Three spring cocktails to stir the senses on a sunny evening
A selection of spring cocktails to stir the senses
The Kracken’s latest release, Kraken Black Spiced Rum Black Cherry & Vanilla (€31 or €26.50 with a Clubcard, 70cl, Tesco), is a little cracker – and if you’re partial to a black forest cherry dessert, this is the rum for you. Utterly delicious, think dark spiced rum infused with rich cherries and Madagascan vanilla with a lip-smacking finish.
Rich and flavoursome, it’s the ideal partner for tiki cocktails…
- 40ml Kraken Cherry Rum
- 20ml Cointreau
- 30ml pineapple juice
- 40ml mango & passion fruit coulis
- 15ml lime juice, 10ml grenadine.
- Garnish: Pineapple leaves and half a passion fruit.
Half-fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all ingredients, shake vigorously and strain into a hurricane glass filled with ice. Garnish with pineapple leaves and half a passion fruit.
A label to love and stylistically beautiful, if you’re not captivated by the butterfly eyes on Hendrick’s Flora Adora Gin (currently €42.821, 70cl, Amazon), the bouquet will win you over, big-time. Florals abound with subtle herbal notes, hints of violets and garden flowers, finishing smooth as a silk stocking.
Here’s how to stir things up with a fragrant gin that’s as good as it gets in long drinks and cocktails…
- 50ml Flora Adora
- 25ml lemon juice
- 25ml simple syrup
- soda water.
- Garnish: 4 raspberries, 6 mint leaves, 3 cucumber wheels.
Fill a glass with ice. Add the gin, juice and syrup, top with soda, stir slowly and garnish with raspberries, mint and cucumber.
An A-list agave, if you really want to call the shots, Patrón Reposado Tequila (€75, 70cl, O'Briens), brings everything to the cocktail arena. Straight up it offers true drinking pleasure with a wonderful balance of fresh agave and oak wood, with citrusy florals, honey and touch of pepper on the lingering finish.
Here’s a classic cooler to put you in a sunny mood with thoughts of heading down Mexico way…
- 60ml Patrón Reposado
- 60ml grapefruit juice
- 20ml lime juice, 15ml ginger juice
- fresh basil leaves
- Fever Tree Ginger Beer.
- Garnish: Twist of grapefruit zest.
Fill a glass with ice. Add the tequila, grapefruit, lime, ginger juice and basil, top with ginger beer, stir slowly and garnish with twist.
