Everyone knows Christmas isn’t the time to eat like a bird. But perhaps drinking like one is acceptable? After a busy year there’s nothing like kicking back over the Christmas break with friends and family close by, lots of birds in the garden, a great book and a good drink. Here are four bird-themed recipes you may want to try in the warm twilight hours ahead…
Yellow Bird
What you’ll need
30 ml light rum
30 ml dark rum
10 ml Galliano Liqueur
1/2 lime’s juice
40 ml orange juice
1 maraschino cherry, 1 sprig of mint garnish
What to do
First, take out a second mortgage on the nest so you can afford to buy some limes. Then squeeze the juice of half a lime into a cocktail shaker with ice. Now simply add all of the remaining ingredients and shake well. Strain into a collins glass filled with crushed ice and, if necessary, garnish with the cherry and a sprig of mint.
Albatross
What you’ll need
30 ml dry gin
15 ml fresh squeezed lemon juice
15 ml hop muddled simple syrup
180 ml IPA
Rosemary garnish
What to do
First you’ll have to make the hop syrup. Get your hands on about 1/4 oz of dried aroma hops and 1 oz of simple syrup. Muddle these to combine and then strain through a fine meshed filter. Then combine the gin, lemon juice and syrup in a shaker and shake with ice. Strain into a tulip glass and top with 180ml of IPA. Garnish with a Rosemary sprig then find a comfortable spot to spread your wings and relax.
Love Birds
What you’ll need
45 ml vodka
60 ml sweet and sour mix
1 dash dark rum
15 ml grenadine syrup
What to do
This is an easy one for first-time bartenders looking to leave the nest. Simply mix the vodka, sour mix, dark rum and grenadine in a shaker then pour into an old-fashioned glass filled with crushed or shaven ice. Garnish with a maraschino cherry, serve up and share with a loved one.
Passenger Pigeon
What you’ll need
60 ml Calvados
25 ml ounce Sweet Vermouth
15 ml Pimento Dram
1 dash Angostura bitters
What to do
This is another cocktail perfect for quick preparation on those thirsty summer nights. First place all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Then stir the mixture for approximately 30 seconds to chill. Then simply strain into a cocktail glass and serve immediately. If your guests like it they’ll probably return again and again, allowing you to then begin fastening messages around their ankles for the return trip. And that’s how your future courier empire will begin…
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