There’s every chance that you’re feeling under the weather, or going to feel under the weather during this monsoon. If your motivation to drink during such times has taken a hit, you’ve landed at just the right place. Here are 5 cocktails you can make at home, and drink to embrace the season…
Sangria
Sometimes, it’s important to state the obvious because the obvious is usually very, very simple; and we love complicating our lives. Grab a bottle of red or white wine, some cognac brandy, squeeze two lemons to make your kind of lemon juice, and add all the ingredients into a pitcher with finely chopped fruits (typically apples). Voila – your saviour is born! Pour your sangria into a wine glass before garnishing it with a thinly sliced orange peel firmly pushed into the rim of your glass.
What do you need:
1 lemon
1 ½ cups of wine
750 ml Cognac Brandy
½ cup Sugar
1 apple
The Classic Hot Toddy
This baby won’t just momentarily make you feel better if you’re running a cold, but its intrinsic nature can also drive those demons away for good, by lifting your spirits in more ways than one. Depending on what you prefer, pour whiskey, brandy or rum into a warm mixture of lemon juice, a cup of hot water and a tablespoon of honey. Your cure is ready! If you’re not satisfied yet, you can garnish this with lemon or a cinnamon stick.
What do you need:
2 tablespoons bourbon/ rum/ brandy
1 tablespoon mild honey
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup boiling-hot water
Cinnamon Stick
Honey Bourbon Toddy
This soothing mixture of honey, bourbon whisky and cinnamon is what dreams are made of if you’re battling a sore throat. Mix honey with water until the honey nicely dissolves to form a smooth concoction. Pour your choice of bourbon whiskey into this and we’re not kidding when we say, that’s pretty much it. Decorate this with a peel of lemon if you may.
What do you need:
1 tablespoon of honey
3 tablespoons bourbon
A strip of lemon peel
1 cinnamon stick
Spiced Screwdriver – The point of including the Spiced Screwdriver in this list is that it is extremely easy to concoct, even when you’re feeling down and out because of an irritating cold. All you need is vodka, orange juice, and a fresh cinnamon stick that acts as the primary catalyst to keep your cold at bay, while you enjoy this delicious mixture.
What you need:
2 cups orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
½ cup Vodka
Negroni with a Twist – The Negroni is a cult drink, but this gin based cocktail can be tweaked to give you just the right feels you’re craving for this Monsoon. While typically, the Negroni has Campari as an important component, the drink can be tweaked with Aperol instead, together with the regulars – gin and sweet vermouth. While Aperol and Campari are not very different from each other, the former has an edge in terms of its perfect combination of herbs and roots, helping you battle the dicy weather.
What you need:
6 teaspoons Aperol
6 teaspoons Gin
6 teaspoons Sweet vermouth
Half orange peel
