Martini, Your Maj? Queen’s Favourite Festive Tipple Revealed

After something a little more Christmassy? Here are four royally good cocktails to drink like a Queen.
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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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PA Wire/ PA Images / HuffPost UK
The Queen is quite partial to a martini at Christmas, according to a royal source.

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.

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The Sun Inn
Chocolate espresso martini

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.

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Swift
Swift

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.

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.