The UK’s drinks scene has never been better. Bars up and down the country are offering vast selections of wines, craft beers and spirits made by passionate artisans, with drink lists given as much care and attention as the food that’s served alongside them. The same goes for cocktails; infusions, cordials, distillates and syrups are often made in-house to offer something a little different, and bartenders are playing around with flavours in the same way as chefs.
Making cocktails at home is changing, too. Even something as simple as a gin and tonic has evolved; we now think about what tonics work well with particular gins, which garnish best reflects the flavours in the glass and even play around with different shapes of ice. The more ambitious amongst us make simple syrups to add a bit of wow factor, or stock up on different glassware to make cocktails look as good as they taste.
The six cocktails below are easy to make, yet show just how simple it can be to whip up amazing drinks at home. Be it a dinner party, a get-together with friends or something to sip on at the weekend, give them a try and unlock the inner mixologist within you!