Now more than ever, our home bars have become lifelines. You may be missing the electric vibe of a night out with friends and the sip of an expertly crafted (possibly overpriced) cocktail? We feel you. But doing our part to flatten the COVID-19 curve by social distancing by no means has to be boring – cue Houseparty hangs, live Instagram & Facebook concerts, Zoom bottomless brunches and DIY creative cocktail classes at home.

During this time spent at home, let’s have some ambitious cocktail projects to keep us sane & throw some unique Quarantine 2.0 parties (with your housemates only of course, & maybe your significant other until they drive you mad again).

Before we kick into the shaking, stirring and, of course, the all-important drinking, we recommend getting your kit together with all the essentials. Ensure you have a muddler, measuring equipment, a cocktail shaker (pro tip – a protein shaker does the trick), a strainer, a bar spoon, a sharp knife and finally, loads of ice. With this kit at your disposal, the cocktail world is your oyster!

Want to fancy it up with minimal effort – The easiest way to go from just good to impressive is with glassware, ice and garnishes. The same drink with some nice big ice cubes and a perfect citrus twist in a beautiful glass can look ten times more tantalising. So whether you’re making it for your housemates, your partner or yourself, it’s those finishing touches that will make your cocktail all the more “Gram-worthy”.

Ok, let’s start super simple, we’ve themed these 3 easy cocktails with our neon range; Grapefruit, Lime & Orange – they all have ingredients most of us have at home. Which means for you Melbourne Metro folk, no going to war at the supermarket this weekend. #covidlife

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Sea Breeze: This cocktail was born in the late 1920s, but the recipe was different from the one used today, as gin and grenadine were used in the original version. In the 1930s, a Sea Breeze had gin, apricot brandy, grenadine, and lemon juice.

Today we’re making it with: Vodka, cranberry juice & grapefruit juice

Method: Grab your cocktail shaker (or protein shaker), add a handful of ice, 1 shot of vodka & 100ml of cranberry juice. Shake it like a Polaroid picture & then pour into a highball glass with ice cubes. Top with the 40ml of grapefruit juice. Garnish with a grapefruit slice & enjoy!

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Next up we have the Lime Mojito: A cocktail born in Havana, Cuba, although its exact origin is debatable. It was known that the local South American Indians had remedies for various tropical illnesses, so a small boarding party went ashore in Cuba and came back with ingredients for an effective medicine. My type of medicine.

Using: Fresh mint leaves, lime, sugar, ice cubes, white rum, soda water

Method: Place 10 mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a tall glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mints oils and lime’s juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and 2 tbsps of sugar, keep muddling & do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour 45ml of rum over the ice and fill the rest of the glass with soda water. Garnish with a lime wedge. Voila, what dreams are made of!

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& last but not least… the Mimosa: The official “Brunch Drink” was invented by bartender Frank Meier at the Ritz Bar in Paris in 1925 (apparently, or at a Buck’s Club in London around the same time). Fast forward to today and this OJ-and-Champagne combo has become a huge iconic drink for the ladies who love to brunch!

Ingredients: Prosecco, Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice. Optional extras like 1 shot of vodka, Grand Marnier, Chambord, or even whiskey.

Method: When you’re making a mimosa, always add the sparkling first (no shaking required), 1/2 glass of Prosecco, top with 1/2 glass of orange juice. The cocktail mixes together on its own. Super easy & oh so classy…

Making Mimosas For A Crowd? Premix mimosas in a pitcher just before your guests arrive. Don’t do this too far in advance though, you will lose some carbonation. Enjoy!

So now that you have 3 super easy & delicious cocktails with a hint of history – get your isolation party started x