For those who have made it to the end of Dry January, a drink to celebrate your achievement may be on the cards.
One in 10 people across the UK took part in this year’s challenge and over the course of the past month many enjoyed positive changes to their body and mind.
For those who want to raise a glass to toast the end of the month though, Northern Ireland has some amazing artisan distillers and producers serving up award winning whiskey, gin, vodka, cider, lager and ale, along with a number of other excellent tonics and tipples.
To mark the end of Dry January, what could be more celebratory and delicious than a cocktail made from the comfort of your own kitchen with some of the very best local drinks.
Discover Northern Ireland has teamed up with local distillers and mixologists to create this enticing cocktail menu to enjoy at home.
Boatyard Distillery, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh
Boatyard Vodka French Martini
- Ingredients: 40ml Boatyard Vodka, 10ml raspberry liqueur, 50ml fresh pineapple juice, 15ml fresh lime juice, 10ml sugar syrup and two raspberries
- Directions: Add all your ingredients to your shaker, fill with ice and give it a good hard shake. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass and most importantly enjoy.
The Merchant Hotel, Belfast
Mai Tai
- Ingredients: 20ml Copeland Smugglers Reserve Rum, 20ml Plantation Dark Rum, 10ml orange curacao, 30ml lime juice and 10ml orgeat syrup.
- Directions: Add the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with some ice and shake hard. Strain into a glass of ice and enjoy in a rocks glass.
- The tropical Mai Tai has a tart taste with a prominent rum flavour throughout. There is a delicious combination of sweetness and sourness towards the end.
Tartine at the Distillers Arms, Bushmills, Co. Antrim
The Whiskey Woo-Woo
- Ingredients: 35ml Bushmills Irish Whiskey, 25ml triple sec, 15ml lime juice, 40ml pineapple juice, one lime wedge to garnish.
- Directions: The Whiskey Woo-Woo was created for World Whiskey Day, 2020. Simply shake the ingredients in a shaker with ice, pour and enjoy.
Walled City Brewery, Derry~Londonderry
Little Red Bus (In honour of Amelia Earhart)
- Ingredients: 35ml Earhart Gin, 10ml amontillado sherry, juice of one lemon, 150ml tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, celery salt and black pepper.
- Directions: Mix the gin, sherry, lemon juice and tomato juice together, sprinkle with celery salt and cracked black pepper, add three drops of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco to taste.
Newforge House, Magheralin, Co. Armagh
Newforge House Hot Spiced Rum
- Ingredients: 30g butter (at room temperature), 20g brown sugar, pinch of cinnamon, pinch of all spice, pinch of nutmeg, 120ml Armagh apple juice (heated) and 40ml Copeland Smugglers Reserve Rum.
- Directions: Cream the butter, sugar and spices with a spoon. Add to a warmed glass or mug, then pour on the heated apple juice and stir well until the butter and sugar mix has dissolved. Then add the rum and stir again. Serve with a little freshly grated nutmeg on top.
Wild Atlantic Distillery, Castlederg, Co. Tyrone
Chocolate Espresso Martini
- Ingredients: 50ml Wild Atlantic Irish Vodka, double espresso, 5ml demerara sugar syrup, 15ml sugar syrup, dash of Homeboy coffee bitters, dash of Off the Cuffe chocolate bitters.
- Directions: Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Garnish with a loveheart cookie.
Armagh Cider Company, Craigavon, Co. Armagh
Irish Buck
- Ingredients: 70ml Irish Whiskey, lime cordial, Troughton’s Premium Ginger Ale, ice and a lime wheel
- Directions: Divide the whiskey into two glasses. Drop in some ice, add a dash of lime cordial and fill the glasses with Troughton’s Premium Ginger Ale. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wheel.
Enjoy and please drink responsibly. For more information about great places to eat and drink when government guidance permits travel again, visit discovernorthernireland.com. Northern Ireland’s giant welcome will be here for you when the time is right.
