Dark and Stormy - 1 Dark and Stormy - 2

Could this be Christmas in a glass? Spiced rum, lime, a blend of festive spices and ginger beer make this cocktail the ultimate tipple to curl up by the fire with this holiday season (or, in my case, under the air-conditioning unit!).

45ml spiced rum

20ml lime juice

10ml Xmas spice syrup (see below)

120ml Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer

2 dashes Angostura bitters

dehydrated orange, for garnish

whole star anise, for garnish

Xmas spice syrup (creates extra for later):

1 cup water

1 cup caster (superfine) sugar

½ cup sliced ginger

6 x whole star anise

2 x cinnamon sticks

  • To make the Xmas spice syrup, add water, caster sugar, sliced ginger, star anise and cinnamon sticks to a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until the sugar has completely dissolved. Pour the liquid through a strainer to catch the ginger, star anise and cinnamon sticks. Cool, then store in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 2 weeks.
  • Add Kraken spiced rum, lime juice, Xmas spice syrup and bitters into shaker tins. Fill with ice, close and vigorously shake for 10 seconds.
  • For maximum wow, use an old-fashioned glass, also known as a short tumbler. Fill with ice. Strain cocktail shaker mix over ice, then top with Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer. Stir.
  • Garnish with dehydrated orange and star anise.
  • Notes: – Want a no-alcohol version? No worries! Avoid the rum for a virgin version that tastes equally as epic.