Drink

Lauren Matthews of The Kitchen Collective & Kate Rose of Mea Culp share their sweet and sour cocktail recipe.

Lauren Matthews of The Kitchen Collective and Kate Rose of Mea Culpa share their creative highball cocktail. Photography by Lauren Matthews.

Lauren Matthews of The Kitchen Collective and Kate Rose of Mea Culpa share a cocktail recipe for a stylish Christmas soirée. Photography by Lauren Matthews.

Start your evening off with a bang with this seriously seditious cocktail

Long White Vodka has landed, bringing a host of refreshing cocktails to please the thirsty crowd

A classic drink with cooling cucumber and subtle dryness, this Pimms has a few extras including added flavour from aniseedy fennel flowers. Photography by Jani Shepherd/Gatherum Collectif.

Mea Culpa's Kate Rose . Photography by Mike Rooke.

Mea Culpa's Kate Rose shares her highball secrets. Photography by Mike Rooke.

Kate Rose from Mea Culpa's bloodbath cocktail is full of beetroot and lemon, but it isn't healthy. Photography by Mike Rooke.

Kate Rose from Mea Culpa shares her take on a kiwi highball. Photography by Mike Rooke.

Try this refreshing jam cocktail by French mixologist Damien Barte of Napier's wine, cocktail and craft beer bar Monica Loves. Photography by Rachel Dobbs.

These dark ice cubes add simple fresh flavour to lemonade and introduce a mysterious, slightly sinister, quality to your Day of the Dead gathering. Fill glasses with the black ice and top up with lemonade. Photography by Jani Shepherd / Gatherum Collectif.

Apple and Pomegranate is a match made in heaven – great for toasting those every day moments with friends!

This delightful mocktail can be enjoyed as a punch for dinner parties, or at a family BBQ on the beach – simply increase the quantities and taste before serving.

A perfect citrus twist to enjoy during any occasion.

This signature mocktail is popular due to its light floral fragrance and fresh fruit flavour. It’s a perfect blend to enjoy over the Summer months.

This non-alcoholic Appleini is a clever take on a timeless classic cocktail known as the Bellini. This brunch starter is perfect for any gathering of friends and family.

Christmas doesn't have to be without luxury. Serve this refreshing ginger cocktail with oysters on a bed of ice.

Cool down with these delicious passionfruit and pineapple spritzers - perfect for a warm Summer day!

Enjoy a classic apple Pimm's cocktail this festive season with this delicious recipe! Fresh and fruity!

These dairy-free nut milks from The Australian Women's Weekly 'Made from Scratch' cookbook are great alternatives for vegans, the lactose intolerant, or as a delicious change from plain cow's milk!

Muddled drinks are a fantastic way to enjoy the intense flavours of whole fruits – experiment with your favourite seasonal fruit!

This fresh summer cooler is hard to beat when chilling with friends.

The orange marmalade adds a burst of bitter-sweetness in this fruity beverage that can be enjoyed with friends at any time of the day!

This sophisticated mix is perfect (and easy to make) for when you’re having the girls over.

Gather your friends, fire up the BBQ and enjoy this fruity mocktail jug under a blue sky!

Refreshingly tart, a little bitter and a touch of sweetness from the Appletiser will cool you and your friends down on a hot summer’s day!

Indulge alcohol-free with the delicious taste of this mulled “wine” mocktail.

For those feeling adventurous, here’s a mocktail recipe that will fill your family home with the traditional Christmas smell of cinnamon.

Over the warmer months it can be so much nicer to drink a long cold coffee full of ice rather than a hot one and this brew is perfect for taking on the road. This slow technique of brewing coffee creates a brew that is lower in acid than heat expressed coffee so it tastes naturally sweeter. Home cold brew combined with Puhoi Valley Half & Half is a cool glass of summer coffee perfection especially for all those coffee addicts out there!

Start the day off with this refreshing and healthy smoothie, filled with sweet cherries, walnuts and black chia seeds.

Ice ice cold... baby. Refreshing and delicious smoothie with papaya, peaches and raspberries - perfect for summer!

This refreshing, fruity, Halloween inspired drink makes the perfect beverage for all your guests!

Make your own syrups for use in cocktails or as a refreshing mixer with soda.

Make your own syrups for use in cocktails or as a refreshing mixer with soda.

Taste features a few of our favourite New Zealand craft spirits and the talented Kate Rose, of Mea Culpa bar on Ponsonby Road, takes her pick to create stunning winter cocktails.

Drink this in the morning for a quick, nutrient-packed pick-me-up. The avocado adds a lovely texture.

Cool down on a hot Summer day with this refreshing peach and spiced rum iced tea - a delightfully uplifting and tasty beverage for the adults.

This sweet and refreshing crushed cherry drink can be enjoyed on it's own as a beautiful cordial or with an added punch to create a delicious cocktail. Delicious and uplifting, it's perfect for warmer Summer evenings.

