Sam Wylie-Harris fires-up February with some crafty winter cocktails

Whether it's a classic cocktail or a crafty new concoction, when it comes to preparing a powerful home remedy, the cocktail should taste as good as it looks.

Here are some creative infusions that serve the purpose well...

CANDLELIT MANHATTAN

A vintage cocktail made with rye whiskey or bourbon, sweet vermouth and bitters, a Manhattan is simple enough - but if you want to get the measure of a premix, all you have to do with Mr Lyan's Candlelit Manhattan (£42.75, 50cl, www.thewhiskyexchange.com) is serve it well chilled and garnish the glass with a maraschino cherry.

Created by Ryan Chetiyawardana, 'the world's best bartender' and man behind the Dandelyan Bar, London, it's a bespoke bottle with excellent credentials.

SERGEANT TIBBS

A competing cocktail in this year's Beefeater MIXLDN, the world's largest gin-based cocktail competition (the winner will be announced on February 9), budding mixologists just need to pinch Granny's tea set to create this cocktail, which takes inspiration from 101 Dalmatians and is made using Beefeater London Dry Gin (£14, 70cl, Sainsbury's).

To find out more about MIXLDN, visit www.beefeatermixldn.com

50ml Beefeater London Dry, 60ml single cream (well chilled), 10ml lemon juice, 20ml sugar syrup, powdered green tea for garnish

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and dry shake (no ice). Pour into a pretty tea cup and garnish with powdered green tea in the shape of spots.

THE BLOODY JASMINE

A novel pairing from Down Under, Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin (£39.95, 70cl, www.masterofmalt.com) is crafted from gin and shiraz grapes and this plum choice can be mixed with tonic or soda; and unlike sloe gin, the abv is 37.8% (rather than less than 30%) so it works well in cocktails...

20ml Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin, 20ml Campari, 20ml Dry Curacao (or any other orange liqueur, such as Cointreau), 20ml fresh lemon juice, 1 dash of orange bitters, lemon twist for garnish

Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the ingredients, shake vigorously and strain into a chilled coupette glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

THE DORSET DONKEY

An English vodka made entirely from the milk of grass grazed cows, Black Cow Vodka (£28, 70cl, Sainsbury's) can be enjoyed neat on the rocks, but with the added benefit of blueberries, this cocktail has colour and character...

40ml Black Cow, 10ml morello cherry liqueur, 20ml lime juice, 15ml honey water, 3 stalks of sage, 6 blueberries, 75ml ginger ale

Drop four of the blueberries into the bottom of a highball glass with two sprigs of sage. Using a muddling stick or similar, gently press the berries and herb into the bottom of the glass. Pour the vodka, liqueur, lime and honey water into the glass. Add cubed ice to fill the glass then top with ginger ale. Give the glass a quick stir to lift the berries and sage through. Garnish with a sprig of sage and two blueberries.

OLD DOG

On the back of the trend for no-age-statement blended malt, Copper Dog Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (£27.95, 70cl, www.thewhiskyexchange.com) combines eight Speyside single malts and, with its fruity profile and hints of honey and spice, it's designed specifically for mixing in cocktails. Here's an Old Fashioned recipe to tinker with...

50ml Copper Dog, 5ml sugar syrup, dash aromatic bitters

Pour the whisky into a rocks glass and add a few ice cubes. Build the sugar syrup and bitters over the ice. Stir and garnish with an orange rind twist.

WILD TURKEY KENTUCKY MULE

A cocktail that comes with a good kick, swap vodka for Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey (£23, 70cl, Tesco) to test your speed while creating this long refreshing drink.

40ml Wild Turkey, 15ml freshly squeezed lime juice, dash angostura bitters, ginger beer, lime and fresh mint for garnish

Half fill a shaker with ice. Add the bourbon, lime juice and bitters. Shake vigorously and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with ginger beer and garnish with lime and a mint sprig.

DARK 'N' STORMY

For a rum do with minimum effort and maximum taste, try Goslings Black Seal Bermuda Black Rum (£25, 70cl, Waitrose) to capture island life in a shot.

50ml Goslings Black Seal Rum, 75ml Goslings Stormy Ginger Beer, squeeze of lime

Fill a high ball glass with ice. Add the ginger beer and then pour the rum slowly so that it floats on top of the ginger beer. Add a squeeze of lime and garnish.

BEST BUY

Bunch of grapes... Made with 47 different varieties of grapes, the new Taste the Difference Fairtrade Vine Garden Rose 2016, SA (£7, Sainsbury's) is delightfully fresh and fruity and captures the rich diversity of South Africa in a glass.

LIQUID NEWS

February wine festival... Aldi is launching its spring festival this week with 12 great tasting wines, all priced under £8. A showcase for some of the great winemakers Aldi works with, the carefully selected line-up is a diverse collection of reds, whites and a rose, each with a unique background.

Highlights include Mo Sisters Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia, £6.99, Survivor Generation Swartland Shiraz-Mouvedre, SA £5.99, Big Bill, SA, £5.99 and El Mayoral, Spain, £6.99. Available online from February 9, in store February 12.

There's also a Rare Reds Explorer Case, £37.94, available online from February 12, with a selection of six exciting bottles, including the wines above.