You might think the Queen would be all for the Champers or even a Snowball come Christmas, but according to a new documentary, Her Majesty loves a martini.
Royal expert Ingrid Seward said on Channel 5′s Inside Sandringham: Holidaying with the Queen: “I think the Queen likes a martini, other people would rather have Champagne.”
The Queen and Prince Philip aren’t big drinkers, Seward said, according to The Mirror. But when they do fancy a bevvy, their drinks are “very strong” – she suggested that guests “would be knocked out by these drinks”.
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A classic martini recipe involves mixing gin or vodka with dry vermouth and a bit of ice – either stirred or mixed in a cocktail shaker. The contents are strained into a chilled martini glass and served with an olive on a cocktail stick or a twist of lemon peel.
If you like your festive tipples to taste a little more Christmassy, here are four suggestions to try this year.
Swiss Chocolate Espresso Martini
Basically a grown up advent calendar chocolate, in alcohol form.
Ingredients:
- 30ml vodka
- 25ml freshly ground espresso
- 17.5ml gomme syrup
- 25ml chocolate liqueur
Method:
- Place a few ice cubes in your glass and place in the fridge until very cold
- Pour the gomme, vodka, espresso and chocolate liqueur into a cocktail shaker, add a handful of ice directly from the freezer – you do not want to dilute the liquid, only mix and froth so direct from the freezer is best.
- Shake vigorously over your shoulder for 20 seconds, hopefully smashing up the ice in the process.
- Take the lid off the shaker and then pour the liquid through a strainer to avoid any ice getting into the drink.
- Add three coffee beans and fresh shavings of chocolate to finish.
Irish Coffee
Made properly, it’s warming and delicious.
Ingredients:
- 40ml Irish whiskey
- 80ml coffee (filter coffee is best)
- 2-3 teaspoons demerara sugar
- Double cream
- Nutmeg
Method:
- Make your coffee.
- Add two teaspoons demerara sugar per shot of whiskey, stir until dissolved.
- Top with cold double cream on top and add a festive finish with a grating of fresh nutmeg.
Pine And Apple Cocktail
A Christmas tree twist on the classic treacle cocktail.
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Ingredients:
- 40ml of dark rum
- 30 ml apple brandy liqueur
- 10ml of pine cordial
- Cubed ice
Method:
- Stir together the dark rum, apple brandy liqueur and pine cordial with cubed ice
- If you’d rather put your Christmas tree to good use, make your own pine cordial: brew 10g of pine in 500ml water, simmer with 250g of sugar and 5g of malic acid for 10 minutes.
- Strain into a chilled glass.
Midnight Rambler
The perfect spiced Christmas cocktail. Served warm, it’s a lighter twist on a hot buttered rum.
Ingredients:
- 30ml cider brandy
- 30ml ginger wine
- 5g spiced butter mix
- One teaspoon gomme syrup
- 2 drops vanilla bitters
- 80ml hot water
Method:
- Add the room temperature butter mix to a warmed glass
- Pour the hot water over the butter and stir to melt.
- Make your own spiced butter mix by blending together 250g softened butter, 2 tsp ground allspice, 2 tsp ground ginger and 2 tsp ground cinnamon.
- Add rest of ingredients and stir to mix.
- Pour into a glass teacup and garnish with a clementine wheel.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.