Set during the prohibition era of North America and set in Atlantic City, Boardwalk Empire is set during sort of depressing times – and as we’re currently in the midst of a seemingly endless recession times are tough now. Fortunately we don’t have to find unscrupulous sources for our drinks, at least, and the team behind HBO’s hit show have come up with a few Boardwalk Empire inspired cocktails which we think are a perfect tonic to the stormy start to 2012. (There is still also time to enter our COMPETITION – but be quick as it closes at 5pm today, January 6th 2012.)

The drinks are;

1 – The Scofflaw Nation
You will need;
40ml bourbon
15ml Ratafia
10ml dry vermouth
10ml juice
10ml grenadine Dash orange bitters

Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass and stir with a spoon until the mixture is ice cold. Then shake and double strain into a coupette glass. Squeeze a lemon over the top and garnish with a lemon twist, then serve for a refreshing, zesty experience.

2 – The Bootlegger’s Secret
40ml gin
10 ml grenadine
15 Amber vermouth
10 ml lime juice
Half egg white

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and then shake the living daylights out of it. Strain into a martini glass, garnish with apple and serve.

3 – Atlantic City Sour
50ml bourbon
20ml sugar syrup
25ml lemon juice
Half egg white
Dash bitters
10ml spiced wine

Add the bourbon, sugar, lemon juice, egg white and bitters to a cocktail shaker. Shake for a few seconds and then strain into a glass over ice. Float the spiced wine on the top and decorate with a lemon peel. This is a really great one for the end of a long 4 day week.

Cocktails kindly created by Marian Beke, head bartender at Nightjar.