For a couple of festive weeks at least, it feels acceptable – appropriate, even – to have a special drink at any time of day. Whether that’s just for you, or for family or for when you have people coming round, take a little effort over the quality and combination of the ingredients, and pleasure is guaranteed. These six Christmas drinks each carry flavours that cement that feeling, and even the ones with alcohol can be tweaked to cater to those too young or who prefer to be booze-free: for the spiced gin and the mojito, for instance, try one of the excellent alcohol-free spirits now out there, and there are several zero-alcohol proseccos and ciders available these days. Some of the recipes require just a little time for a key ingredient to be made ahead, but the result is so worth it; the making of the drink itself is quick and easy. Those key ingredients – spiced gin, syrups and so on – are superb in other ways, too. I’ve included some suggestions, but don’t let that stop you experimenting. And while the punch recipe makes enough for a dozen or so, and the gin infusion for the negroni a litre, the ingredients for the rest are per serving, so multiply them up for more people as you wish and build them in a jug if it makes the preparing and serving easier. Merry Christmas.
