Mint Choc Kick Cocktail

Mint Choc Kick

1 x 25 ml creme de menthe

1 x 25 ml cafe patron

12.5 ml baileys

12.5 ml mozart dark chocolat

25 ml cream

Rocks glass filled with ice

Shake creme de menthe, cafe patron, baileys and cream in shaker with ice. 

Double strain.  drizzle mozart over top, sprinkle with chocolate and decorate with large sprig of mint.

Beat Blue Monday with a Warm Hug in Inverness

Beat Blue Monday with a Warm Hug in Inverness

Happymount opens in Inverness

It’s official! Next Monday (19 January) will be the most depressing day of the year. 

Dubbed ‘Blue Monday’ by a Cardiff University psychologist Cliff Arnall because of the weather, time since Christmas, lack of motivation and rising personal debt before payday – it is the worst day out of 365 for most!

But staff at Inverness’ Heathmount Hotel - dubbed Happymount for the week - are trying to beat those January blues with a Warm Hug in the form of a cocktail, funny films chosen by customers, free games of pool and a special menu designed to boost endorphins.

Owner Fiona Newton said: “We all need cheering up at this time of year, so we’re doing our best to have some fun and make our customers happy.

“People can vote for their favourite film on Facebook and then come in and enjoy it over a special menu and cocktail. And if they give us an extra special smile we’ll even give them a real hug!”

The Happymount two course menu for £7.50 runs from Monday 19 to Sunday 26 January 2015.

The Warm Hug includes Hendricks Gin, Chambord, Merlot, cinnamon syrup and fresh raspberries served in a vanilla and pepper sugared rimmed coupe glass.

Don't be a Grinch, have a Grinch Fizz

Grinch Fizz

You may not be a Christmas hating spoilsport like the Grinch but you're probably not a ryhme loving Who either, are you? 

Kick back and have a Grinch Fizz to enjoy this unique Christmas Cocktail.

Ingredients

12.5ml Fresh Lemon

25ml Pressed Apple

12.5ml Blue Curacao

12.5ml Amaretto

Dash of Champagne

Glassware:

Chilled Flute

Method:

Shake and double strain into a flute and top with champagne

Garnish:

Lemon Zest Peel

Christmas Cocktail Special: Candy Cane Cracker

Christmas Cocktail Special: Candy Cane Cracker

Christmas brings with it, the chance to enjoy cocktails you'll not see again for another year - so enjoy them whilst you can.

If you can't make it along to The Heathmount Hotel, the premier hotel and bar in Inverness, then check out how to make your very own Candy Cane Cracker cocktail below.

Ingredients:

12.5ml Fresh Lime Juice

25ml Gomme

37.5ml Absolut Peach

12.5ml Lemoncello

Top up with Lemonade

Glassware:

Hi-ball

Method:

Build ingredients in an ice filled rocks glass, top up with lemonade

Garnish:

More ice if needed, drizzle with grenadine, hang candy cane on side of glass

Nutberry Cocktail: Winter Special

As the cold winter nights set in, what better way to relax than with our Winter special Nutberry Cocktail.

Ingredients:

25ml Chambord

25ml Disaronno

20ml Lime

3-5 Raspberries

Glassware:

Water Glass

Method:

Shake ingredients with muddled raspberries. Strain twice. Top with cranberry juice.

Garnish:

Lime and Raspberries

Espresso Martini

Cocktails need not be overly complicated. You also don't have to come all the way to The Heathmount Hotel to enjoy one.

Here we share our recipe for making an Espresso Martini for when you need to shake it up a little - the Heathmount way.

Espresso Martini

Ingredients Required:

50ml Absolut Vodka

15ml Kahlua

15ml Mozart Dark Chocolate

1 x SINGLE Espresso

1 x Teaspoon of gomme

Suggested Glassware:

Chilled Coupe

Method:

Shake with a little ice. Strain the ice and shake hard once again with no ice.

It's really that simple.

How to Make a Mojito

Cocktails need not be overly complicated. You also don't have to come all the way to The Heathmount Hotel to enjoy one.

Here we share our recipe for making a Mojito - the Heathmount way,

Mojito

Ingredients Required:

50ml Havana Club Especial

4 Lime Wedges

Teaspoon Brown Sugar

6 Mint Leaves

Soda

Suggested Glassware:

Tall Water Glass

Method:

1. Squeeze 4 lime wedges into glass
2. Add 1 teaspoon of brown sugar
3. Add 6 mint leaves
4. Stir until sugar disolves
5. Fill half way with crushed ice, top up with soda and muddle together, 
6. Top up with crushed ice.

Garnish:   

Mint sprig and 2 straws