There seems to be a day scheduled in the calendar to celebrate just about everything, but one that did catch our eye is World Cocktail Day. After all, who doesn’t love a cocktail?
We’re put together a few recipes for you to try out, most of which have a bit of a twist on the traditional versions, but we think you’ll love them – particularly while relaxing in the sunshine.
Espresso Under The Sun
The espresso martini has risen in popularity over the last decade. This rich and creamy cocktail usually combines vodka with a coffee liqueur, but Metaxa
has put a new spin on it, using Metaxa 12 Stars.
- 50 ml Metaxa 12 Stars
- 5 ml Vanilla Syrup
- 30 ml Espresso
- Martini glass
In a shaker, put all ingredients with ice and shake. Pour into the glass, without the ice, then garnish with coffee beans.
Patrón Añejo Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is a classic that’s been enjoyed for generations. This simple-sounding blend of Bourbon whiskey and a dash of bitters, muddled with sugar has in recent years been adapted using different spirits to create very different flavours.
Patrón has added its twist to the Old Fashioned for World Cocktail Day, replacing Bourbon with Patrón Añejo. Aged for 12 months in oak barrels, Añejo has an amber complexion, more akin to Bourbon than its silver cousins, and a smoky flavour with hints of vanilla and caramel.
- 60 ml Patrón Añejo
- 7.5 ml Simple Syrup
- 1 dash bitters
- Orange zest to garnish
Over a double old fashioned glass, use a vegetable peeler to take off two strips of orange zest, making sure to express the oil into the glass. Add the Patrón Añejo, simple syrup, and bitters, and then some ice – the biggest cubes you can find – and stir. Adjust sweetness to taste and garnish with orange zest.
Sagamore Black-Eyed Rye
If it’s a whiskey-based cocktail you’re after, Sagamore Spirit has a great recipe, made using its Rye Whiskey.
- 45 ml Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey
- 15 ml Lime Juice
- 22 ml Blackberry Simple Syrup
- 90 ml of Ginger Beer
- Mint Leaves & Blackberries for garnish
Shake Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey, lime juice, blackberry simple syrup, and a few mint leaves with ice before straining into a Collins glass. Top with Ginger Beer and garnish with mint sprigs and three skewered blackberries.
Not got any blackberry simple syrup? It’s easy to make some. Just mix equal parts water, sugar, and blackberries in a pot, bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. Chill overnight and strain. Alternatively, for a quicker option, muddle blackberries with pre-made simple syrup, then strain the amount you need into the glass.
Rooster Rojo Tropical Sunrise
Another colourful twist on a popular classic that will bring the summer to your World Cocktail Day is the Rooster Rojo Tropical Sunrise. Rooster Rojo Smoked Pineapple Tequila is created by infusing añejo tequila with roasted red Spanish pineapples and ageing the liquid in ex-bourbon barrels for at least 12 months. The result is a tropical flavour, which opens with sweet pineapple, and finishes with banana and faint spices.
- 50ml Rooster Rojo Smoked Pineapple Tequila
- 30ml Grenadine
- 100ml Orange juice
- Orange slice to garnish
Pour the tequila and orange juice into a hurricane glass and add ice as desired. Carefully add the Grenadine, which will sink to the bottom of the glass – don’t stir it! Garnish with a slice of orange.
The Botanist Dry Martini
If you want to go a little more old school and evoke your inner Bond, why not opt for the classic Dry Martini?
The Botanist Gin will add complex, yet delicate notes from the hand-forged botanicals that give it a unique flavour profile, making it perfect for this classic cocktail.
- 75ml The Botanist Gin
- 15ml Dry Vermouth (chilled from the fridge)
- Classic garnish: Lemon peel twist
- Local or sustainable garnish: Lemon Balm
- Martini glass
Fill your favourite Martini glass with ice and set it aside. Fill a mixing glass with 2/3 good quality ice, add all the ingredients and stir continuously for at least 30 seconds to allow for the ingredients to combine a small amount of dilution from the ice. Empty the ice out of the Martini glass and strain into your chilled Martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or lemon balm.
No matter which tipple you choose this World Cocktail Day, mix, relax and enjoy!
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