We’re sure you have your sorrel, your ponche de crème, your eggnog or mulled wine. If you’re inviting friends over or ringing in the New Year quietly, spice up your evening with one of these fun, easy and flavourful cocktail recipes.

Sorrel and Stormy
This fusion of the classic Christmas beverage- Sorrel hibiscus drink, popular in Africa and the Caribbean, with one of Jamaica’s signature cocktails, Dark ‘n’ Stormy is definitely a palate pleaser.

1.5oz White rum
¼ cup virgin sorrel drink
¼ cup ginger beer
½ teaspoon lime juice
Crystallised ginger for garnish
Lime wedge for garnish
Collins Glass or tumbler of your choosing

Method
In a glass, add ice, white rum, lime juice and sorrel. Stir with a spoon. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with crystallised ginger and lime wedge.

Ingredient fact: Sorrel hibiscus helps to control cholesterol levels and manage blood pressure. Consider adding sorrel lemon tea to your daily repertoire to reap the benefits of the amazing flower outside of the holiday season. Sorrel is available dried all year round. Check your local ethnic food market.

Passionfruit Mojito
It’s cold outside. Actually, it’s inhumane and frigid. Bring the warmth of the islands to your NYE with this passionfruit mojito.

2 oz white rum
¼ cup passion fruit juice
Mint leaves
1 teaspoon lime juice
¼ cup soda water
Mint stem for garnish
Lime wedge for garnish
Mason jar or tumbler of your choosing

Method
In a mason jar, add ripped mint leaves, lime juice and white rum and stir. Add ice, passionfruit juice and stir once more. Top with soda water. Garnish with a mint stem and lime wedge.

Ingredient fact: Have you ever been to the grocery store and seen passion fruit with purple and yellow skin? It’s not a trick of scientists in a lab. It is completely natural. Different plants of the Passiflora family produce the fruit. I like to think it’s each tree creating an identity for itself.

Turnt Gin and Tonic
Any Jamaican will tell you that sorrel must only be had with white rum. Well, it’s 2018 is upon us and times are a changing. Try this elevated sorrel cocktail to switch things up a bit.

1.5 oz Gin (I am partial to Dillon’s but Bombay and Beefeaters are fine as well)
1oz very sweet sorrel
0.5 oz lemon juice
2oz tonic
Rosemary for garnish
Low ball glass or tumbler of your choosing

Method
In a glass, add ice in sorrel, lemon juice and gin. Top with tonic. Garnish with rosemary.

Ingredient fact: The popular gin drink, the gimlet (gin and lime juice) was originally created to prevent scurvy (disease caused by a lack of vitamin C). The Royal Navy mixed gin with lime juice to fight the threat of death by disease that plagued life at sea.

All of the cocktails can be made non-alcoholic. Just hold the booze; I suspect you probably won’t miss it.

Please drink responsibly and never drink and drive.