Top 5 Classic Cocktails
Who doesn't love a good cocktail? The world of cocktails is
continuously being reinvented with new ingredients and combinations but we know
the classics are the classics for a reason!
True classics will always be loved, but you can build on
these time and time again to refresh an old favourite and re-experience a
classic in new ways, with a little bit of invention!
Mojito
Perhaps one of the most famous cocktails of all time, this
Cuban classic offers fresh kicks of mint and lime to counteract the potency of
the rum with which it is made. A summertime favourite, you can count on it to
help you kick back and enjoy the sun. Traditionally, this classic is made with
rum, mint, lime, sugar, soda and garnished with a mint sprig.
If you’re looking for a new take on this classic, there are tonnes
of popular variations available. Fruit-flavoured vodkas or rums, such as mango,
strawberry, lychee or mandarin are often used instead to create a whole new
taste, while the Mexican Mojito uses the Mexican native tequila instead of rum
as a primary alcohol. If you fancy taking things up a notch, a Mojito Royal is
a mojito with champagne instead of soda.
Daiquiri
Mmmm… yum! The ever-delicious daiquiri is another native of
Cuba, and is made with rum, sugar, and lime and garnished with a lime wheel. This
fantastic concoction really took off attention across the US by 1940 when rum
was easily accessible but other alcohols such as vodka and whisky were harder
to come by.
Nowadays, there are plenty of popular variations, such as
the strawberry daiquiri and frozen daiquiris – they almost outstrip the
original! Strawberry or other fruits counteract the taste of rum, while frozen
daiquiris create an alcoholic slushy experience, made with finely pulverized
ice or mixed in a blender. Perfect for summer!
Margarita
Surely one of the best-known cocktails of all time, the
margarita is made with tequila, Triple Sec, lime and sugar and garnished with a
lime wheel. It is also popular to serve with salt around the rim of the
cocktail glass. It is the most common tequila-based cocktail in the US.
Plenty of popular variations exist, such as the frozen
margarita (similar to the frozen daiquiri) and liqueurs that might be used
instead include Grand Marnier, Gran Gala, or blue curaçao (resulting in the
blue margarita). Either way, you’re in for a treat.
Cosmopolitan
Incredibly famous, and not just due to Sex And The City, this American classic has always had a strong
following. Informally known as a Cosmo, it traditionally contains citrus vodka,
triple sec, lime and cranberry and is garnished with a flamed orange.
Feel free to mix things up with this cocktail as plenty of
variations exist, such as a Peach Cosmopolitan, which substitutes peach
schnapps for Triple Sec and peach juice for the cranberry. There are also
variations in methods of preparation, such as stirring the ingredients in a
mixing glass, instead of shaking.
Tom Collins
Our friend Tom Collins is a true classic, believed to have
been named after The Great Tom Collins hoax of 1874. It’s made with gin, lemon,
sugar and soda and is garnished with a lemon wedge. The drink has been
immensely popular since its launch, and was identified as 'a favourite drink in
demand everywhere' in the 1878 edition of The
Modern Bartender's Guide.
You can get a different type of Collins drink practically
anywhere; numerous variations exist and are all known as ‘Collins’ drinks in
their own right, although they are mostly variations on the Tom Collins
cocktail made with different alcohol bases. Examples of these are Brandy
Collins, made with brandy, and Michael Collins, made with Irish whiskey and
named after the Irish rebel leader Michael Collins.
These classics are the foundation of any cocktail bash, and
you haven’t lived till you've tried them all! Once you have, get creative and
mix things up by trying a few of our classic variations.
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