THE JOURNAL
Mulled Sangria. Photograph courtesy of Brindisa
London’s best Christmas drinks for Santa to knock back.
The drinks we usually consider our go-to tipples don’t always cut it at this time of year. When you’ve been for a long wintry walk, an ice-cold gin and tonic is not necessarily the restorative elixir you want when you walk through the door. Similarly, after settling by a fire in a pub, your favourite pint of IPA might not quite match the occasion. What we really need when it’s freezing outside, Wham! is on the radio and there is no work to be done is a warm, ultra-boozy drink full of festive flavour. Mulled wine is fine. And the same goes for its cider spin-off. But, in a world where cocktail making (or mixology if you take the job particularly seriously) is as creative and cherished an art as the process of putting food on plates, we can do a little better. In search of something more fun we asked some of our favourite bars in London for the mulled cocktails they’re serving up this December – and for the recipes to make them at home.
Mulled Sangria
Photograph courtesy of Brindisa
From: Brindisa Kitchens
Describing itself as “the home of authentic Spanish food in London”, Brindisa was founded in 1988 by Ms Monika Linton, who opened the first Brindisa tapas restaurant in Borough Market in 2004. She now has five throughout the capital.
Serves 4
30ml Brandy De Jerez 150ml red wine 25ml honey 10ml orange juice 1 clove 1 star anise 1 cinnamon stick
Warm together slowly and enjoy hot.
Taj Ballroom Hot Toddy
Photograph courtesy of Dishoom
From: Dishoom Kensington
With four premises in London, the Bombay café culture-celebrating Dishoom opened a fifth location in Kensington earlier this month, in the Art Deco Barkers building.
Serves 1
80ml cider 1 cinnamon stick 2 cloves Thumb-sized piece of ginger, sliced 1 tsp demerara sugar 25ml apple juice 25ml Amrut whisky
Put all the ingredients in a pan and heat gently. Do not allow to boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Decant into a warm glass. Sip contentedly.
Mulled Negroni
Photograph courtesy of NT’s bar
From: NT’s
Situated a short walk from Broadway Market, NT’s hosts underground disco and house DJs every weekend. The cocktails, served every night by head bartender Mr Pedro Felipe, are worth the trip alone.
Serves 1
80ml red wine 20ml Campari 10ml East London Liquor Company Batch No.2 Gin 15ml orange juice 40ml Punt E Mes 20ml water ½ tsp fennel seeds ½ tsp cardamom ½ tsp star anise ½ tsp nutmeg ½ tsp cassia bark
Gently warm the ingredients in a pan, strain into a glass and enjoy.