Jollyjillys: Festive Cocktails with Aldi

Christmas is just around the corner and we all feel maybe we can celebrate a little. I am not a big drinker but I do think its fun to have a cocktail and also to relax with family and friends.
We love Aldi and the range of products has improved so much and the prices are great. With everyone short of cash at this time of year it has got to be good. So we went to the Aldi web site and food the section on cocktails. There are so many recipe's for all kinds of things it was great. So we tried

Sleigh Ride

Method:
Scoop out the three balls of ice cream and place in a small cocktail glass. Place back into freezer until needed

Stir the Chevalier and Triple Sec together over ice before straining into small carafe

Remove frozen ice cream from freezer and place in a small bowl

Pour over the ice cream and serve

Decoration/to serve

The ice cream can be pre-scooped ahead of time and taken out of the freezer when needed. Serve with lemon popping candy to add extra festive sparkle

Tasting notes

The combination of frozen ice cream, cognac and triple sec make the Sleigh Ride the perfect drink to follow Christmas dinner. The spicy kick of the gingerbread ice cream brings out the rich aromatic flavours of the cognac and the sweet orange undertones of the triple sec – a real Christmas showstopper!

Ingredients:
50ml Chevalier VS Cognac

25ml Specially Selected Triple Sec

3 scoops Specially Selected Gingerbread ice cream

It was so tasty you have to try it over Christmas it is so worth it!

Choco Locos

Method:
Add the cornflour to a little milk to make a paste. Place to one side

Gently heat the milk until it is hot but not boiling. Remove from heat

Whisk in the cornflour mixture and the grated chocolate

Stir until chocolate has melted

Place back on low heat until the mix has changed consistency and thickened

Once heated, serve in a warmed mug before adding a measure of rum

Decoration/to serve

Grated dark chocolate

Tasting notes

With its thick, chocolatey texture and the warm spice of dark rum, Choco Locos is a decadent cocktail that is sure to bring festive cheer. Layer the drink with a swirl of double cream, sprinkle grated chocolate and serve with a cinnamon stick stirrer to give the cocktail an indulgent finish.

Ingredients:
250ml Cowbelle full fat milk

100g Moser Roth milk chocolate

½ tsp cornflour

1 swirl Cowbelle double cream

100g Moser Roth dark chocolate

25ml Old Hopking Dark Rum

Cinnamon sticks to garnish

Cranberry Sour

Method:
To make the cranberry syrup simply heat the cranberries over a medium heat until the syrup has taken on the colour and flavour of the cranberries. Add sugar to balance the tartness of the fruit

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker

Add cubed ice and shake hard for 10 seconds

Take the ice out of the shaker and shake again to aerate the cocktail

Pour into a chilled cocktail glass and serve

Decoration/to serve

Orange twist to garnish.

Tasting notes

Dried cranberries are a great store cupboard essential as they can be used as and when needed. This a great way to show off your mixology skills by balancing the award winning botanical notes in the Oliver Cromwell Dry Gin with the tartness of the cranberries.

Ingredients:
50ml Oliver Cromwell Dry Gin

25ml The Pantry lemon and lime juice

25ml cranberry syrup (made from The Food Market dried cranberries, 200ml water and sugar to taste)

Santa and Spice

Method:
Add all ingredients to a mixing jug and stir over ice until cold

Take a tall Collins glass filled with cubed ice and add cracked black pepper to the rim

Pour in the mixed Bloody Mary and garnish

Decoration/to serve

Add cracked black pepper to the rim of the glass and garnish with a stuffed bell pepper, pickled gherkin, and fresh basil

Tasting notes

Bringing together a delicious mixture of savoury ingredients, Bloody Mary is the ideal drink to serve with a Boxing Day brunch. The cocktail works well with a range of garnishes from ‘Pigs in Blankets’ to mozzarella and Parma ham or mini turkey sliders.

Ingredients:
50ml Tamova Vodka

100ml tomato juice

100ml The Pantry lemon juice

Pinch of cracked black pepper

1 dash The Pantry lime juice

1 dash Bramwells horseradish sauce

This was my husband fave lol he and Santa enjoyed making it !