In the grand finale of our "Christmas Movies and Cocktails" series, we bring you a libation that echoes the sentiments of Christmas past paired with the timeless tale of redemption..... A Christmas Carol! Whether you fancy the classic adaptation, the Muppets Christmas Carol, or the modern twist of Scrooged, our cocktail, aptly named "The Ghost of Christmas Past," is a Dickensian delight!
"The Ghost of Christmas Past" Cocktail Recipe:
This festive concoction is a Christmassy Negroni with the added glamour of sparkling wine. We've tried many a Sbagliato (a Negroni style cocktail with Prosecco in place of gin) but at Christmas we all need that extra boost. Enter the Ghost of Christmas Past! Gin, cinnamon, spice, sparkles....all the things we've had a plenty over the years. Altogether they make a tasty treat that's easy to make in bulk, makes a great gift, and is bloomin' tasty.
Pour a glass whilst kicking your feet back, watching a Christmas Carol, and remembering what Christmas is really all about. INDULGENCE. Just kidding.
You'll need to prep a day or two in advance to make your spiced gin (this also makes a great gift!)
- To make the infused gin (a week before would be great, but a day or two is fine) add 100g of sugar (we used raw organic) to a pan. Add about 50ml water and melt the sugar.
- Add the peel from one orange, cinnamon and star anise, and allow to cool.
- Pour into a sterilised bottle and fill with a London dry gin.
- Shake well to mix and store to infuse. Before using strain out the mix.
In a pan combine gin with orange peel, star anise, cinnamon, and pink peppercorns.
Allow the mixture to infuse for at least 24 hours, ensuring a rich blend of festive flavours. You can either leave everything in there and strain each time you use it, or
Recipe for 'A Ghost of Christmas Past':
- 25ml spiced gin (infused with orange peel, star anise, cinnamon, and pink peppercorns)
- 25ml Campari
- 25ml sweet vermouth
- Sparkling wine (Prosecco)
- Sugar-coated rosemary sprig for garnish
We actually made our Negroni in bulk beforehand, keeping it in a nice bottle so we can dish out instant cocktails over the Christmas period. However, if you're making one cocktails, simply follow below:
1. In a mixing glass, combine equal parts spiced gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
2. Add ice and stir until well-chilled.
3. Strain the mixture into a short class over ice, or a long champagne flute.
4. Top with a splash sparkling wine.
5. Garnish with a sugar-coated rosemary sprig.
Merry Christmas all!