Merlin’s New Year’s Eve Cocktails
Merlin Griffiths' cocktails are legendary! Enjoy Smoked Pineapple Mai Tais, Winter 75s and Watermelon Boozy Bites with his New Year's Eve recipes!
Ingredients
Smoked Pineapple Mai Tai (Makes 2)
- 50ml Agricole Rhum (Trois Rivieres or similar)
- 50ml Jamaican Gold Rum (Appleton)
- 30ml Cointreau
- 30ml Orgeat syrup
- 40ml fresh lime
- 3 rings of fresh grilled pineapple – cut pineapple rings, sprinkle 1 tsp of soft brown sugar on each, grill until the sugar is bubbling. (OPTIONAL – this can also be done with a kitchen blowtorch)
Winter 75 (makes 2)
- 2 cloves
- 20ml Honey Water (3:1 Honey:Water)
- 30ml Sloe Gin
- 30ml Lemon Juice
- Top up with Rose Champagne (or Cremant)
Watermelon Boozy Bites
- ½ cantaloupe melon
- ½ honeydew melon
- 1 watermelon
- 375ml bottle of Bacardi (half bottle)
Method
Smoked Pineapple Mai Tai
- Prepare your glasses, 2 smart tumblers, fresh from the freezer and loaded with ice. OPTIONAL – ADD CHERRYWOOD SMOKE TO THE GLASS
- Muddle two pineapple rings in the bottom of the shaker, add the other ingredients, lots of ice, and shake well.
- Strain into the ice filled glasses, garnish with half a grilled pineapple ring and pineapple leaves.
GADGETS: BLOWTORCH, SMOKERS, PINEAPPLE CORER
Winter 75 (Makes 2)
- Shake the first four ingredients with ice, divide into two frozen champagne flutes, top with Rose Champagne.
- No garnish.
OPTIONAL – CHILL WITH LIQUID CO2 GUN GADGET
Watermelon Boozy Bites
- Slice one third of the watermelon off lengthways.
- Using a melon ball scoop, scoop ¾ of the water melon in balls out of the larger half and put into a large bowl.
- Make balls from the other 2 melon halves too and add them also to the bowl.
- Sprinkle 4 heaped teaspoons of caster sugar and 100ml of rum over the top, mix gently, cover and sit in the fridge for 2 hours.
- When ready, fill the scooped watermelon with the mix of melon balls, add sturdy cocktail picks at one end, up-end the open bottle of rum into one end of the punch bowl pressing it firmly down against the base of the bowl so it seeps out slowly.
- Add a few mint sprigs to garnish and you’re ready.
OPTIONAL – Carve the watermelon bowl into a pretty shape, finish with a touch of flaming overproof rum before adding the mint sprigs.
Ingredients
Smoked Pineapple Mai Tai (Makes 2)
- 50ml Agricole Rhum (Trois Rivieres or similar)
- 50ml Jamaican Gold Rum (Appleton)
- 30ml Cointreau
- 30ml Orgeat syrup
- 40ml fresh lime
- 3 rings of fresh grilled pineapple – cut pineapple rings, sprinkle 1 tsp of soft brown sugar on each, grill until the sugar is bubbling. (OPTIONAL – this can also be done with a kitchen blowtorch)
Winter 75 (makes 2)
- 2 cloves
- 20ml Honey Water (3:1 Honey:Water)
- 30ml Sloe Gin
- 30ml Lemon Juice
- Top up with Rose Champagne (or Cremant)
Watermelon Boozy Bites
- ½ cantaloupe melon
- ½ honeydew melon
- 1 watermelon
- 375ml bottle of Bacardi (half bottle)
Method
Smoked Pineapple Mai Tai
- Prepare your glasses, 2 smart tumblers, fresh from the freezer and loaded with ice. OPTIONAL – ADD CHERRYWOOD SMOKE TO THE GLASS
- Muddle two pineapple rings in the bottom of the shaker, add the other ingredients, lots of ice, and shake well.
- Strain into the ice filled glasses, garnish with half a grilled pineapple ring and pineapple leaves.
GADGETS: BLOWTORCH, SMOKERS, PINEAPPLE CORER
Winter 75 (Makes 2)
- Shake the first four ingredients with ice, divide into two frozen champagne flutes, top with Rose Champagne.
- No garnish.
OPTIONAL – CHILL WITH LIQUID CO2 GUN GADGET
Watermelon Boozy Bites
- Slice one third of the watermelon off lengthways.
- Using a melon ball scoop, scoop ¾ of the water melon in balls out of the larger half and put into a large bowl.
- Make balls from the other 2 melon halves too and add them also to the bowl.
- Sprinkle 4 heaped teaspoons of caster sugar and 100ml of rum over the top, mix gently, cover and sit in the fridge for 2 hours.
- When ready, fill the scooped watermelon with the mix of melon balls, add sturdy cocktail picks at one end, up-end the open bottle of rum into one end of the punch bowl pressing it firmly down against the base of the bowl so it seeps out slowly.
- Add a few mint sprigs to garnish and you’re ready.
OPTIONAL – Carve the watermelon bowl into a pretty shape, finish with a touch of flaming overproof rum before adding the mint sprigs.
