Cocktail Hour: The Hugo

It’s been a while since I’ve featured a ‘Cocktail Hour’ on My Capital Plate, but that’s not to say we haven’t been enjoying the occasional cocktail when the mood strikes. And, with (hopefully) the warmer weather arriving soon, I can see many occasions on which we get a little creative with our weekend tipple.

We served this cocktail a while back at our Father’s Day Linner. Easy to prepare, and even easier to drink, it was made with a lovely blend of gin, elderflower cordial, lime and prosecco.

Elderflower cordial is one of those ingredients I’ve heard of but never actually used. I was delighted to find out that it added the most beautiful aroma to the cocktail – which in itself was very refreshing – and I’ve now used it on many occasions since mixed simply with soda water.

Try one for yourself!

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 Cocktail Hour: The Hugo
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Ingredients
Servings
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Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Pour the gin into a glass that is half filled with ice.
  2. Add the cordial and a squeeze of lime juice (then drop the lime wedge into the glass). Stir to combine.
  3. Top with equal parts prosecco and soda water, and tuck in a few mint leaves. Serve immediately.
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Cocktail Hour: Pomegranate Margarita

Happy Friday lovely people!

I, for one, feel as if this week disappeared in the blink of an eye. I guess being well and truly back in the regular school / activities / sport routine had something to do with it. And the kids’ lack of willingness to get up this morning certainly signalled that we had arrived at the end of the school week.

But they are most excited about the weekend! We have gymnastics and school shoe shopping on the agenda tomorrow morning, and have friends coming for dinner tomorrow night. Hopefully we can fit in a family hike on Sunday, or at least something outdoors to make the most of the lingering warm weather.

But tonight – Friday night! We have an impromptu family catch-up to watch the Brumbies and enjoy a nice dinner together. And, well for no other reason than it is Friday, I suspect a cocktail might make an appearance.

Something like this perhaps?

A pomegranate margarita – that we served at a family dinner a little while ago when Mexican was on the menu and margaritas seemed to be a fitting accompaniment. Made simply with tequila, Cointreau, pomegranate juice, lime cordial and water – served over ice with fresh lime wedges.

And because I didn’t want to be stuck making individual drinks all evening, I made a big jug in advance and kept it in the fridge until it was time to serve.

Tequila is by no means my favourite (thanks, most likely, to overindulging when was 18) but combined with the pomegranate juice and water – the result was a very ‘easy’ cocktail to drink.

Cheers to the weekend!

Print Recipe
 Pomegranate Margarita
Course Cocktail
Keyword cocktail
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings
glasses
Ingredients
Course Cocktail
Keyword cocktail
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings
glasses
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a large jug, and place in the fridge.
  2. To serve - pour over ice in salt-rimmed glasses, and add a few lime wedges.
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Cocktail Hour: Easter Bunny Shake

I mentioned earlier in the week that we served a couple cocktails at our recent Easter lunch. My favourite was definitely the Espresso Martini – although that’s not all that unusual as I am not a big milk drinker.

There were, however, a few guests that I knew would not like a coffee-laden martini. They were fans of both milk and baileys though – and so our other cocktail – an Easter Bunny Shake – came to be.

Rather akin to an alcoholic milkshake, it was laced with Baileys, butterscotch schnapps and chocolate – a perfect combination for Easter, really.

And given there were multiple requests for extra glasses throughout the day – I think we hit a winner with this cocktail too!






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Easter Bunny Shake

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Ingredients

Servings
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Ingredients


Instructions
  1. Pour the Baileys, Schnapps and milk into a blender with a few ice cubes and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Blend to combine.

  2. Drizzle some extra sauce down the side of the cocktail glass, pour in the cocktail and enjoy!


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Cocktail Hour: Espresso Martini

I couldn’t resist adding a few cocktails to our recent Easter menu. For what better way to kick of a day of Easter frivolity than with some fun drinks. My little brother was more than happy to play bartender on the day – and wasted no time in shaking up cocktails to hand around.  

And after being up since the crack of dawn (or before the crack of dawn) the addition of an Espresso Martini to the menu was a welcome one.

Simply – 30ml kahlua, 40ml vodka and 40ml freshly brewed espresso. Shaken over lots of ice, and poured into a martini glass.

And after my first sip – well I was hooked! This is now one of my favourite cocktails – and one that I will be sure to make again.

Delish! And I’ll be back to share our other Easter cocktail later in the week.

Print Recipe
 Cocktail Hour: Espresso Martini
Course Cocktail
Cuisine Drinks
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings
drink
Ingredients
Course Cocktail
Cuisine Drinks
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings
drink
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Place Kahlua, Vodka and Espresso into a cocktail shaker.
  2. Fill with ice and shake. Pour into a martini glass to serve.
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