✨ Happy New Year - Bring on 2023!

It was a typical hot Christmas here in Adelaide with the temperatures soaring to 41 degrees (106 f). Naturally we sipped on summer cocktails to celebrate, including watermelon margaritas and lemoncello spritzes!

On the other hand, NYE was extremely low key. I hit the couch with a Boulevardier and called it a night pretty darn early!

Did you partake in any cocktail making over the XMAS / NY period?

🎥 VIDEOS

I know these cocktails might seem a bit strange to be classified as "Christmas cocktails" but when it's hot, you definitely don't want to be sipping eggnog and creamy cocktails. The Rhum Punch reminded me of summery version of a mulled wine (sort of!) whilst the Lion's Tail is probably a little bit more Autumn/Fall-friendly considering the use of allspice liqueur.

🔥 TIP OF THE WEEK

This one doubles as a tip as well as a regret! I really wish I had taken this advice when I first started making cocktails. Get yourself a notebook! I've been making cocktails for many, many years and I wish I had kept a handwritten record of all the cocktails I've liked or wanted to revisit.

There are two notebooks I recommend:

• a lined address book like the Moleskine PRO Address Book - a tabbed address book makes it easy to find the cocktail you are looking for (as long as you remember the name of the drink)

• alternatively, use a lined numbered notebook and create your own index. This notebook provides a little more flexibility with your sorting.

Cheers,

Steve the Bartender