6 genius batch bottled cocktails that you can make ahead

Maybe it’s the theatrics. Maybe it’s the complexity of balanced flavours in every sip. Or maybe – just maybe – it’s the alcohol. Whatever the reason, cocktails always put a smile on my face. They make an evening feel special, whether you’re out celebrating or entertaining at home, and the ritual of mixing, shaking, stirring, pouring and garnishing is something to savour.

That is, unless you’re making cocktails for more than a few people. At that point, even if you’re an expert mixologist, it becomes a bit of a slog; a factory line of ice, glasses and bottles, with sticky spills all over your kitchen work surface and no time to entertain your guests or enjoy yourself. It’s why most of us opt for a few bottles of fizz when hosting a party – all you need to do is pour.

But wait! There is a solution. Enter the bottled cocktail – something you can mix and chill in advance, ready to be poured at a moment’s notice. They last forever, happily sitting in your freezer until called into action, and many benefit from a quick ‘ageing’ in the bottle to let the flavours mellow and mingle. They’re one of my favourite things to do when I have friends over, and I’ll always have a bottle or two waiting in the wings. (Exercise caution, though – it’s all the more tempting to treat yourself to a cheeky little negroni while you cook dinner when you know all you have to do is pour it into a glass.)

These six festive twists on classic cocktails show just how easy it is to mix your cocktails in advance, ready for your lucky guests. No more hunching over a spirits measure as you dole out drink after drink while the night unfolds; this is intelligent hosting of the highest order.

Bottled cocktail tips and know-how

Most – but not all – cocktails can be mixed in advance. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Take it with a pinch of salt You’ll notice a tiny amount of salt in each of these recipes. It’s a trick I picked up from a master mixologist a few years ago that I swear by. Just like in food, salt opens up the palate to make your cocktail taste more of itself (without tasting salty). It’s a subtle yet effortless improvement
– and a neat talking point.

Enjoy the water feature Cocktails are shaken or served with plenty of iice not only to cool them down, but also to dilute the mixture with a little water. This tempers the harshness of the alcohol, allowing you to taste the cocktail more. If you’re pre-mixing cocktails designed to be served in glasses without ice, you need to add some water to account for the dilution.

Stay chilled All these pre-mixed cocktails can be kept in the freezer, meaning you can make them ahead of time and they’ll be perfectly chilled at all times. Alcohol doesn’t freeze, but if you have a higher concentration of non-alcoholic liquids in your cocktail (fruit juices or water to account for dilution, for example), they can become a little slushy. Don’t fret – a good shake of the container or bottle will break up the slush and remix the cocktail in an instant, ready to pour.

Master the golden ratio The beauty of cocktails is that they’re easily scaled up – you just need to keep the ratios the same. All these cocktails make enough for 10 drinks, but for bigger gatherings they can be doubled, tripled, quadrupled or more.

Six genius bottled cocktails

‘Mistletoe’ martini
Having a pre-mixed martini on hand in the freezer, ready to go at a moment’s notice, makes cocktail hour dangerously effortless. A festive mistletoe-like garnish of samphire (or bay) and cocktail onions adds a pleasing savouriness for when it’s time to serve.

Rosemary negroni
Negroni is one of the best cocktails to bottle, as it gives the three aromatic elements time to mingle and mellow. A short infusion of rosemary brings out the herbaceous notes of the vermouth and Campari without upsetting the perfect bittersweet balance that makes this one of the finest cocktails in the world.

Mince-pie old fashioned
This versatile Christmas cocktail recipe makes a fabulous drink, as well as a flavoured butter to use in festive baking and an extra-boozy mincemeat for mince pies. ‘Washing’ the bourbon in lightly browned butter gives it a creamy, slightly viscous texture and rounds out the harsher notes of the spirit, making the cocktail very smooth indeed.

Cranhattan
The seriously sophisticated Mad Men-esque manhattan gets a festive twist by way of cranberry jelly, which dissolves into the mixture adding tangy sweetness.

Redcurrant margarita
Ideal when you’re pining for a taste of sunshine in the depths of winter, this margarita is flavoured and turned bright red by an intense redcurrant syrup. Make-ahead and stash in the fridge or freezer ready for festive entertaining. Make up a big batch in advance to enjoy from the freezer.

Santa’s sidecar
Like an upside-down Santa hat, this tangy, citrus-forward sidecar cocktail is balanced by the warming complexity of cognac. The perfect pre-dinner aperitif to make sure everyone is ho-ho-hoing as they sit down to eat.

Browse all our favourite cocktail recipes for entertaining.