THREE ELEGANT COCKTAILS TO INTRODUCE TO YOUR NEXT WEEKEND LUNCH PARTY
Get ready to shake things up at your next soiree with these easy-to-make cocktails.
As summer draws closer, you’re likely to be setting dates to host your pals for a lunchtime catch-up. To give you more time to enjoy the conversation, a little sunshine and refreshing cocktail in hand, you’ll want to steer clear of adding fussy cocktails to your already long to-do list, instead, level up your cocktail making skills (just a little) and prepare your own batch of elegant drinks, to really make it a lunchtime affair to remember.
Each of the three cocktails has been chosen for its simplicity and for its delicious flavour combinations. We’ve partnered with Grey Goose, the super premium French vodka, to show you how to make a Basil Collins, a Le Grand Fizz and a French Sangria below. Start planning your lunch menu and get ready to batch, shake and prepare these three crowd-pleasing and elegant cocktails.
THREE ELEGANT GREY GOOSE COCKTAILS
BASIL COLLINS
60ml Grey Goose Original
30ml lemon juice
20ml sugar syrup
60ml soda water
5 basil leaves
pepper
Combine all ingredients in a boston shaker. Vigorously shake together, then strain into a collins glass filled with ice. Top up with soda water and garnish with basil sprig and cracked pepper.
LE GRAND FIZZ
45ml Grey Goose original
20ml St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
10ml lime juice
90ml soda
Fill a large wine glass with ice. Add vodka, elderflower liqueur and lime juice, before giving it a quick stir (ideally with a cocktail stirrer). Top up with soda water and garnish with a lime wedge. If you’re short on time, this is one of the simplest cocktails to make.
FRENCH SANGRIA
40ml Grey Goose Original
20ml French pinot noir
20ml lemon juice
120ml pomegranate juice
20ml fresh blood orange juice
10ml crème de mure
Fill a large wine glass with ice. Build all ingredients, then give the glass a quick stir. Garnish with small orange and lemon wedge pieces.
Click through the gallery below for tips on how to perfect these cocktails.
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BASIL COLLINS
Batch prep the base of the drink before your guests arrive, and keep it in a glass bottle with a quick pour nozzle. That way you’ll be able to whip this up in minutes, as all you’ll need to do is top up the base with soda water. This will keep each drink extra effervescent. Pair it with antipasti-style Italian snacks to riff off the star flavour of basil. -
LE GRAND FIZZ
As long as you have your limes juiced, this is one of the simplest drinks to make — giving you more time to be a sublime host. Pair it with almost any dish from fiery Thai stir-fries to grilled meats and seafood. -
FRENCH SANGRIA
Try doubling the recipe then lengthen it with soda and serve it in jugs on the table. Also, hunt down blood oranges — the bold red juice will add a beautiful vibrant tint to the drinks. Pairs well with tapas.
Upgrade your long lunch by choosing super premium vodka for your classic cocktails. Grey Goose is distilled once and bottled in France, and the high quality vodka has a 100 percent traceable production process.
Illustrations: Barry Patenaude.