Wouldn’t it be great to be able to mix up some cocktails for your friends? Well, you don’t need 100 different ingredients and a load of fancy gadgets just to get you started. You can start off with a few key ingredients, a cocktail shaker, a wooden spoon, and a measure.

I’m sure most of these things you already have, and a lot of Schweppes mixers now come complete with a measure on the cap. Add a few well chosen glasses to really give the wow factor and you’re well on your way. Below I’ve given a few ideas but you’ll find once you get going a cocktail book will give you loads of inspiration and don’t forget to be creative and use your own imagination:

The classic G & T. A personal favourite of mine! Hendricks Gin is a gem waiting to be found: the unusual addition of cucumber to the botanicals used to make the gin gives it a lovely fresh summer feel. Push the boat out and get some good tonic to go with it - I recommend Fever Tree tonic. This tonic doesn’t have the artificial taste you find with so many cheaper alternatives. Mix your gin and tonic with a good lump of ice and add a slice of cucumber rather than the traditional lime, for a beautiful and refreshing drink.

Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka and Apple juice. Bison Grass vodka has really become popular over the last couple of years in this country, so it’s a joy now to see it behind the bar in good establishments. Originally from Poland, this vodka is flavoured with bison grass and you will see a trademark blade of grass in the bottle. Again, as with any drink, your mixers are really important. Find yourself some good quality cloudy apple juice. Mix the vodka and apple juice to taste and serve with ice, and you’ll find yourself with apple pie in liquid form!

For a taste of Brazil and for those who like THEIR cocktails with a bit more punch go for a Caipirinha. In the bottom of a glass put 1 quartered lime and add a tablespoon of sugar, then mash together with the end of a wooden spoon. Mashing ingredients together is generally called muddling in cocktail books. Add to this mixture a shot of Pitu Cachaca and ice and stir. Decorate with a slice of lime and enjoy.

Cosmopolitan, anyone? This cocktail isn’t as complicated as you may think, but looks and tastes fantastic and is definitely one to impress your friends with. Mix 1 ½ parts vodka, 1 part Cointreau, 1 part cranberry juice and a dash of lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Once mixed strain into chilled cocktail glass, and add a twist of orange rind, for a very classic sexy cocktail.

Amaretto Sour. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add 50ml of Amaretto, 20ml of lemon juice and 20ml of sugar syrup. Shake the ingredients together. While you are mixing your drink fill the empty glass with ice and it will chill the glass down for you so that your drink stays cold. Once mixed, strain the drink into the chilled glass, or alternatively serve on the rocks with a cherry to garnish.

With hundreds of different cocktails out there, there are plenty of styles to choose from and experiment with. Making cocktails is great fun and can give a good vibe to any gathering. Don’t worry if they don’t quite go to plan. You never know, you may end up discovering your very own unique drink.

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