If you’re like us, you’re already planning your big, festive New Year’s Eve celebrations. But don’t forget about the morning after. Do yourself a favour (trust us: you’ll thank yourself later) and stock up on all the ingredients needed for these classic ‘hair of the dog’ drinks.
First of all, where does the phrase – the hair of the dog – come from? The ‘hair of the dog that bit you’ referred to an old cure for rabies, where a person would supposedly be cured of the disease after drinking a dog-hair potion (we’ll skip that one). In Scotland, meanwhile, it was once believed that applying a few dog hairs to a bite could prevent evil consequences. Therefore, logic follows that if alcohol has caused you pain, it might also be your cure!
Of course, the science underlying all of these stories is dubious at best – but that hasn’t stopped bartenders. As early as the 1930s, hangover-vanquishing ‘corpse revivers’ were a popular style of drink. Then there’s the queen of all hair of the dog drinks: the Bloody Mary.
BLOODY MARY
The go-to morning-after pain reliever, the Bloody Mary has been beloved for its hangover-fighting abilities since what feels like time immemorial. Odds are you’ve enjoyed your fair share while at a weekend brunch, but if you haven’t yet tried mixing one up at home, go for this classic recipe:
- 50ml Sipsmith Sipping Vodka
- 100ml tomato juice
- 5-6 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- 2-3 dashes of Tabasco sauce
- A pinch of Coleman’s Dry English mustard
- Juice of 1 or 2 lemon wedges
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Combine all the ingredients, except the tomato juice, in one of two glasses and stir to combine. Now add the tomato juice, as gently as if you were folding in whisked egg whites. To mix, pour gently between the two mixing glasses, holding them close together. Strain into a Collins or highball glass.
RED SNAPPER
The Red Snapper may look identical to a Bloody Mary, but this gin-based version has its own distinctive flavour profile. That comes courtesy of the gin botanicals, which add a light herbaceousness to the mix. When it comes to New Year’s Day drinks, you can hardly do better.
- 50ml Sipsmith London Dry Gin
- Juice of 1/4 lemon
- 6 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 3 dashes Tabasco sauce
- Tomato juice
- Celery salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
You’ll be building this drink straight in the glass, which makes it all the more simple for when you’re hosting a New Year’s Day brunch. Fill a highball with ice and add all of the ingredients. Stir to blend with a Swan barspoon before garnishing with the pepper, a sprinkling of celery salt and either a slice of lemon or a stick of celery – your preference.
ZESTY ORANGE ESPRESSO MARTINI
A zesty twist on the classic serve, our Zesty Espresso Martini was designed for nights curled up by a roaring fire.
- 40ml Sipsmith Zesty Orange Gin
- 40ml espresso
- 20ml Kahlúa®
- Orange twist, to garnish
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously to combine. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an orange twist.
HOT MULLED SLOE
Made with our Sloe Gin and fragrant spices, this is the perfect welcome home from a long winter’s walk.
- 250ml cloudy apple juice
- 50ml Sipsmith Sloe Gin
- Assorted spices (we use cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves and cardamon pods)
- Vanilla pod (cut down the middle)
- A cinnamon stick, to garnish
- Half an orange slice, to garnish
Add the assorted spices and vanilla to a pan and top with cloudy apple juice. Simmer for between 5-10 minutes until just before boiling. Ladle into a mug, teacup, or Irish coffee mug and add the Sloe Gin. Garnish with a half orange slice and a cinnamon stick.
Whatever you have planned for New Year’s Eve – and the rest of the year ahead – be sure to share your Sipsmith gin cocktails with us @sipsmith. We love seeing every single sipping sensation.
