Manchester's Best Christmas Cocktails
As the festive spirits start to heighten but the temperatures continue to drop, head to Cottonopolis, Gorilla, Epernay, PLY, Albert's Schloss or Science and Industry and Cane and Grain for something involving chocolate liqueur, port, sloe gin or Advocaat.
Oh BABY is it cold outside... As goes the opening spiel of every single conversation you’ll have between now and, er, May, we’d expect. And this ain’t even the half of it.
Could cosy up with a nice brew in front of the fire, but you've already had seven cups of tea and probably don’t even own a fireplace, so that rules that one out. Know what’s better? Hard liquor – and capitalising on someone else’s heating. Finally: an economical #lifehack that’s marginally better than making a desk tidy out of fucking toilet rolls.
So cut down on the ‘leccy and gas bills by heading out to a fine drinking establishment; here are our favourites in Manchester:
Winter cocktails at Cottonopolis
Pun territory has well and truly been conquered at Cottonopolis with their new Christmas drinks specials, which features Noggin’ on Heaven’s Door, a Christmas-style brown sugar flip with Teelings Irish Whiskey and white chocolate liqueur. The new cocktail menu also has a few wintry contenders like Sloe Roses, a mix of Colonel Badger sloe gin, orange liqueur, rose without thorns and lime.
Epernay's Cheeky Vimto riff
Feel like reminiscing this weekend? We got you! 'Cheeky Vimto No 2' Gin//Port//WKD Reduction//Citrus #studentdrinkingmadesexy pic.twitter.com/DcTe8B5DQD
— Épernay Manchester (@epsmanchester) November 19, 2016
With all the bitter winds and dark evenings of the A/W period, you’ll no doubt appreciate a light-hearted pick-me-up; now’s not the time to take your drinks too seriously. Over at
Sloe gin cocktails at Gorilla
Gin may be practically synonymous with a lazy summer's day, but down at Gorilla they're always able to keep with the times to prove the spirit's year-round dexterity. Take advantage of the bespoke gin serves at Gorilla’s very own gin parlour with a suitably seasonal blend of
Science and Industry's 'North Pole'
With its wood panelled walls and plush leather booths, Cane and Grain's first floor bar was made for escaping the perils of a cold winter's night. And while any drink in here would serve well to cosy up next to, there ain't nothing more festive than the North Pole: cocoa butter fat-washed
Snowballs at Albert's Schloss
Bavarian beer hall Albert's Schloss is going retro with their take on the classic Snowball, taking the classic spec of Advocaat, lemonade and lime but adding Prosecco to Schlossify it is as the Schnowball.
Christmas pop-up Miracle on Edge Street
As party season often turns into something of a Prosecco binge, a slight variation on the traditional may become welcome; at Miracle on Edge Street – the kitsch Christmas pop-up from the team behind Pen and Pencil – they’re doing precisely that with the Prosec-Ho Ho Ho, pimping the Italian fizz with some homemade mulled wine syrup.
PLY's 'Christmassy as fuck' cocktail
You'll find snowy scenes at PLY, where they've rustled up Jingle All the Way, a blend of cognac, Mozart white chocolate liqueur, gingerbread liqueur, single cream, condensed milk and egg. Complete with fresh nutmeg on top and desiccated coconut on the rim, it's Christmassy as fuck.
Mulled Cider at The Pilcrow
Fancy something a bit simpler? Along with vats of warming mulled wine, down at The Pilcrow they're also serving up mugs of hot mulled cider – perfect for when you want to cosy up in a corner with a copy of The Skinny in a handmade pub that resembles the perfect wintry wooden lodge.
Spotted any other good'uns out and about? Email jess@theskinny.co.uk and we'll whack it in!