Emma Stokes - Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail: 80 cheerful tipples to warm up winter

Emma Stokes, also known as Gin Monkey, is a widely respected expert on the subject of white spirits. She has launched bar and cocktail apps, co-founded the London Cocktail Society, and runs World Gin Day, which is celebrated globally. Her list of jobs has also included bartender, gin distiller, tutor, presenter, and cocktail and spirits judge.

When not occupied with spirits and cocktail books, Emma works in science communication. She also has a degree in pharmacology, and has worked for the largest science experiment in the world (CERN) in Geneva.

Emma takes her martini dry with a twist, and believes it is always five oclock somewhere.

For Disco, who got us to five oclock

Have you ever been stuck at home over the holidays, looked at the time, and it has been exactly cocktail oclock? Then Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail is the perfect companion for you.

This book contains tried and tested recipes that are guaranteed to add some cheer and impress your friends and family alike. There are presents for Christmas, warmers for Winter, brews for Bonfires everything from Halloween to Valentines Day has a tipple just waiting to be made. And as an extra stocking filler, there are non-alcoholic and low-alcoholic variants for many of the recipes look out for the symbol.

There are also guides on equipment, glassware, garnishes and essential ingredients for your cupboard, making this book a one-stop-shop (excluding your Christmas shopping) for all your merry needs.

And what would a festive book be, if not a little bit over the top, pun-ladened and guaranteed to convert even the biggest Scrooge?

So, get shaking and stirring, and remember it doesnt matter if youve been naughty or nice; its always five oclock somewhere!

Emma

@ginmonkeyuk

For measuring or pouring, you could also use a teaspoon (a standard 5ml teaspoon is generally the right size).

For stirring, the term mixing spoon can be misleading as what you need is something to help move the ingredients and ice around in the mixing glass. Something long and thin like a chopstick or knife that can fit around the ice is much better than a tablespoon with a large head.

An essential purchase, although anything that is watertight that allows the ice to be rapidly moved in and around the liquid will also work. A sports flask or protein shaker are often touted as good substitutes. In my experience jam jars are a little small, but larger sauce jars could work.

You could use any kitchen utensil used for measuring, providing youre able to be accurate. For some cocktails with simple ingredients and measurements you can convert into parts (so for a negroni 25ml becomes 1 part) and you can then use an egg cup to measure (so one part gin, one part Campari and one part sweet vermouth). Just be aware you might end up with a much larger finished cocktail!

You could use any large receptacle that can hold a reasonable amount of ice and will allow you to stir.

Believe it or not, but a whisk placed inside a cocktail shaker can provide a decent enough strainer to catch large pieces of ice (the main purpose of a simple strainer).

Fine strainers are designed to catch any pulp from ingredients and small pieces of ice, so a sieve is the best substitute. Just be careful to pour slowly into the middle of the glass under the sieve. A friend to hold the sieve is very welcome!

• Gin
• Rum gold rum will work for most of the rum recipes
• Brandy
• Vodka
• Scotch whisky

• Triple sec
• Creme de cacao
• Apple brandy, or Calvados
• Cherry or berry liqueur
• Dry and sweet vermouths

Non-alcoholic spirits brands have really upped their game, so its worth investing in a couple of replacements for your favourite spirits, if youre going down the alcohol-free route.

• Non-alcoholic botanical spirit (replacement for gin and other white spirits)
• Non-alcoholic aromatic or grain spirit (replacement for whiskies and some cognacs)
• Non-alcoholic sparkling wine
• Almond extract