Smirnoff have made it their mission to help us find the inspiration we need to create great drinks. From a simple teapot to a warm memory, inspiration can come in many forms and what’s even better is that you don’t need a top bartender or fancy equipment to make a tasty beverage.
You can do it yourself from the comfort of your own home. So start thinking outside the glass with these three tasty recipes and simple tips. Then again, you might be inspired and end up with a few ideas of your own, stranger things have happened! All you need to get started is a bottle of Smirnoff (obviously!!), some imagination and a few basic kitchen utensils. No doubt we can all get our hands on the below basics:
1. SHAKERS – Use a jam jar if you don’t have a cocktail shaker. Fill the jar up with your ingredients (no fizzy mixers – save yourself having to get the mop out!), add some ice and put the lid on. Shake it up and then top it up with fresh ice and the remaining ingredients. Easy.
2. CRUSHED ICE – Make your own crushed ice by filling a tea towel or cloth bag with ice and hit it with a rolling pin. Don’t be shy, get stuck in.
3. SIEVE – A basic kitchen sieve comes in handy for straining your cocktail from the shaker. That’s a no-brainer!
4. SUGAR SYRUP – It’s easy to make your own sugar syrup. All you have to do is combine equal parts caster sugar to boiling water. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and then put it in a bottle in the fridge. You can pretend you’re Walter White in the process!
5. ICE IS YOUR FRIEND – Spoiler Alert: Cold drinks are absolutely delicious. Seriously though, the more ice you use, the colder the drink will be and the less it will melt and dilute your flavours. Sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised the difference it makes.
Now that you’ve got everything you need, it’s time to have a go at making some delicious cocktails yourself! To get you started, here are some great ideas dreamed up by the Smirnoff team…
Coconut Shy
A richly delicious mix of Smirnoff No.21, Coconut rum and vanilla ice cream. This retro drink can be poured into half a coconut shell for added effect.
INSPIRATION
Created by Jamie, and inspired by his recent Caribbean holiday. Not owning a cocktail shaker, Jamie stripped off the husk of a coconut (you can buy them already stripped) and broke the shell in two. He then filled an empty jar with Smirnoff, coconut rum, vanilla ice cream and coconut cream and shook, before pouring into the shell halves with some grated nutmeg, a couple of straws and a cocktail umbrella to garnish. If you don’t have a coconut to hand, this also tastes great in a glass.
INGREDIENTS
– 25ml Smirnoff No.21 Vodka
– 25ml Coconut Rum
– 1 scoop Vanilla Ice Cream
– 50ml Coconut Cream
– Grated Nutmeg
HOW TO MAKE
(1.8 units per serve)
1. Crack a whole coconut in two pieces, making the split as close to the middle as possible.
2. Scoop out the white flesh inside, but leave enough so that no shell is showing through.
3. Measure 25ml Smirnoff No.21 Vodka, 25ml Coconut Rum, 1 scoop vanilla ice cream and 50ml coconut cream into the glass.
4. Shake the mixture vigorously until the surface of the cocktail shaker feels chilled.
5. Pour the mixture into the larger of the coconut shell halves.
6. Using a grater, grate the side of a whole nutmeg onto the drink. Place a paper cocktail umbrella into the drink at an angle to garnish.
Grapefruit Smash
The mix of delicious bittersweet marmalade with pure, clear Smirnoff No.21 Vodka and a lively dash of citrus makes a perfect fruit smash – and you can use the marmalade jar to serve it in.
INSPIRATION
Lou focused on fruits, and discovered that the mix of delicious bittersweet marmalade with pure, clear Smirnoff No.21 Vodka and a lively dash of citrus makes a perfectly fruity Grapefruit Smash. You can even use the marmalade jar to serve it in. Lou’s creation calls for Smirnoff No.21 Vodka to be mixed with a couple of spoonfuls of homemade marmalade, a sour squeeze of lemon and grapefruit juice, all balanced out with sweet, cloudy lemonade.
INGREDIENTS
– 50ml Smirnoff No.21 Vodka
– 2tsp. Marmalade
– 50ml Lemon Juice
– 25ml Grapefruit Juice
– 100ml Cloudy Lemonade
– 1 Sprig of Mint
HOW TO MAKE
(1.8 units per serve)
1. Fill a highball glass or jam jar with crushed ice.
2. Measure 50ml Smirnoff No.21 Vodka, 50ml Lemon Juice, marmalade and lemon juice into the glass or jar.
3. Stir with a long-handled spoon until the mixture is well combined.
4. Measure 25ml grapefruit juice into the glass. Top up with cloudy lemonade.
5. With a sharp knife cut a slice of lemon on a chopping board, and place in the drink. Add 1 sprig of mint to finish the garnish.
Russian Iced Tea
A zesty, cooling serve of Smirnoff No.21 Vodka, lemon iced tea and apple juice. The Russian Iced Tea is made in a teapot for a twist on the traditional serve.
INSPIRATION
Proper tea is always served in a teapot, and it was this that inspired Hayden to create his drink. He took an old teapot and mixed Smirnoff No.21 Vodka, lemon iced tea and apple juice along with plenty of ice, stirred and served in teacups with lemon and mint.
INGREDIENTS (Serves Two)
– 100ml Smirnoff No.21 Vodka
– 200ml Lemon Iced Tea
– 200ml Apple Juice
– 4 Wedge Lemon
– 4 Sprigs Mint
HOW TO MAKE
(1.8 units per serve)
1. Half-fill a teapot with cubes of ice.
2. Pour 100ml Smirnoff No.21 Vodka, 200ml lemon iced tea and 200ml apple juice into the teapot.
3. Stir the mixture with a long-handled spoon until well combined.
4. Pour the drink carefully into two teacups over ice (this drink is best shared with friends).
5. With a sharp knife and cutting board, slice a wedge of lemon, and place in the drink. Add a sprig of mint against the rim of the cup to garnish.
For more tips on how to make cocktails and create some inventive and exciting combinations of your own, visit www.thebar.com/outsidetheglass for fun Smirnoff recipes and ideas.
Enjoy SMIRNOFF sensibly.
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