My liquor cabinet has never been this empty. It’s actually quite strange to see it gather dust as it does. In any event, my spirits remain high and in light of World Cocktail Day today, 13 May, I’ve compiled a list of tasty cocktail recipes for those fortunate enough to still have a stash of the good stuff .

Angostura Rock Shandy

Build half soda water and half lemonade over ice in a jug, add 13–20 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters on top, stir, and garnish with lemon or lime wedges.

Lemon Lime Bitters

Add 20–26 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters to your jug, then add ice. Pour in 97 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice, 70 ml lime cordial and 70 ml sugar syrup*. Top up with lemonade, squeeze fresh lemon wedges into the drink before adding them to your jug as garnish.

*In a saucepan combine equal parts sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Allow to cool.

Steelworks

Fill a jug three-quarter way with ice and add soda water to the level of the ice. To this add 97ml cola tonic and top up with ginger beer. Then add 13 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters, stir, garnish with a lemon wheel and serve.

Watermelon Jalapeño Crush

Throw 1/8 cup of watermelon, ice, mint leaves (depending on how minty you want it), a few thin slices of jalapeño (or more depending on how spicy you want it!) and a squeeze of lime into a good strong blender.

When thoroughly blended, transfer the mixture into 4 cups so that they are 1/3 full. Add one shot of tequila (if you have!) to each and top of with the lemony sparkling water.

Garnish with mint and extra jalapeño rings.

Pink Grapefruit White Wine Sparkle

Prepare the flavored water: Fizz 1 liter of cold water with your SodaStream soda maker. Flavour with SodaStream Pink Lemonade sparkling drink mix.

In a carafe mix the flavored sparkling water with the wine and gin. Add the lemon wedges and ice.

Mix together and serve cold.

Lead image: Unsplash.