Top Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy For World Cocktail Day

Fancy yourself a bit of a mixologist? Well now is the chance to hone those skills during lockdown. World Cocktail Day, 13th May is the ideal time to perfect your flaring! It’s a day for the global celebration of cocktails and marks the publication date of the first definition of a cocktail on May 13 in 1806. We have rounded up signature cocktails from around the world for you to try. From botanical and fruity flavour sensations to healthy mocktails, here is a selection of delicious cocktails you can make from home. Taking inspiration from around the world, taste the rainbow (without the skittles).

For anyone who has already been making the most of quarantine, there are also some fresh and tasty mocktails to mix things up!

Botanical Garden Cocktail

Inspired by Belfast City’s Botanical Garden, this fresh flavoured cocktail uses intriguing botanicals such as fresh apple, elderberry and wild clover to enhance the cocktails floral tone. This cocktail is beautifully balanced and vibrant, perfect for a warm spring evening. Created by Hastings Hotels’ in their Grand Central Hotel, Belfast’s Observatory Bar in Northern Ireland.

Ingredients:

• 30ml Shortcross Gin (or any gin available)
• 10ml Aperol
• 15ml Rhubarb Liqueur
• 10ml Pomegranate Cordial
• 20ml Citrus Juices
• 1 Egg (Whites only)
• Pink Peppercorns and Viola Flowers for garnish

Method:

1. Chill your Martini Glass by filling with ice
2. Combine all the ingredients (excluding garnish) in a cocktail shaker and dry shake (no ice)
3. Add ice to cocktail shaker
4. Shake again to create a velvety foam top
5. Double strain into a chilled Martini Glass and garnished with Whole Pink Peppercorns and Viola Flowers (or whatever you have available)

Love at First Sight

Savour the sense of the slopes of Courmayeur Mont Blanc in the Italian Alps with this signature cocktail from Le Massif’s Bernardo Ferro. With these fragrant herbal flavours, you will be transported to the untouched nature and wild landscapes of the mountains.

Ingredients:

• 2cl of Vertosan Genepy;
• 2cl Aperol;
• 2cl Cointreau;
• 1cl raspberry syrup;
• 8cl Fripon (sparkling white wine from Aosta Valley);
• 1 raspberry/1 orange slice to garnish

Method:

1. Take a wine glass and fill 2/3 of the glass with ice
2. Add ice into the shaker with all ingredients apart from the Fripon white wine
3. Drain any melted ice water from the glass.
4. Shake vigorously and pour into the glass
5. Add the white sparkling wine
6. Gently mix, add garnish on top and serve

MarBellous Cocktail

This tropical fruity cocktail from MarBella Corfu will remind you of summer holidays on Corfu’s stunning beaches. With refreshing citruses and sweet passion fruit, this simple signature cocktail will have you feeling as if you’re poolside and soaking in the sun.

Ingredients:

• 0.5ml Rum
• 0.25ml Fresh Lime Juice
• 0.30ml Passion Fruit Puree
• 0.3ml Orange Jam
• 2 dashes of Chocolate Bitters
• Orange Slice or Peel and Fresh Mint Leaves for garnish

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fill with ice and shake well
2. Once shaken, pour into a tumbler through a fine strainer
3. Add crushed ice and garnish with an orange slice or peel and top with fresh mint leaves

Mary Pear

Take your tastebuds on a journey to the Algarve with this delicious cocktail. Its sweet, herby and floral flavours are reminiscent of Quinta Do Lago’s luscious landscape. Quick and easy to make, this cocktail is the perfect after ‘work-from-home’ drink. Created by the mixologists at Bovino Steakhouse in Quinta do Lago Resort, Portugal

Ingredients:

• 40ml Gin Mare
• 20ml St. Germain
• 50ml Pear Juice
• 20ml Lime Juice
• 10ml Sugar Syrup
• Pear Slices and Rosemary for garnish

Method:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice and shake well
2. Double strain into an old jam jar or tumbler
3. Add garnish and serve

Renaissance

Created by Julian Biondi, Beverage Consultant & Founder of “BarOmeter Consulting” this is a refreshing and summery twist on a classic Negroni, the traditional cocktail of Biondi’s home town. Perfect for an evening spent in a Tuscan Villa, it’s easy to make and equally easy to drink. Think Pimm’s Cup with the taste of Tuscany, courtesy of Tuscany Now & More.

