Get into the Christmas spirit with a festive cocktail or a warm, spicy punch

5oz (140g) sugar;

1and a half pt (890ml) each of water, ginger ale and grape juice or red wine;

16fl oz (475ml) each of cranberry juice, raspberry tea and rosehip tea;

Juice of 4 oranges, 4 grapefruits and 4 limes;

Ice and fruit to decorate.

Dissolve the sugar in the water over a low heat, then pour the cooled syrup into a punch bowl and add the other ingredients. Chill, then serve decorated with sliced fruit.

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Kiss of an Angel

2tbsp cream;

2tbsp Benedictine;

Put the Benedictine into a cocktail glass, then add the cream. Do not stir.

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Christmas Star

2tbsp Scotch whisky;

2tsp vermouth;

Dash orange bitters;

Dash of Angostura bitters;

Dash of lemon juice;

Half a shakerful of crushed ice.

Add the orange bitters to the ice in the shaker, then the Angostura, the vermouth and the whisky, shake well and serve with a dash of lemon juice.

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Queen Victoria's Brandy Snifter

2 tbsp brandy;

1tbsp gin;

Juice of quarter of a lemon;

One cherry;

Half a shakerful of crushed ice.

Squeeze the lemon juice over the ice and add the brandy and gin. Shake well. Once the drink is in the glass, add the cherry.

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Fruit Zinger

2tbsp raspberry juice;

Dash of lemon juice;

2 tbsp cranberry juice;

Quarter pint of lemonade;

Half a tumbler of crushed ice.

Add all the ingredients to the ice and stir gently. Serve with raspberries on top.