Well folks, my sincere apologies for my lengthy absence, work, MA and another project (not to mention the decorating of the flat) have taken up every waking hour as well as not a few sleeping ones these last 2 months. But I’m back and in a party mood.

So let’s talk cocktails, the cocktail is not a drink to be drunk all night long - although a sunny afternoon of champagne cocktails is a delight everyone should experience - but rather it is an elegant extravagance in a glass that should be enjoyed by the handful at most, after that you can only taste the alcohol and sugar so you may as well move on and not spoil yourself for your breakfast fruit juice.

I love cocktails, I love the drama of the making, the glistening ice and vibrant colours, the heady tastes and excellent accessories (a martini glass is a design classic) and the element of sparkle and mischief they can hold. So with this in mind I will bring you at least a cocktail a week, there are few that I make myself at home (a cocktail really works better in a bar, park or festival) but this next is one that is truly a great drink that can easily be mixed as a sophisticated party drink, just make sure you stick to the measures, too much alcohol turns a cocktail into sweet petrol and delights no-one:

The White Russian, king of all the milky cocktails as it is neither cloying nor too creamy but rather like a smooth coffee on the tongue. I never use cream in mine (too cloying) and prefer Khalua to creme de cacao (more of a coffee bite).

Ingredients

Ice
1 part Khalua
1 part Vodka
3 fingers of milk (full fat is best but semi-skimmed will do at a pinch)

makes 1 cocktail

1 Put ice in a large tumbler or medium high ball
2 Pour in Khalua and Vodka and then top up with the milk, if you pour carefully you can create a very attractive marbling to serve but mix well to drink.