Bring the carnival spirits home with Bank Holiday cocktails you can make in a blender

The end of summer is truly nigh with Great British Bake Off bake on TV and rushing out to buy Magimix and Kenwood blenders.

Whilst baking is undoubtedly a fantastic way to spend the evenings when the night's draw in, why not whizz up some kitchen cocktails instead this bank holiday weekend?

If you're more a fan of watching Notting Hill's carnival from the TV rather than braving the portaloos and pints of rum and ginger, then an easy blended ice cocktail is the perfect way to bring a bit of carnival spirit into the house.

All you need is a blender, spirits lying around the house from past parties, a bit of fruit and get a few people over and you have a ready-made summer cocktail party without all the faff of shaking, stirring or investing in 10 bottles of vermouth and chartreuse that you will never use again.

Try out a few of the kitchen cocktails below this Bank Holiday weekend and you'll never be mixing Victoria sponges in your mixer again…

Captain Watermelon Daiquiri

Serves: 1 (contains two units of alcohol)

Ingredients

• Double measure (50ml) of Captain Morgan White Rum
• Slices of Watermelon and cucumber
• Juice from 1 lime
• Fresh basil leaves

Directions

1. Drop a handful of ice cubes into a bullet blender.
2. Add all other ingredients ensuring the mixture does not go past the MAX line on your machine.
3. Twist on the bullet blender blade and blend.
4. Pour into a cocktail glass leaves.
5. Garnish with a slice of watermelon and a fresh basil leaf in a tall cup.

Johnnie Walker Mango Crush

Serves: 1 (contains one unit of alcohol)

Ingredients

• Single measure (25ml) Johnnie Walker Red Label
• 2 cups chopped mango
• 1/2 cup strawberries
• 1/4 cup coconut water
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• Handful of ice cubes

Directions

1. Drop a handful of ice cubes into the bullet blender.
2. Add all other ingredients ensuring the mixture does not go past the MAX line on your machine.
3. Twist on the bullet blender blade and blend.
4. Pour into a cocktail glass.
5. Garnish with strawberries and blueberries tall cup.

Smirnoff Frozen Mary

Serves 1 (contains two units of alcohol)

Ingredients

• Double measure (50ml) of Smirnoff
• 120ml tomato juice
• Juice from 1/2 a lemon
• 4 dashes of Tobasco sauce
• 4 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 grinds black pepper
• Handful of ice cubes
• 1 slice of lemon
• 1 celery stalk

Directions

1. Pour the Smirnoff and tomato juice into the blender.
2. Add the lemon juice, tabasco and Worcestershire sauce with the ice cubes. Make sure your ingredients do not go past the MAX line on your machine.
3. Twist on the bullet blender blade and blend.
4. Pour contents into a tall glass and garnish with celery and lemon.

Gordon's Frozen Gimlet

Serves: 1 (contains two units of alcohol)

Ingredients

• Double measure (50ml) of Gordon's
• Handful of blueberries
• Juice from 1 lime
• 6 mint leaves
• Dash of coconut water
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• Handful of ice

Directions

1. Drop a handful of ice cubes into the bullet blender.
2. Add all other ingredients ensuring the mixture does not go past the MAX line on your machine.
3. Twist on the bullet blender blade and blend tall cup.
4. Pour into a cocktail glass.

Cocktail recipes provided by Diageo #LetsCocktail