Ten cocktails for Christmas

By now, most of Britain's best bars will be fully booked for private parties, and many of the best mixologists will also be snapped up for events in the homes of the super-rich or ultra-fashionable. So we've rounded up 10 of the best cocktails from star alchemists around the country so you can enjoy them with your friends at home. All of them were styled for our pictures by Sarah Wilson, who heads the bar at Manor in London. So if you're not lucky enough to live near any of these bars, don't fret. Just get in the ice, mixers and garnishes, tell your friends which bottles you want them to bring, and have a VIP night in.

1 Rum'n'ginger

By Mal Evans at Mojo 18 Merrion St, Leeds

A guaranteed way to kick-start a party. First, go over to the CD player and put on 'Two Sevens Clash' by Culture. (This isn't compulsory, but it really helps things along). Fill glasses with ice, and pour in two slugs of good rum (preferably Appleton Special). Top up with ginger beer, squeeze two chunks of fresh lime.

2

By Mal Evans at Mojo

25ml vodka
75ml peach schnapps

Pour into tall glasses with ice, top up with cranberry juice and a squeeze of lime.

3

By Sarah Wilson at Manor 6-8 All Saints Road, London W11

50ml Bison vodka
12.5ml Krupnik (Polish honey liqueur)
12.5ml blackberry fruit purée
dash vanilla gomme (sugar syrup)
75ml apple juice

Shake over ice and strain, pour over ice into a tall glass and top with champagne.

4

By Anthony Yu at the H Bar at the Hempel 31-35 Craven Hill Gardens, London W2

40 ml tequila
15 ml fresh lime juice squished up with brown sugar
dash of Chambord

Shake the tequila, lime juice and sugar together. Pour into a shot glass and top with a dash of Chambord.

5

By Jasper Eayres and the staff at Nocturne 1 Unity St, Bristol

50ml vodka
12.5ml fresh lime juice
12.5ml grapefruit juice
6 basil leaves
dash of honey

Shake over ice then strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Top with lemonade and garnish with a lime wedge and two straws.

6

By Chris Caira at Indigo Yard, 7 Charlotte Lane, Edinburgh

25ml vodka
25ml white crème de Cacao
25ml Baileys

Shake over ice and strain into a martini glass. If possible, serve with a real chocolate straw.

7

By Anthony Yu, H Bar

50 ml premium saké
15 ml Cointreau
15 ml fresh lime juice
100 ml cranberry juice

Shake the ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.

8

By Stass at Claridge's Brook St, London W1

25ml crème de cassis
3 strawberries
100ml champagne

Slice the strawberries into a blender, add the crème de cassis and blend. Pour into a champagne flute, and top with champagne.

9

By Sarah Wilson at Manor

12.5 ml Frangelico
12.5 ml amaretto
12.5 ml Kahlua
12.5 ml Baileys
12.5 ml white rum 12.5 ml Butterscotch schnapps

Shake over ice, strain into a Martini glass, then sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.

10

By Alex Pitts of The Raincheck Bar 34 Monmouth St, Bath

50ml Tanqueray gin
12.5ml dry orange curacao
12.5ml blue curacao
Dash of lemon juice

Shake over ice, strain into a Martini glass and serve with a twist of lemon.