Christmas Day is a time for celebration and calls for a chilled refreshing beverage. This year make it a truly stylish one by creating tantalising cocktails for your guests. To help you get started we’ve found five quick and easy cocktail recipes that are perfect for Christmas Day or even relaxing poolside.
1. Cherries in vodka
Cooking time: More than 1 hour
Method 
Place the clean, unchipped jar or jars lying down in a large pan. Cover completely with warm water. Bring to the boil and boil, covered, for 20 minutes. Carefully remove the jars from the water (using tongs and rubber gloves) and drain well; stand upright on a wooden board. The heat from the jars will evaporate any water remaining in the jars. Or use the rinse cycle and the hottest temperature in the dishwasher without adding dishwasher powder.
View the full cherries in vodka here.
2. Champagne cocktails
Cooking time: Less than 15 minutes
Method
Mix together the Cointreau, apricot nectar and cranberry juice and divide between two cocktail glasses or champagne flutes.
Add the champagne, filling the glasses right to the top.
View the full Champagne cocktails here.
3. Cherry ripe infused vodka
Prep time: 20 minutes (plus macerating time).
Cook time: 15 minutes.
Makes: 1 litre.
Combine cherry ripe and 1/2 cup of the vodka in a small saucepan over a medium heat. Stir continuously until the cherry ripe melts, remove from heat, add remaining vodka and stir to combine. Transfer mixture to a large non-reactive jug and cover tightly. Stand 4-5 days at room temperature to allow cherry ripe flavour to infuse into vodka.
View the full Cherry ripe infused vodka here.
4. Berry and lime-infused vodka
Prep time: 20 minutes (plus macerating time).
Cook time: 15 minutes.
Makes: 1 litre.
Combine berries, sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Simmer, covered, 10 minutes or until berries are very soft; add lime zest and cool to room temperature.
Transfer berry mixture to a large non-metallic bowl or jug and combine with vodka. Cover tightly and refrigerate 4-5 days to allow flavours to infuse into vodka.
View the full berry and lime-infused vodka cocktail recipe here.
5. Rhubarb infused vodka
Prep time: 20 minutes (plus macerating time).
Cook time: 15 minutes.
Makes: 1 litre.
In a small saucepan, combine rhubarb, sugar and water. Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar, reduce heat and simmer covered 10-12 minutes until rhubarb is very soft. Remove from heat, cool to room temperature.
Transfer rhubarb mixture to a large non-metallic bowl and combine with vodka. Cover tightly and refrigerate 4-5 days to allow rhubarb flavours to infuse into vodka.
Carefully strain rhubarb and vodka mixture through a fine chinois, or muslin-lined sieve, pressing down on the rhubarb with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible.
View the full rhubarb infused vodka cocktail recipe here.
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