Ingredients:

• 25 ml Tuscan Vermouth Winestillery (or any other Red Italian Vermouth with a bitter note, such as Punt e Mes)
• 25 ml Amaro Ruffino (or any other Amaro with a nice herbal and bitter note, such as Nonino or Averna)
• 15 ml Peter in Florence London Dry Gin
• 15 ml honey & thyme syrup
• 15 ml lemon juice
• 1 slice of cucumber
• 1 slice of orange
• Tonic water

Method:

1. Chill a highball glass with ice
2. Combine all ingredients (excluding Tonic Water) and shake well
3. Strain the cocktail into the glass and top with tonic water.
4. Stir gently
5. Garnish with a sprig of thyme and orange slice

Piton-Rita

This cool cocktail will have you dreaming of the Caribbean and Windjammer Landing’s beautiful beaches in Saint Lucia. The super sweet citrus flavours makes it easy to drink, but watch out for the brain freeze! Substitute with another beer if you need to, but look forward to trying it with the real Piton flavour soon.

Ingredients:

• 4 oz Tequila
• 2 oz Triple Sec
• 2 oz Lime Juice
• 4 scoops of Ice
• Bottled Beer
• Sugar to taste

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth
2. Add sugar if required and mix again
3. Pour into a large glass and top with beer

Lady Rose

This light, floral cocktail celebrates Venice and the beautiful Grand Hotel Dei Dogi, The Dedica Anthology. With natural ingredients inspired by the hotel’s stunning botanical garden and delicate flavours of Italy, this cocktail is refreshing and showcases expert mixologist skills from the creator Alessandro Caro.

Ingredients:

• 40 ml infusion of Verbena, Mint Tea and Orange Blossoms
• 20ml Homemade Rose Petal Syrup
• 40ml Moscato Fiori D’Arancio Colli Euganei Maeli
• Raspberries, Blackberries and Mint Leaves for garnish

Method:

1. To infuse: soak the tea bag of in boiling water and allow to cool
2. To make the rose petal syrup: boil water and sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Next, mix in rose petal and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the syrup and allow to cool
3. Fill a glass with ice to cool
4. Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, fill with ice and shake well
5. Serve in a tumbler and fill with crushed ice.
6. Stir and garnish with berries and mint leaves

Cinderella

A delicious sparkling cocktail with bitter citrus flavours and a hint of sweetness. A perfect reminder of long lazy summer days and perfect for an afternoon treat. Elounda SA Hotels & Resorts suggests adding any blossoms from the garden to create a delicious and visually stunning drink.

Ingredients:

• 50ml Aperol Aperitivo
• 10ml Fresh lime juice
• 30ml Prosecco
• 100ml Pink grapefruit flavoured soda
• 2-3 Dashes lavender aromatic bitters
• Cucumber and Lavender Blossom for garnish

Method:

1. Combine Aperol and lime juice in a glass and add ice
2. Stir gently
3. Top with soda and prosecco
4. Garnish with cucumber and lavender blossom

Tip: mist with lavender essence spray (lavender water not perfume)

Pina Colada Mocktail

For a healthier, non-alcoholic option, try this delicious Pina Colada mocktail from Longevity Health and Wellness Hotel. Perfect for any time of the day, this creamy, coconut drink makes for the ultimate pick me up. Tasting just like the cocktail, this virgin Pina Colada will transport you to Portugal’s beautiful Algarve Bay.

Ingredients:

• 200 ml of coconut milk
• 1 mint leaf
• 2 slices of pineapple
• Cinnamon (optional)

Method:

1. Combine coconut milk and mint leaf in a blender and mix
2. Cut the pineapple into cubes and blend with coconut milk and mint leaf
3. Pour mixture into a large glass and add a sprinkle of cinnamon

Agave Punch Mocktail

This tasty alcohol-free mocktail is sweet and refreshing and inspired by The Shack in Quinta do Lago, Portugal. With two simple steps and tasty Mediterranean flavours, this drink will give you a healthy kick of vitamins.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lime cut into wedges
• 15ml agave nectar
• 1/2 passion fruit
• 2 strawberries
• 50ml freshly squeezed orange juice
• Crushed ice

Method:

1. Place strawberries, passion fruit seeds and agave nectar in a glass and crush with a muddler or end of a rolling pin
2. Add orange juice and crushed ice then stir and serve