Best cocktails for Bonfire Night

Now that Halloween is over, and the mouse/mildly scary sexy cheerleader zombie/hashtag outfits have been put away for another year, the chance to dress up as the Michelin Man has come around again – it’s nearly Bonfire Night.

Whether you're heading out for the evening, or planning a party, you're going to need something good to drink. So give us your best ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’, these are five of the best cocktails and boozy tipples to ensure November 5th goes off with a bang.

Mulled wine – Serves six

 

It may scream 'CHRISTMAS' to you, but mulled wine is the perfect tipple for Bonfire Night. This recipe isn't too sweet, and you can even pop it in a flask and take it with you to warm your cockles throughout the evening. Just remember to share: this recipe does serve six!

Ingredients

1 bottle red wine

1 orange (unwaxed), peeled and juiced
1/2 lemon peel
75g caster sugar
3 cloves
3 cardamom pods
1/2 cinnamon stick
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
A good glug of ginger wine if you have any

Shake it!
1. Add your orange juice and peel to a large saucepan with the lemon peel, caster sugar and spices.
2. Pour in enough wine to cover the sugar and heat until dissolved.
3. Bring the mixture to the boil and continue heating until you have a thick syrup. This should take around five minutes.
4. Turn down the heat and add the rest of your bottle of wine, along with a good splash of ginger wine if you are using.
5. Serve in mugs or glasses that can take the heat.

Ushuaia – Serves one

 

If you'd prefer something a little more chilled, but certainly not a cocktail that will leave you cold, then Ushuaia is the one for you. You may not be able to pronounce it, but you can always say 'the orange one that looks like the bright burning embers of a bonfire'. See, it's perfect for the occasion.

Ingredients
40ml Aperol
10ml Aquavit
20ml lemon juice
20ml rhubarb syrup
Pinch of pink salt
Top with Chandon

Shake it!
1. Shake all the ingredients together with ice.
2. Strain into a wine glass, and garnish with a rhubarb stick.

 

 

 

Whitehall Lady – Serves one

 

If you're making a batch of these for your classy Bonfire Night soiree, don't be disheartened if you don't quite have the garnishing skills of the bartenders at the Corinthia. I'm sure it'll taste just as good! 

Ingredients

50ml Ciroc vodka
15ml elderflower cordial
10ml fresh lemon juice
Top up with some fizz

Shake it!
1. Shake the vodka, elderflower and lemon juice together with ice and strain into a champagne flute.
2. Top with fizz and garnish with a flamed twist of orange or grapefruit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boozy mocha – serves one

 

This is an all out comfort drink. If you're planning to throw some shapes after your firework action, perhaps stay clear of this. But if you plan to settle down with some Netflix, or sit around by the fire and sing 'Tribute' or 'Wonderwall' or that other one song your mate can play on that battered acoustic guitar, then this boozy mocha is definitely the one for you.

Ingredients

50g dark chocolate

160ml whole milk

25ml Baileys

25ml Kahlua 

Chocolate alcoholic whipped cream (yes it’s a thing).

Shake it!
1. Gently heat the milk and chocolate in a saucepan until the chocolate has melted.

2. Take the mixture off the heat and add your Baileys and Kahlua.

3. Serve in a big mug and top with your boozy cream, if you've got any left.

4. Settle down in front of the fire/Netflix.

Toffee apple martini – Serves one

 If you loved getting your teeth (literally) stuck into a toffee apple on Bonfire Night as a kid, or if you still do, the lovely Laura has given the humble toffee apple a sexy makeover (glasses off, hair down) and turned it into a martini. What could be a more perfect tipple on Bonfire Night?

Which one takes your fancy? How will you be celebrating this year?