The third Monday in January has become infamous for being the most depressing day of the year - but instead of giving into the doom and gloom, why not whip up some cheerful cocktails to brighten things up a bit? One sip of these happy-hued drinks and you'll forget all about those January blues!

1. Blue Martini

Image: The Cocktail Project

Ingredients:

45ml vodka
15ml dry gin
4ml blue curaçao
8ml vermouth

Method:

1. Stir all ingredients together in a shaker with ice, then strain into a chilled Martini glass.

2. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve.

2. Blue Lady

Image: Barmano

Ingredients:

30ml dry gin
60ml blue curaçao
30ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
½ fresh egg white

Method:

1. Shake all ingredients together in a shaker with ice, then strain into a chilled Martini glass.

2. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and serve.

3. Blue Lagoon

Image: the bar US

Ingredients:

30ml dry gin
30ml vodka
30ml blue curaçao
30 ml lime juice, freshly squeezed
30ml simple syrup*

Method:

1. In a blender, blend all of the ingredients with a large scoop of crushed ice.

2. Pour drink into a chilled glass and garnish with an orange twist or maraschino cherry.

3. Serve with a straw.

*To make syrup, heat equal parts sugar and water until dissolved, then allow to cool.

4. Blue Gin & Tonic

Image: RecipesPlus

Ingredients:

30ml dry gin
30ml blue curaçao
130ml premium tonic water

Method:

1. Stir gin and blue curacao together.

2. Pour over ice in a glass and top with tonic water.

3. Garnish with a slice of orange and serve.

5. Maritime Martini

Image: Flickr/zanastardust

Ingredients:

45ml vodka
15ml dry gin
5ml blue curaçao
10ml vermouth
Lime twist

Method:

1. Fill a shaker with ice and pour all the ingredients in.

2. Stir well and strain into a chilled Martini glass.

3. Garnish with a twist of lemon and enjoy.