Style Guide Cocktail Recipes

Style Guide Cocktail Recipes

The perfume of garden fresh herbs is absolutely heady, build their leaves into drinks as well as your decoration and their power will be twice as good. Talented drinks gurus give us the recipes for the best brews.

Style Guide Mojito

Each of the many species of mint has it's own fresh tasting, aromatic foliage.
Spearmint mint gives a lift to punch; applemint is a pleasant addition to fruit salads and desserts.
Mint is very popular in Middle Eastern cuisine, whichever type of mint you use, it will work a treat.

INGREDIENTS
3 fresh mint sprigs
2 tsp sugar syrup
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
50ml light rum
1/2 cup crushed ice
Soda Water
Lime segments to serve

Put the mint, sugar syrup, lime juice and rum into a tumbler, using a muddling stick to pound the mint leaves.
Add crushed ice and stir until mint is spread evenly through the glass.
Top with the soda water and stir.
Serve with lime segments and a sprig of mint if desired.
Makes one drink.

Strawberry and Basil Martini

Sweet Basil is a deliciously aromatic annual herb with with a soft and succulent stem and bright green leaves. It’s a great favourite in Italian cookery and is often married with ripe tomatoes. Our martini recipe combines basil with strawberries, an innovative combo.

INGREDIENTS
750ml vodka
3 heads of basil
1/2 punnet of strawberries
15ml sugar syrup

Infuse vodka with basil and the strawberries for up to two weeks.
The infused vodka will make 10 cocktails.
Pour the sugar syrup and 75ml of the infused vodka into a cocktail shaker with crushed ice.
Stir well and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with a basil leaf and serve.
Makes one drink.

Lemongrass Mule

Each of the many species of mint has it's own fresh tasting, aromatic foliage.
What would Thai cooking be without lemon grass? The flavour is an important signature. The leaves have a very appealing lemon taste, their base is thick and fleshy and adds a tangy taste, in a cocktail, it’s a taste sensation.

INGREDIENTS
45mls 42 Below Vodka
1 fresh lemon grass stalk chopped
1/2 fresh lime chopped
4-6 fresh mint leaves
Ginger beer
15mls sugar syrup

In a cocktail shaker bash the lemongrass with a muddling stick.
Add vodka, lime, mint, sugar syrup and one scoop of ice.
Shake vigorously and pour into a tall glass, top with ginger beer and garnish with a lemongrass swizzle stick.
Makes one drink.

French Connection

Rocket has reached legendary status in modern salads, so much so that it is giving lettuce a run for it's money.
The leaves have a distinct aromatic flavour that can be described as nutty, they have a very pretty shape that makes them a natural for presentation.

INGREDIENTS
5 ml Campari
8 rocket leaves, plus one extra to to garnish
20 ml Grand Marnier
40 ml Gin
Juice from 1/2 a pink grapefruit
2 squeezes of lemon

Rinse martini glass with Campari.
In a cocktail shaker bash the rocket with a muddling stick, then add the remaining ingredients with a scoop of ice.
Shake, then strain into a martini glass and garnish with a rocket leaf.
Makes one drink.

Apple and Rosemary Martini

Rosemary has spiky, narrow leaves, blue flowers and a big flavour.
Traditionally it is teamed with lamb and is an important component in most combinations of mixed herbs.
It can can also be drunk as a tea, but why drink tea when you can have it in a martini?

INGREDIENTS
1 piece of lemon rind
1 sprig of fresh Rosemary plus 1 extra to garnish
50ml Millers Gin
10ml Cinzano Bianco
15ml Massenez Pomme verte
A dash of rosemary sugar syrup

Firstly rub the lemon rind inside a martini glass so that some oils are released.
In a cocktail shaker bash the rosemary with a muddling stick, then add the remaining ingredients with a scoop of ice.
Shake and then strain into the glass, garnish with a rosemary sprig. Sugar syrup is made by boiling equal quantities of sugar and water. To make rosemary sugar syrup, infuse a rosemary sprig in the boiling syrup.

"Cheers!"

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Rediscover the Pear

Rediscover the Pear

When autumn leaves start to fall, nature is at its most glorious. The jewel-like colours of deciduous trees, the crunch of dried leaves underfoot, crisp autumn air and comfortable temperature make outdoors a great place to be.
It’s the last chance for a harvest style celebration before winter, create a rustic mood around the Beurre Bosc pear, the most fleshy, delicate and voluptuous fruit of all.

"Be sure to make the most of fall"

its pleasures are far too short.



Poached pears make a divinely sweet favour for guests and can be home preserved months ahead.
Collect wide mouthed glass jars, cover the lids in chocolate brown paper, secure with cream silk ribbon and finish with a leaf shaped thank you card.



Earthy neutral colours and varying textures create a real picture. Brown pears and honeycomb patterned beeswax candles line up on the cream silk covered raiser box.
The dressy silk contrasts with the brown paper tablecloth. The menus and place cards are cut into pear and leaf silhouettes.



A rich chocolate cake in four square tiers is finished with cascading chocolate leaves, cream satin ribbon and topped with a posy of cream magnolias. A trio of pear and chocolate themed desserts are tempting on the dessert buffet.







The pear and leaf motifs are carried through the stationery suite on the digitally printed invitation and response card. Recycled kraft paper compliments the golden hue of the stationery and is used for the pear silhouette menu and matching envelopes.



Pears are a member of the rose family



A trio of kraft board boxes has been used to wrap a wedding gift, held together with cream satin ribbon.
Magnolia blooms and foliage make a unique bouquet for classic autumnal beauty.

