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DIY cocktail recipes to perk up your holiday parties

Pop. Fizz. Clink. To celebrate the silly season, we’re sharing some of our favourite festive tipples from Forest restaurant, nestled in the rainforest of Byron Bay at Crystalbrook Byron. Try the ultra OTT and insta-famous Fairy Dust Martini or keep it mellow and chill with the Paradaiso. The Harvest Moon is a bit more of a challenge and takes some creativity - so grab your pals and make up a big batch together. 

'Tis the season after all.

Forest’s Head Bartender shared some simple tips to spice up your cocktails:

  • Infuse vodka with goji berries or dehydrated strawberries for a pop of colour and burst of flavour
  • Mix up a quick and easy simple syrup using one part sugar to one part water (an easy 1:1 ratio). Bring to a boil in a saucepan and once the sugar has dissolved, store in a glass jar in the fridge
  • Shrubs (not the kind you grow in your garden; but the fruit syrup variety) provide a unique, fresh flavour when mixed into cocktails, but they’re also packed with a ton health benefits and probiotics. There are lots of easy shrub recipes online. Simply combine your choice of very ripe fruit with sugar, water and vinegar, boil, strain and store for two weeks

Fairy Dust Martini

What you’ll need:

  • 45ml Grey Goose vodka infused with goji berries
  • 20ml lychee liqueur
  • 20ml lemon juice
  • 20ml cranberry juice                    
  • 3 raspberries

Garnish:

  • Sugar rim
  • Persian fairy floss
  • Edible flowers

Shake, shake shake!

1. Add ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice and shake hard

2. Strain into a sugar-rimmed martini glass

3. Garnish with Persian fairy floss and your edible flowers of choice

Paradaiso

What you’ll need

  • 60ml Brookie's Dry Gin        
  • 20ml lemon juice        
  • 20ml lemon myrtle syrup
  • 20ml pineapple juice  
  • 10ml aquafaba (drained chickpea liquid)
  • Mint leaves and edible pomegranate seeds to garnish

Shake and shimmer

1. Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake hard

2. Strain into a gin balloon (or large wine glass) filled with ice

3. Garnish with mint leaves and pomegranate seeds

Harvest Moon

What you’ll need:

  • 60ml Grey Goose vodka infused with goji berries
  • 20ml berry shrub
  • 20ml fresh lemon juice
  • 2 chunks of fresh watermelon                
  • 2 chunks dragon fruit                       
  • 20ml aquafaba (drained chickpea liquid)                                
  • 30ml Prosecco

Mix and muddle

1. Muddle watermelon and dragon fruit in a cocktail shaker

2. Add all ingredients and dry shake. Add ice and shake

3. Double strain into a glass with fresh ice

4. Top with prosecco