Five Cocktails You Can Make at Home

 Who doesn't love going out for cocktails? But unfortunately, as much as we love a night at The Alchemist or Maven, it can get pretty pricey, leaving less pocket money for massages and facials. You might be surprised to know that your favourite cocktails are easy to whip up at home with just a few bar tools and as little as two ingredients.

Even the best cocktail bartenders will tell you that the best cocktails are the classics that have stood the test of time, and been perfected over many years. In fact, most innovative new cocktails are based on a classic - most are easy to customise, making them incredibly versatile. Here are five cocktail recipes you can make in your own home...

1. Daiquiri

 What you'll need: White rum, limes and sugar syrup. Sugar syrup can be bought or easily made at home with just sugar and water. 

Chill a martini glass, either in the fridge or by filling with ice. Pour 50ml of white rum into a cocktail shaker, along with 25ml of lime juice and 25ml of sugar syrup. Add ice, shake for ten seconds and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

This is a great versatile recipe. Use spiced rum instead of white rum for a spiced daiquiri, or try coconut rum for a coconut daiquiri. Alternatively, instead of shaking, combine the ingredients in a blender with ice cubes and a few strawberries or raspberries for frozen daiquiris (why won't summer hurry up?!).

2. Margarita

 What you'll need: tequila, cointreau, limes and sugar syrup.

Chill martini glass, then run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass, then coat rim with salt. Shake up 50ml of tequila with 25ml of cointreau, 25ml of lime juice and 12.5ml of sugar syrup, for about ten seconds. Strain into the martini glass and garnish with a lime wheel. 

Another versatile cocktail, margaritas can be customised in so many ways. Switch out the cointreau for licor 43 for a vanilla margarita, or shake with cucumber and mint for a super refreshing cucumber and mint margarita. Mix with ice in a blender for a frozen margarita, adding in mango or strawberries if you desire a more fruity drink. 

3. Bellini

 What you'll need: prosecco and either peach juice, peach puree or peach schnapps.

Pour 25ml of the peach element into a champagne flute. Top with prosecco and you're ready to go!

Again, it is possible to customise the bellini for different flavours. For example, replace the peach puree with passion fruit juice and 12.5ml of cointreau. You can make your own juice by straining the flesh of a passion fruit using a sieve or tea strainer. Or replace the peach puree with chambord for a raspberry bellini - delicious!

4. Cosmopolitan

 What you'll need: vodka, cointreau, limes, cranberry juice.

Shake 50ml of vodka, 25ml of cointreau, 75ml of cranberry juice and 25ml of lime juice for ten seconds. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lime wheel. 

Make like the 'Sex and the city' girls and enjoy a classic cosmo, or add your own touch. Switch out regular vodka for a flavoured one - passion fruit vodka works a treat. 

5. Mojito

 What you'll need: White rum, limes, sugar syrup, mint leaves and soda water. 

 Muddle three wedges of lime in a tall glass. Add 12.5ml of sugar syrup, 5 mint leaves and 50ml of white rum. Fill the glass to half full with ice (ideally crushed ice) and mix with a bar spoon. Top with more ice and a dash of soda water. Garnish with a cocktail straw, mint leaves and a lime wedge. 

If you want to add a twist to your mojito, try adding pureed strawberries, raspberries or blackberries for a fruity touch. 

What are you waiting for - call the girls, book in your gel nails appointment and host your own cocktail party! Why not ask everyone to bring a bottle to split the cost?!