What is it about the cocktail that makes you believe that you're far away on holiday? No responsibilities and not a care in the world. I suspect the answer lies somewhere between their exotic mien and their overly intoxicating nature. They are deliciously alcoholic and often very fruity if not just sweet.
However, in deciding upon a welcome drink for our daughter's upcoming 21st birthday dinner, I have come to realise that they're not very masculine. When I say masculine, I mean the typically mans man kind that makes you think of oil rigs and civil engineering feats of the most dramatic kind like a Carling Black Label advert with men glistening with sweat after a hard day's work who's thirst can only be quenched by, you guessed it, a Carling Black Label. In fact, most cocktails are, I dare say, quite "girly"! Pink, umbrellas, stylish glassware and fruity. So when my daughter asked me what type of cocktail we'd be serving for the men, I was left befuddled. Steelworks! We both declared, enthusiastically, that surely counts as a cocktail and it's really manly. The name says it all. But..... this would leave all the ladies decidedly weak in the knees and the men feeling, well, manly. A Steelworks has a couple of drops of bitters, whilst your average Cosmopolitan/Watermelon Cooler/Mojito/Sangria is a true cocktail brimming with flowery, fruity notes laced with lashings of alcohol.
So, while contemplating this and ranting to you, I quietly sit listening to the birds and sipping my own cocktail concoction/sudo white sangria!
Ingredients (whatever I could find in the kitchen)
750ml Zonnebloem Chardonnay
50ml Sky Vodka
1 cinnamon stick
5 strawberries (pulverised with an immersion blender)
1 Mandarin (sliced)
1 apple (sliced and cut into stars)
1 handful of mint leaves (slightly bruised by rolling between my two hands)
100ml simple syrup (100ml water + 100ml xylitol)
Loads of ice
Combine and .....
Enjoy!!
P.S. I've googled several recipes, nothing is exciting me yet or screaming "I'm a Man"! I'll have to play in the kitchen, do lots of sampling and will get back to you with a result!
