mulled Negroni, The Ivy
The festive season is synonymous with mulled wine and it seems that every establishment in town is touting this Christmas classic. But in case you’d like to ring the changes, try this alternative mulled creation. With cranberry, Campari, vermouth, and Plymouth gin, this is a refreshing take on a classic cocktail.
1-5 West Street, WC2H 9NQ; the-ivy.co.uk
Baileys Chilli Chocolate Reindeer, The Coal Shed
Available at only a few locations, Baileys offers a special creation for the festive season. Blending the famed Irish Cream with hazelnut liqueur, chocolate vodka, and chilli syrup, this is a tantalising treat to please all chocolate lovers.
One Tower Bridge, SE1 2SE; coalshed-restaurantlondon.co.uk
Clementine and Pomegranate Gin Fizz
For those wanting to hone their cocktail skills at home, try this festive recipe guaranteed to impress guests. In a cocktail shaker mix pomegranate and clementine juice, agave nectar, the white of one British Lion egg, and gin. Pour over ice, top up with soda water, and garnish with twisted orange peel and clementine seeds for a classy Christmas cocktail.
For full recipe and method see eggrecipes.co.uk
Nami
The Nobu Hotel’s basement restaurant, Nami, is serving two delicious festive cocktails: an Eggnog Martini and a Bloody Sushi. The Eggnog Martini combines banana spiced rum and egg with nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon plus sugar, milk and cream, the perfect combination of creamy sweetness with an aromatic kick. The Bloody Sushi is a Bloody Mary variation: a deep red concoction of sake, vodka, tomato, carrot, beetroot, lemon, salt, pepper plus tabasco, Worcestershire sauce and ginger for added depth and heat.
10-50 Willow Street, EC2A 4BH; london-shoreditch.nobuhotels.com
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