From rich rum serves to a creamy after-dinner favourite, discover four cocktails to enjoy as the evenings draw in.
There’s something about this time of year that makes us want to change up what we’re drinking. The evenings get darker, another Manchester downpour sends us reaching for our coats, and richer, more comforting flavours start to feel right at home.
Whether you're having friends round, planning drinks for the festive season or simply fancy trying something different, we've picked four cocktails that feel right at home during autumn and winter.
From a cherry twist on a Mojito to a warming Manchester Rum Treacle, there's something for everyone.
1. Manchester Rum Treacle
A rich, warming rum cocktail with apple, bitters and a little orange.
The Treacle is a lovely alternative to a traditional rum Old Fashioned. It's simple to make, doesn't require lots of ingredients and lets the rum do most of the talking.
We've given ours a Manchester twist using Manchester Rum, with a little apple juice, demerara sugar and Angostura bitters. We’re keeping the ingredient list short and giving the spirit room to shine.
Ingredients
- 50ml Manchester Rum
- 1 tsp demerara sugar
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- 15ml apple juice
- Orange zest, to garnish
Method
- Add the sugar and bitters to a mixing glass and muddle together.
- Add Manchester Rum and apple juice.
- Fill with ice and stir until well chilled.
- Strain into a tumbler over a large ice cube.
- Garnish with a twist of orange zest.
Our tip: Express the orange peel over the glass before dropping it in. Hold it over the drink and gently squeeze to release the fragrant oils.
2. Midnight Mojito
Mojitos might usually make you think of summer, but our Midnight Mojito uses One-Eyed Rebel Black Cherry Rum to bring a deeper fruity flavour to that familiar combination of mint, lime and soda.
The combination of cherry, raspberry, mint and lime makes for a cocktail that's refreshing without feeling out of place on an autumn drinks menu.
3. Tonka White Russian
A creamy, indulgent cocktail for after dinner.
If there's ever a time for a White Russian, it's when the nights start drawing in. Coffee liqueur and cream make a rich combination, and our Sphere Vanilla & Tonka Vodka adds another layer of flavour.
This is the cocktail to bring out after dinner, when everyone has settled in. Smooth, creamy and finished with a little dark chocolate, it’s a lovely alternative to dessert after a winter meal.
Our tip: If you enjoy coffee-based cocktails, our Vanilla & Tonka Vodka also works beautifully in an Espresso Martini or Black Russian.
Explore Sphere English Vodka
4. Manchester Gin Bramble
A classic gin cocktail with blackberry and lemon.
The Bramble is one of those cocktails that works all year round, but there's something particularly lovely about it in autumn.
Blackberry, lemon and gin are a brilliant combination, and the deep purple colour makes it a great-looking cocktail too.
We use Manchester Gin Signature and keep the recipe close to the original. Add fresh blackberries and a slice of lemon, and you have a cocktail ready for anything from a relaxed evening with friends to a festive drinks gathering.
Ingredients- 50ml Manchester Gin - Signature
- 25ml fresh lemon juice
- 12.5ml sugar syrup
- 15ml crème de mûre (blackberry liqueur)
- Crushed ice
Garnish: Fresh blackberries and a slice of lemon.
Method
- Add Manchester Gin Signature, lemon juice and sugar syrup to a shaker with ice.
- Shake well and strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice.
- Slowly drizzle the crème de mûre over the top so it runs through the ice.
- Garnish with fresh blackberries and a slice of lemon.
Our tip: Don't stir the blackberry liqueur in straight away. Letting it trickle through the crushed ice creates that lovely Bramble effect.
A Little Seasonal Inspiration from Manchester
A few carefully chosen ingredients are all you need to freshen up your autumn and winter drinks selection. Pick the cocktail that takes your fancy, follow the recipe and give those finishing touches a little attention.
If you’re having friends round, prepare your glasses, garnishes and ingredients before they arrive. Keep plenty of ice handy, then mix each drink fresh when it’s time to serve.
From the apple and orange flavours of a Manchester Rum Treacle to the blackberry sweetness of a Bramble, there’s plenty here to keep you inspired as the evenings draw in.
Please enjoy responsibly.