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A Bastille Day Party

A Bastille Day Party

Jetting to Paris for the honeymoon?
Get in the mood early, enjoy French bliss at the wedding shower.
Pop real champagne, forget calories and think melt in the mouth pastries and the creamiest brie.



Get the Look
Going French at a bridal shower is the next best thing to getting on the Air France jet.
Luckily talented French style pastry chefs have opened pâtiss'eries far and wide so it’s one stop shopping for the most delightful nibbles.



Made in France
Search for inexpensive gifts that were Made in France, they are easy to find in cookware specialists, cosmetics stores and wine shops.



Faire un tabac
(be successful, go over well, be a hit)
Although those girls in Ab Fab knew a thing or two about delicious Bollinger, you don’t have to turn into Patsy to get into the mood; just a flute of pricey real French bubbles is worth every penny.
For the Parisian mood, invest in French music, the superstars like Edith Piaf, Charles Aznevour and Vanessa Paradis will set the scene. Run a Jacques Tati classic film on your plasma with the sound turned down as wallpaper.



Enjoy the Day - Eat Lean Tomorrow
Fromage is French for cheese and the French have cheese all sorted. A collection of delightful creaminess will be a treat to turn into a memory.



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HOW TO BUILD A FRENCH CHEESEBOARD

•Go to a specialised cheese shop or deli, always buy from a round, not pre cut.

•Allow about 60g of cheese per guest.

•Offer contrasting tastes and textures, soft cheese, hard cheese and blue vein.

•Take the cheese out of the fridge a couple of hours before serving so that it’s at room temperature.

•Put a knife out for each cheese so the flavours don’t mix.

•Add nuts or fruit (fresh or dried) to complement the cheeses.

•Serve with a variety of breads and crackers.

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A Tea Party To Remember

A Tea Party To Remember

Buckingham Palace doesn’t hold the rights to garden receptions. Pretty backyards or leafy parklands are terrific open air venues for a wedding, engagement party or even a bridal shower.

Nature gives a wonderfully fresh background, to make the most of the greenery, we chose a crisp look with stacks of pure white, then added colour accents with the most adorable fabrics, ribbons and flowers.

The trick to success is layering the detail.

Guests are offered delicious breads and pastries, served with champagne and help themselves to bottomless cups of tea from a selection of brews available at a tea buffet.



The dainty, traditional English tea party setting is given a modern look with upbeat patterns in the decoration. Even the customised tea bag tags are beautifully colour co-ordinated.

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PRETTY PINK MACAROOROONS
Makes approximately 20

Ingredients

140gM finely ground almonds
240gM icing sugar, sifted
4 drops of red food colouring
2 large egg whites
1 tbsp powdered pavlova mix

Filling

200gM unsalted butter
70gM icing sugar sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp red red food colouring

Preheat oven to 100˚C. Line two large baking sheets with non stick baking paper and mark circles using a 4cm cutter.

Mix the ground almonds, icing sugar and red food colouring together in a bowl.

In another bowl, whisk the egg whites with the powdered pavlova mix until firm peaks form, then fold in the almond mixture using a large metal spoon.

Firmly tap bottom of bowl on counter to eliminate air pockets.

Transfer the mixture into a large piping bag fitted with a 1cm plain nozzle and pipe neat little mounds into the marked circles on the prepared baking sheets. Press the tops down lightly with a wet spoon if they peak too much.

To stop macaroons from cracking, leave to stand for a good 30 minutes then bake them on the middle shelf for about 35 minutes, until they feel slightly firm.

Leave them on the baking sheets for five minutes, then slide them off onto a wire tray to cool completely.

They should be crisp on the outside and a bit chewy on the inside. For the filling, beat the butter, icing sugar and vanilla extract together until light and fluffy.

Stir in red food colouring. Sandwich the macaroons together in pairs with small dabs of this filling just before serving.

Unfilled macaroons can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days and the filling can be made the day before.

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Vote and Win in the Wedding Cake Poll

We recently published an article on our Blog featuring 8 beautiful wedding cakes from our Real Wedding archives.

Let us know which one you loved by voting in our latest Poll and enter the draw for the chance to win a fabulous prize from the multi-talented in Melbourne!

You could win the luxurious gold-rimmed Signature Tea Pot and Cups - perfect for ladies of High Socie-tea from

Click Here to Enter

Good Luck!!

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Plate Up

Enjoying the outdoors and hosting fabulous BBQ's and parties throughout summer needn't mean ugly paper plates. For a chic affair get your hands on these gorgeous Sambellina paper numbers from Brown Button Trading. Available in gorgeous range of colours they're almost too pretty to throw out! Cups are availabe for $6.95 for a pack of 12 and plates are $6.95 for a pack of 12. Visit www.brownbuttontrading.com.au to shop online!

Posted by Emilie Harrison

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Lavish Lollybars

What is it about lollybars that turn all polished, well mannered adults into big kids? Maybe it's the vast selection on lollies on offer, or the fact you just don't know what to choose that have made lollybars one of the hottest additions to a wedding celebration. Long after the wedding guests will always remember a lollybar and the the little bag of sweets they got to take home. A Lavish Affair have become renowned for their lollybars. Specialising in bespoke weddings A Lavish Affair are the go-to lollybar gurus. Having styled the below lollybars you can see why! Visit www.alavishaffair.com.au to find out more about this simply delicious idea.

Posted by Emilie Harrison

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