Missed out on Heston’s pud? Try a Spiced Orange Mai Tai instead!

The party season is well and truly upon us and there is only one cocktail you should be serving at your soirées – The Spiced Orange Mai Tai.

The traditional summer cocktail has been given a new seasonal twist, so there is no need to long for those lazy days and hazy nights - the Mai Tai Christmas alternative is sure to banish those winter blues and spice up your festivities.

The Spiced Orange Mai Tai perfectly combines the smooth, sweet and rich flavour of the rum and liqueur, with classic Christmas favourites of orange and cloves, giving a fantastic fusion of flavours and a luxurious, warming winter cocktail.  

Simply mix a single measure of dark rum, Cointreau or Grand Marnier, then two measures of caramel sugar syrup* (can use gomme**). Pour into a cocktail glass and top up with some freshly squeezed orange and a dash of soda water. Sprinkle with crushed cloves, cinnamon and serve on crushed ice. To contrast and add a little drama against the warming colours, garnish with a black straw, a star anise and a twist of orange peel.  Cinnamon schnapps is a nice alternative to the cinnamon and add sparkle with a sugar, cinnamon and clove rim around the glass.

Created by Penni Black Catering - a private London catering company, which has a flair for flavour with creativity - the Spiced Orange Mai Tai conjures up some Christmas magic, with aromas that will tantalise your taste buds. It’s Christmas in a cocktail glass.

Please enjoy the Spiced Orange Mai Tai responsibly - drinkaware.co.uk.

Spiced Orange Mai Tai 

Ingredients:
1 shot of dark rum 
1 shot of Cointreau/ Grand Marnier 
2 shots of caramel sugar syrup* or gomme** 
Fresh orange 
Soda Water 
Crushed cloves, cinnamon*** and star anise 
Crushed ice

Method:
Mix the dark rum, Cointreau, syrup and spices together 
Pour over crushed ice 
Top with a squeeze of fresh orange and a dash of soda 
Sprinkle with crushed gloves and cinnamon. Garnish with a black straw, star anise and twist of orange peel****

* Penni Black make their own caramel sugar syrup infused with orange peel, cinnamon, cloves and star anise
** Gomme is a sugar and water syrup containing gum Arabic used to sweeten a drink
*** Cinnamon schnapps is a nice alternative to the cinnamon
**** Additional garnish of a sugar, cinnamon and clove rim around the glass. In the picture Penni Black have used a crushed brulee rim.

For more information please visit: penniblack.co.uk