Whatever would we do without cocktails?

Whether one is dying of boredom on a Sunday evening or racked with tension after a perilous mission, these little wonders hit the spot every time. Rather like those cheeky Tracy boys and their glorious Thunderbird machines.

This priceless selection of drinks includes all my favourites, from the classic Cosmopolitan to Jeff Tracy's fabulous Tracy Island Iced Tea. Simply follow my tips for the final flourish in each case and you can be assured of impressing the highest of society with your savoir faire, even if you lack the services of a reliable man like Parker. It's so hard to find the staff nowadays.

Sarah Tomley