By now, most of Britain's best bars will be fully booked for private parties, and many of the best mixologists will also be snapped up for events in the homes of the super-rich or ultra-fashionable. So we've rounded up 10 of the best cocktails from star alchemists around the country so you can enjoy them with your friends at home. All of them were styled for our pictures by Sarah Wilson, who heads the bar at Manor in London. So if you're not lucky enough to live near any of these bars, don't fret. Just get in the ice, mixers and garnishes, tell your friends which bottles you want them to bring, and have a VIP night in.
1 Rum'n'ginger
By Mal Evans at Mojo 18 Merrion St, Leeds
A guaranteed way to kick-start a party. First, go over to the CD player and put on 'Two Sevens Clash' by Culture. (This isn't compulsory, but it really helps things along). Fill glasses with ice, and pour in two slugs of good rum (preferably Appleton Special). Top up with ginger beer, squeeze two chunks of fresh lime.
2 Ultimate Woo Woo
By Mal Evans at Mojo
25ml vodka
75ml peach schnapps
Pour into tall glasses with ice, top up with cranberry juice and a squeeze of lime.
3 Apple strudel
By Sarah Wilson at Manor 6-8 All Saints Road, London W11
50ml Bison vodka
12.5ml Krupnik (Polish honey liqueur)
12.5ml blackberry fruit purée
dash vanilla gomme (sugar syrup)
75ml apple juice
Shake over ice and strain, pour over ice into a tall glass and top with champagne.
4 The OFM shot
By Anthony Yu at the H Bar at the Hempel 31-35 Craven Hill Gardens, London W2
40 ml tequila
15 ml fresh lime juice squished up with brown sugar
dash of Chambord
Shake the tequila, lime juice and sugar together. Pour into a shot glass and top with a dash of Chambord.
5 Basil and honey fresca
By Jasper Eayres and the staff at Nocturne 1 Unity St, Bristol
50ml vodka
12.5ml fresh lime juice
12.5ml grapefruit juice
6 basil leaves
dash of honey
Shake over ice then strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Top with lemonade and garnish with a lime wedge and two straws.
6 Double chocolate martini
By Chris Caira at Indigo Yard, 7 Charlotte Lane, Edinburgh
25ml vodka
25ml white crème de Cacao
25ml Baileys
Shake over ice and strain into a martini glass. If possible, serve with a real chocolate straw.
7 Sakepolitan
By Anthony Yu, H Bar
50 ml premium saké
15 ml Cointreau
15 ml fresh lime juice
100 ml cranberry juice
Shake the ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.
8 The Mayfair Flapper
By Stass at Claridge's Brook St, London W1
25ml crème de cassis
3 strawberries
100ml champagne
Slice the strawberries into a blender, add the crème de cassis and blend. Pour into a champagne flute, and top with champagne.
9 Snowball
By Sarah Wilson at Manor
12.5 ml Frangelico
12.5 ml amaretto
12.5 ml Kahlua
12.5 ml Baileys
12.5 ml white rum 12.5 ml Butterscotch schnapps
Shake over ice, strain into a Martini glass, then sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.
10 Ol' Blue Eyes
By Alex Pitts of The Raincheck Bar 34 Monmouth St, Bath
50ml Tanqueray gin
12.5ml dry orange curacao
12.5ml blue curacao
Dash of lemon juice
Shake over ice, strain into a Martini glass and serve with a twist of lemon.