Summer Sips & Festive Cheer: Cocktail Recipes for Your Venue
Dec 19, 2024
Are you stuck for ideas for your Summer or Christmas cocktail specials? Do you lean into bright summery vibes or offer “Traditional” Christmas nostalgia?
The best solution is to consider the types of guests who visit your venue, is it a young daytime crowd? Or is it more pre and post-dinner drinks? Is your venue a sunny rooftop or a dark and cosy basement?
The answers to these questions should help guide you but ultimately the choice is yours, and remember, you can always do both!
With that in mind, we spoke to our Brand Ambassador team to get some ideas for crowd-pleasing serves that are sure to end up on your venue’s best-seller list, be it something bright and summery or rich delicious and Christmassy.
Be sure to give these a try
Strawberry Piña
Strawberry Pina is a cocktail that embodies the season’s vibrant spirit, and the taste of sun-kissed fruits. The blend of Don Julio Blanco, pineapple, ripe strawberries, and freshly squeezed lime with a touch of agave creates an incredibly bright zippy and flavourful cocktail.
40ml Don Julio Blanco
30ml pineapple juice
25ml lime juice
15ml agave
2 strawberries
1 Cocktail Shaker
1 Coup Glass
1 Muddler
1 Jigger
Method:
Add 1.5 strawberries and agave syrup to the shaker and muddle
Add the remaining ingredients and shake with ice until cold
Fine strain into a chilled glass
Garnish with the remaining half a strawberry
Approx 1.2 Std Drinks
Hibiscus Spritz
This tequila spritz is a fun, modernized serve that reminds us of Southern California.
30ml Don Julio Blanco
15ml Hibiscus Syrup
10ml Lime Juice
60ml Sparkling Wine
Top with Soda Water
Lime Wheel (Garnish)
1 wine/ rocks glass
Method:
Build all ingredients in a glass and fill with cubed ice.
Garnish with a lime wheel
Approx 1.5 Std Drinks
Hibiscus Syrup
Hibiscus tea
Caster Sugar
Method:
Brew a batch of Hibiscus tea according to the packet instructions
After brewing and straining the Hibiscus flowers weigh the resulting liquid.
Zero the scale and add equal parts by weight of caster sugar.
E.g. 234 g Hibiscus tea = 234 g Caster Sugar
Stir to dissolve, allow to cool and store in the fridge.
Shelf life approx. 2 weeks.
London Calling
A citrus and sherry-forward riff on a gin sour, for zesty and complex aperitif vibes.
45ml Tanqueray London Dry
15ml Fino Sherry
15ml Lemon Juice
15ml Sugar Syrup
2 dashes of Orange Bitters
Grapefruit twist (Garnish)
1 Cocktail Shaker
1 Coup Glass
1 Jigger
Method:
Shake all ingredients with ice. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with a grapefruit twist.
Approx Std. Drinks: 1.7
Clover Custard
Johnnie Walker Black Ruby makes the perfect base for this Christmas toast. It holds that deep bold profile and a playful edge that pair perfectly with the flavours of Christmas. Mix it with fresh lemon juice for brightness, a touch of raspberry syrup for that sweet, berry like note, and just a hint of simple syrup to tie it all together. The true magic, though, comes when you whisk in a tablespoon of lemon curd and add fresh raspberries for a burst of tartness. A silky layer of egg white then gives the drink its signature velvety texture.
35ml Johnnie Walker Black Ruby
20ml lemon juice
10ml raspberry syrup
5ml simple syrup
1 Tablespoon lemon curd
3 fresh raspberries
15ml Egg white
1 Raspberry (Garnish)
1 Cocktail Shaker
1 Coup Glass
1 Jigger
1 Tablespoon
1 small whisk
Method:
Add the lemon curd and both syrups to the shaker and whisk to combine
Add the remaining ingredient and shake hard with ice until chilled
Fine Strain into a chilled coup glass
Garnish with a raspberry
Approx. 1.1 Std Drinks
Eggnog Flip
The rum brings tropical and dried fruit notes, while the white cacao and banana liqueur provide sweetness and spice. Whole egg to provide body and creaminess, creating a fluffy cocktail that’s basically Christmas in a glass.
25ml Bundaberg Small Batch
25ml White Cacao Liqueur
25ml Crème de Banane
Two dashes of Angostura Bitters
1 Whole egg
Grated nutmeg (Garnish)
1 Cocktail Shaker
1 Small Rocks/ Coup Glass
1 Jigger
Method:
Dry shake all ingredients, then add ice to the shaker and wet shake all ingredients.
Double strain into a coupe glass
Garnish with grated nutmeg.
Std. Drinks: 1.8
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