This recipe is a filling, high protein concoction, perfect after a bracing walk in the cold to warm up your windswept cheeks. A much maligned, traditional drink that we believe is well worth making and experimenting with.

Ingredients (serves 6):

• 500ml milk
• 2 whole cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 6 egg yokes
• 150g of caster sugar
• 300ml of light rum
• 500 ml of single cream
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg

Method:

• Mix the milk, cloves, cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract into a saucepan. Over the lowest setting, heat the mixture for 5 minutes and slowly bring to the boil.
• In a separate bowl, combine the egg yolks and casting sugar, whisking until fluffy. Slowly whisk hot milk mixture into the whisked eggs and sugar. Pour all of it into a saucepan and cook over a medium heat, stirring continuously until thick. Strain the mixture to remove the cloves and then let it cool for an hour.
• Stir in the rum, single cream, nutmeg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Refrigerate overnight before serving. Feel free to serve it warm or cold.

Don’t be afraid to decorate your eggnog. We like to froth milk and pop it on top with a touch of cinnamon when we’re serving it warm to make our guests feel cosy and welcomed as they come in from the cold. Nutmeg is always good for sprinkling on top as well.

We love this invigorating and tasty Christmassy take on a summer classic. We’re all about reinventing traditions to create everlasting favourites that will be staples at many Christmas parties to come.

Ingredients (to make one pitcher):

• seeds from 1 pomegranate
• 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries
• 1 bottle of red wine
• 2 cups of pomegranate juice
• club soda (to taste)
• dehydrated orange or grapefruit, or sliced strawberries for garnish

Method:

• In a large pitcher, pour in your sliced strawberries and pomegranate seeds.
• Stir in the wine and pomegranate juice.
• For best results, refrigerate for 6-24 hours.
• Taste and add 1-2 tablespoons of sugar or honey if sweeter taste is required.
• Pour into glasses with fruit slices and add a splash of club soda to each glass.
• Garnish with sliced strawberries on the side of the glass or add a dehydrated orange or grapefruit layered on top for a festive feel.

If you want to go down a more traditional route then add a 1/2 cup of brandy or use orange juice instead of pomegranate juice. Throw in slices of 1 orange as well. You may even want to try ginger beer instead of club soda to add to the Christmassy flavours. It is all about experimenting and finding what works for you.

What is Christmas without some bubbles? Treat yourself or your nearest and dearest to a festive fizz classic that is a refreshing evening starter.

Ingredients:

• 45ml gin
• 15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 8ml of simple syrup
• Champagne for topping up

Method:

• Shake the gin, lemon juice and syrup in a cocktail shaker full of ice.
• Strain into a chilled Champagne flute and top with bubbles.
• Garnish with a sliver of lemon peel or berries.

We love using these beautiful, hand blown, hand cut, crystal Champagne Flutes that are hand crafted in Cumbria.  They are a heavier weight to a standard champagne flute, meaning less worry about the fragility of the glass as you sip away merrily.

You can add any Christmassy twist to your regular tipple. Why not turn that dram of whisky into a festive Whisky Sour with a tablespoon of orange juice, a tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/2 a tablespoon of sugar syrup. You can also add Christmassy garnishing to your regular G&T to get you in the spirit whilst you do some Christmas wrapping. Many of our recipes are ideal for prepping the night before.

We’d love to hear how you get on with these recipes or if you have any other Christmas favourites of your own. Let us know through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.