Almonds are rich in nutrients such as protein, fibre, vitamin E, zinc, potassium, iron, and calcium. Almond milk also contains flavonoids, which help to lower levels of "bad" cholesterol and protect the heart. Powerful antioxidants in almonds help support a strong immune system.

Cashews are high in iron, zinc, fibre, protein and monounsaturated fat, good for heart health. Raspberries are high in vitamin C and antioxidants and have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health and reducing cancer risk.

Kale and spinach are superfoods – nutrient dense and anti-inflammatory. Kale is high in vitamin A, carotenoids for eye health, dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals. Spinach is a good source of folate to protect cells from damage. This juice is also low fat, low kilojoule and low carbohydrate.

Low kilojoule, low fat, a source of fibre and high in vitamin C. Benefits of vitamin C may include protecting our health against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, cancer, eye disease and immunity.

This delicious green smoothie makes a great healthy breakfast.

An Italian menu is perfectly rounded off by a traditional espresso, make it special with The Perfect Espresso Martini.

The juicy flavours of lychee and lime blend with a cheeky splash of vodka and soda water for a minty refreshment.

Ginger, tequila and cassis; delicious.

A lady-like twist on the classic Mexican cocktail.

Complete your Mexican fiesta with a jug of fresh, icy cold margaritas.

This is a great take on the refreshing lime drink sold by street vendors all over Mexico. A citrusy icy beverage, perfect for any season, but particularly those full of zesty lemons or limes.

This spicy hot cocoa mix is indulgent and comforting on cool nights and just the thing to finish a Mexican meal. Warm, rich and creamy, with gentle heat from the ginger and chilli.

Virgin Mary is a fun beverage to brighten up your day at work. Keep some Tabasco sauce in one of your desk drawers and add a few drops right before you drink it.

Luca Villari turns caveman in the kitchen

Two of your favourite things in one boozy cup.

This cocktail makes a great palate cleanser between courses or a low-fat dessert.

It’s hard to beat a cold lemon drink when you are hot, or a hot lemon drink when you have a cold. Nana’s homemade lemon, barley and ginger cordial (or ‘squash’ if you prefer) is perfect for both.

Makes 6 Note

Strawberries and Champagne are an unbeatable match. Enjoy!

Cinzano is sweet vermouth that has been produced in northern Italy since the 18th century. It’s available in three varieties – Bianco, Rosso and Extra Dry. Note

A refreshing drink that’s easy to make, this sangria also looks fantastic with jewel-like fruit studded throughout. With the addition of kiwifruit and kiwiberries, I’ve given this Spanish tipple a local twist. For an easy non-alcoholic version, simply replace the bubbles with lemonade. If you prefer not to use too much sugar, add soda water […]

Ginger and mint are a classic combo. Pair them with honey and soda water for a sensational drink.

Passionfruit is a beguiling combination of the refreshingly tart and the exotically sweet.

Feijoa and kiwifruit. Has there ever been a cocktail so quintessentially Kiwi?

Simplicity reigns in this new favourite summer cocktail.

Try making this smoothie recipe using 1 banana, 1 cup of frozen blueberries and 1 cup of natural yogurt. Note

Fresh watermelon alone is one of the best things about summer, but try pairing it with vodka, bitters, lemonade and mint for an extra special summer sipper.

You can use low-fat ice-cream instead of yogurt in these smoothies. Note

Pina colada

The negroni is a classic Italian aperitif traditionally enjoyed before a meal to prime the appetite.

This is a cocktail for the health conscious. You’ll need a juicer to get the fresh, green colour out of the apple and cucumber, resulting in a drink full of alkalinising goodness. And it doesn’t end there either, it’s got gin in it too, which is full of alcoholising goodness.

This bold flavoured beverage is a great, fun option for a cocktail party.

The French call it La Fête Nationale, we call it Bastille Day. But surely we can all agree that 14 July is the perfect excuse to celebrate our liberté and throw back a glass or three of this Champagne cocktail.

A sneaky rum kick makes this special chocolatey hot drink that little bit more decadent. Perfect to snuggle up with on a cold night.

Perfect for any occasion that needs a bit of a bang.

Perfect for a summer afternoon refreshment. It is floral, fresh, fizzy and delectable.

Lillet is a French aperitif made from a blend of Bordeaux wine and citrus liqueur and it comes in blanc, rose or rouge. Often served chilled with a slice of lemon or orange, it’s also a refreshing way to toast the approach of spring.

This beautiful blush sunset coloured beverage is perfect to to settle down in the sand with on a hot summer's day.

Mixology master Frankie Walker says Hot Buttered Rum is great for sharing – you can make up a batch in advance. It’s also a classic cocktail, with its roots very much in Jamaica.

This ‘rum old-fashioned’ is similar to the original ‘old-fashioned’ cocktail, but uses rum in place of whisky. It is traditionally served in a short, round tumbler, which is called – you’ve guessed it – an old-fashioned glass…

Try this classic peach cocktail to share with guests, or it is equally satisfying to enjoy solo.

If you prefer, a sprinkling of cinnamon can be used in place of the fresh nutmeg. Note