7 paw-some cocktails to ring in the Year of the Dog

The Lunar New Year has just begun (Chinese New Year, that is!), ushering the Year of the Dog.

In good spirit, we’ve sniffed out a list of the top 10 canine-inspired cocktails that you can enjoy alongside your furry friend. These cocktails are definitely a sight fur sore eyes, so you mutt as well try them!

Salty Dog

Ingredients:

45ml gin
150ml grapefruit juice
1/4 tsp salt

Method:

1. Rim a glass with salt and fill the glass with ice.
2. Add gin and grapefruit juice.
3.  Garnish with a lime or cherry.

Bloodhound Martini

Ingredients:

45ml gin
22ml dry vermouth
22ml sweet vermouth
Fresh strawberries, to garnish

Method:

1. Mix gin and vermouth in shaker with ice.
2. Strain into Martini glass.
3. Garnish with fresh strawberries, to serve.

The Great Dane

Ingredients:

60ml gin
30ml cherry brandy
1/2 oz. dry vermouth
1 tsp. kirsch

Method:

1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Pour all ingredients and shake.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with lemon or lime peel

Houndstooth

Ingredients:

45ml gin
15ml fresh lime juice
Dash of celery bitters
Splash of club soda

Method:

1. Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
2. Strain into a glass full of ice.
3. Top with a splash of club soda. 

The recipes below aren't made with gin, but they're also delicious! Give them a whirl if you fancy something a tad different...

Bulldog Smash

Ingredients:

60ml bourbon
20ml triple sec
1/2 fresh peach
1/2 fresh lemon, juiced
1 tsp sugar syrup
sprig of mint

Method:

1. In a shaker, muddle your lemon, peach, mint, and sugar cane syrup. 
2. Add the bourbon and Cointreau. 
3. Fill your shaker with ice. 
4. Shake, strain into a glass, and fill that with crushed ice. Garnish with an extra sprig of mint

The Pomeranian

Ingredients:

60ml white rum
30ml pomegranate juice
15ml triple sec
15ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
7ml grapefruit juice

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. 
2. Strain into a glass full of ice.
3. Garnish with mint. 
    

The Regal Beagle

Ingredients:

45ml  vodka
1 lime, cut into quarters
1 tsp honey
150ml grapefruit juice
Dry white wine

Method:

1. In a shaker, muddle 2 lime quarters with honey and add ice.
2. Pour grapefruit juice over the top and add a splash of wine. 
3. Lightly stir. 
4. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.