The best pre-dinner cocktails and how to make them.

I love a drink before dinner. In fact, one of my favourite things about eating out is sitting at the bar while I wait for a table. Forty-five minutes? No problem!

It's harder than we often realise to switch gear from work to play. Whether your work leaves you with square eyes or achy limbs, we all need a chance to defrag and refuel. The intermediary aperitif is the perfect line between your hectic dat and the delicious meal to come. Whether it's a pre-game martini, something light with bubbles or a bit o' brown liquor, make sure your aperitif sets you up for the evening ahead.

This spirited aperitif was one of the finest drinks to come our of the Prohibition era. A derivative of the Champagne Cup (Champagne, lemon and sugar over crushed ice), the French 75 is one of a family of fire crackers. 

We have bottled the French 75 served at The Everleigh for your drinking pleasure, but if you'd prefer to put make your own...

30ml gin
15ml lemon juice
15ml sugar syrup
Champagne
lemon twist to garnish

Add all ingredients except Champagne to a shaker with ice and shake briefly. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and top with Champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Legend has it that Count Camillo Negroni of Florence, Italy, demanded his favourite cocktail, the Americano, be made with gin instead of sofa. The Negroni first made a stir around 1919 and is now internationally recognised as the ultimate pre-dinner cocktail.

If you want to save time, we have bottled our Negroni straight from the bar for you to enjoy at home. 

22ml gin
30ml Cocchi sweet vermouth
22ml Campari
orange twist, to garnish

Build your ingredients in a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with an orange twist.