Overheard at Boneta on Saturday night, from a woman referring to her gin martini.

Got me thinking about seductive classic cocktails, and how this needs to come back into fashion. Gone are my desires for sweet, sugary, or otherwise complicated drinks – so I’ve compiled a list of my top 5 adult beverages for your indulgence.

Sidecar: 1 part cognac, 1 part orange liqueur (Cointreau, Grand Marnier or Triple Sec), 1 part lemon juice. Shake over ice, serve in chilled glass with a sugared rim. Or, hold the lemon juice and have a Beautiful instead, served in a warm snifter – a potent cure for a mild cold.

Scotch whiskey, single malt: Some of my favourites include Glenfiddich, Glemorangie, and Bowmore. Anything too peaty reminds me of motor oil; don’t quite have the palate for such an intense flavour. Serve over two fingers of ice.

Classic martini: I prefer a burnt gin martini with a twist, but any variation will do. I’ve been told I make a mean burnt gin martini. Like, rusty nail in an open wound kind of mean.

Rusty Nail: 2 parts scotch whiskey, 1 part Drambuie, served over ice and garnished with a lemon.

Dubonnet: The perfect after dinner/late night drink. Served over ice with a squeeze of lemon.