They say that the one major benefit of all the lockdowns in the last year or so is that almost everyone has either learnt or perfected a skill. And for our Digital Marketer Jon, that has been the world of homemade cocktails; and while he may not be a mixologist, he does claim to make an amazing Hurricane, Daiquiri and Piña Colada!

So, as part of our celebration of World Cocktail Day we share with you a few cocktail recipes and tips to help you celebrate World Cocktail Day – By the way these are all Rum based and we’ve also  included alcohol-free versions.

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World Cocktail Day.

May 13^th is World Cocktail Day, a celebration of cocktails around the globe, marking the publication date of the first definition of a cocktail on May 13th in 1806. But first of all what is a cocktail? – cocktails refer to a drink that contains two or more ingredients with at least one of the ingredients alcohol.

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What do I need to make a cocktail?

You don’t need to worry about getting one of those fancy sets on Amazon which can cost £20-£50 all you need is a few suitable glasses, a measuring jug and a stirrer. If you have a shaker awesome, but a blender = even better!

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Bahama Mama.

If you love a happy hour at Turtle Bay, no doubt you would have tried a few of these!

What You Need:

• Half fill a glass with Ice (crushed is best)
• 100ml Orange Juice
• 100ml Pineapple Juice
• Single measure (25ml) Dark Rum
• Single measure (25ml) Coconut Rum such as Malibu
• Half a measure (12.5ml) Grenadine

How to Assemble:

The simplest way is to add the ingredients as above. Add the ice to a glass, add 100ml of Orange Juice, then the Pineapple Juice. Add a measure (or two!) of the Dark Rum followed by the same of Coconut Rum and then half a measure of Grenadine and stir. Alternatively, you could add all the ingredients minus the ice into a blender and mix and pour over the ice.

Make mine a mocktail: Half fill the glass with ice and add equal parts Orange and Pineapple Juices with Sprite or similar and add the Grenadine.

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Hurricane Cocktail.

The Hurricane is a signature cocktail of Hard Rock Café and packs a punch so be careful!

What You Need:

• Half fill a glass with Ice (crushed is best)
• Single measure (25ml) White Rum
• Double measure (50ml) Orange Juice
• Double measure (50ml) Pineapple Juice
• Double measure (50ml) Mango or Passionfruit juice (Jon uses Mango)
• Single measure (25ml) Simple Syrup*
• Single measure (25ml) Grenadine
• Single measure (25ml) Dark Rum
• Single measure (25ml) Amaretto such as Disaronno

How to Assemble:

This is so easy, build in the order of the ingredients, and the Hurricane cocktail will have a sunset like presentation with easily identifiable layers. The Grenadine should work its way to the base while the Dark Rum and Amaretto should leave a dark layer at the top as if they’re floating.

Make mine a mocktail: Half fill the glass with ice. Add a double measure of Orange Juice, a double measure of Pineapple Juice. Single of Passionfruit or Mango Juice and a splash of Lime Juice. (If using fresh lime, the juice of about half a lime is all that’s needed).

*If you can’t get hold of simple syrup it’s really easy to make, equal parts of sugar and water, bring to the boil until the sugar is dissolved and then allow to completely cool.

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Frozen Daiquiri.

Who doesn’t love a frozen cocktail sat by the pool on holiday? And while that may be a struggle for most of us this year, bring the sunshine to your student home with this cocktail recipe.

What You Need:

• Blender
• Half fill a glass with Ice (crushed is best)
• Double measure (50ml) White Rum
• A dash of Lime Juice
• Double measure (50ml) Simple Syrup*
• Half fill a glass with Frozen Fruit of your choice

How to Assemble:

Measure half a glass of the crushed ice and add to the blender. Add the rest of the ingredients and then blend. To thicken the cocktail add more of the frozen fruit or ice and to thin, add cold water.

Make mine a mocktail: replace the Rum with Sprite or similar.

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Piña Colada.

Probably the easiest cocktail you’ll ever make and had 4 ingredients.

What You Need:

• Ice (crushed is best)
• 100ml Pineapple Juice
• Double measure (50ml) White or Coconut flavoured Rum
• Double measure (50ml) Coconut cream

How to Assemble:

Pulse all the ingredients along with a handful of ice in a blender until smooth. Pour into a glass and it’s done. Want a frozen version? Add a lot more ice and blend until it becomes slushy in consistency.

Make mine a mocktail: replace the Rum with Frozen Pineapple chunks and blend.

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Rum, not your thing?

How about Vodka or Gin based ones?

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Don’t overdo it – Drink Responsibly.

But above all enjoy a few cocktails with your flatmates by all means but please drink responsibly. How to be responsible while drinking:

1. Eat before or with your drink. Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach means the alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream quicker, so try to have a balanced and filling meal before you have your first drink.
2. Stick to one type of drink and alternate with soft drinks our mocktail options for example. Mixing drinks makes it harder to keep track of how many units you’re consuming, so you’ll likely end up consuming more.
3. Know your limits. It’s a great idea to choose a limit for yourself and make a mental note to stick to it during the evening.

Visit the drinkaware website for more information.

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How are you marking World Cocktail Day? Share your cocktail creations with us on our socials: Facebook & Instagram.