The Cocktail Corner 🍸

Ingredients

• 60 ml Bacardi rum
• 10–15 ml lemon juice
• 4–5 lemon wedges
• Handful of mint leaves
• 10–15 ml sugar syrup
• Soda water (to top)

Method

1. Slightly muddle lemon wedges in the glass.
2. Tap mint leaves to release aroma, then add to glass.
3. Fill glass with crushed ice.
4. Pour rum and lemon juice over the ice.
5. Add sugar syrup.
6. Top up with soda water.
7. Garnish with mint leaves and a lemon wheel.

Taste: Refreshing, minty, citrusy, lightly sweet.

Mai Tai (Tiki Glass Version)

Ingredients

• 45 ml white rum
• 15 ml dark rum (Havana recommended)
• 30 ml orange juice
• 10 ml almond syrup (orgeat)
• Crushed ice
• Optional: dash of lime juice (for balance)

Method

1. Fill a tiki glass with crushed ice.
2. Pour in white rum, orange juice, and almond syrup.
3. Stir gently to mix.
4. Float the dark rum on top by slowly pouring it over the back of a spoon.
5. Top up with extra Havana rum if desired.
6. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

Taste: Sweet, nutty, fruity, lightly strong — a classic tiki-style cocktail.

Mai Tai (Rock Glass Version)

Ingredients

• 45 ml white rum
• 15 ml dark rum (Havana recommended)
• 30 ml orange juice
• 10 ml almond syrup (orgeat)
• Cubed ice
• Optional: dash of lime juice (for balance)

Method

1. Fill a rock glass with cubed ice.
2. Add white rum, orange juice, and almond syrup.
3. Stir well to chill and dilute slightly.
4. Float the dark rum on top by slowly pouring it over the back of a spoon.
5. Top up with extra Havana rum if desired.
6. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

Taste: Smooth, nutty, citrus-forward, slightly stronger compared to the tiki glass version since cubed ice dilutes slower.

Margarita (Three Styles)

Ingredients

• 45 ml tequila
• 15 ml triple sec (orange liqueur)
• 20–30 ml lemon juice
• 15 ml sugar syrup (pre-made)

1. Frozen Method

1. Add tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and a scoop of ice into a blender.
2. Blend until smooth and slushy.
3. Pour into a chilled margarita glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Taste: Tangy, smooth, refreshing with a slushy texture.

2. On the Rocks Method

1. Prepare a margarita or rock glass with a salted rim.
2. Add cubed ice to the glass.
3. Pour tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, and sugar syrup directly into the glass.
4. Stir gently.
5. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Taste: Crisp, sour-sweet, refreshing with a sharper finish.

3. Shaken Method (Classic)

1. Prepare a margarita or coupe glass with a salted rim.
2. Add tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and ice into a cocktail shaker.
3. Shake vigorously for 10–12 seconds.
4. Strain into the prepared glass (no ice, unless serving over fresh ice in a rock glass).
5. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Taste: Balanced, bright, citrusy with a silky texture — the most traditional Margarita style.

Ingredients

• 45 ml cachaça (or rum if substituting locally)
• 15 ml sugar syrup (or muddled brown sugar)
• ½ lime, cut into 4 wedges
• Cubed or crushed ice

Method

1. In a whiskey glass, muddle the lime wedges with sugar syrup (or brown sugar) to release the juice and oils.
2. Add cachaça (or rum) over the muddled lime.
3. Fill the glass with ice (cubed or crushed).
4. Stir well to combine.
5. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Taste: Bold, sour, and citrusy with earthy sugar undertones — a classic Brazilian cocktail.

Ingredients

• 45 ml vodka
• 15 ml triple sec (orange liqueur)
• 30 ml cranberry juice
• 10–15 ml lime juice
• Ice

Method (Shaken)

1. Add vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, lime juice, and ice into a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake well for 10–12 seconds.
3. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
4. Garnish with an orange peel twist.

Taste: Strong, citrusy, tart-sweet with a crisp finish.

Ingredients

• 45 ml vodka
• 15 ml lime juice
• 2–3 lemon wedges
• Ginger beer (to top up)
• Ice (cubed)

Method (Build-Up Cocktail)

1. In a copper mug (or highball glass if not available), add ice cubes.
2. Pour vodka and lime juice over the ice.
3. Squeeze in 2–3 lemon wedges, then drop them in.
4. Top up with chilled ginger beer.
5. Stir gently.
6. Garnish with a lemon wedge or lime wheel.

Taste: Refreshing, zesty, slightly spicy from the ginger beer — a crisp and lively cocktail.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Aperol
• 30 ml prosecco
• Soda water (to top up)
• Ice (cubed)

Method (Build-Up Cocktail)

1. Fill a large wine glass with cubed ice.
2. Pour in Aperol.
3. Add prosecco.
4. Top up with soda water.
5. Stir gently to combine.
6. Garnish with an orange slice.

Taste: Light, bubbly, bittersweet with refreshing citrus notes.

Ingredients

• 30 ml vodka
• 30 ml Kahlúa (coffee liqueur)
• 1 shot fresh espresso (single)
• Ice

Method (Shaken)

1. Add vodka, Kahlúa, espresso, and ice into a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake hard for 12–15 seconds until well-chilled and frothy.
3. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
4. Garnish with 3 coffee beans (symbolizing health, wealth, and happiness).

Taste: Rich, bold, bittersweet with smooth coffee and chocolate notes.

Ingredients

• 45 ml whiskey (Red Label or bourbon recommended)
• 30 ml lemon juice
• 30 ml sugar syrup
• 30 ml egg white (1 full egg white)
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Ice

Method (Double Shake)

1. Add whiskey, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and egg white into a cocktail shaker.
2. First shake: Dry shake (without ice) to emulsify the egg white.
3. Second shake: Add ice and shake hard for 12–15 seconds.
4. Strain into a chilled rocks glass.
5. Top with 2 dashes of Angostura bitters.
6. Garnish with an orange peel.

Taste: Smooth, creamy, tangy, with balanced sweetness and a hint of spice.

Ingredients

• 45 ml vodka
• 80 ml orange juice (to top up)
• 80 ml cranberry juice
• 15 ml peach syrup (or peach schnapps)
• Ice (cubed)

Method

1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
2. Pour in vodka, peach syrup, and cranberry juice.
3. Top up with orange juice.
4. Stir gently to mix.
5. Garnish with an orange slice or cherry.

Taste: Fruity, sweet, refreshing — a classic tropical-style cocktail.

Ingredients

• 45 ml gin
• 15 ml lemon juice
• 30 ml grapefruit juice
• Tonic water (to top up)
• Ice (cubed)

Method

1. Fill a gin goblet (large balloon glass) with cubed ice.
2. Add gin, lemon juice, and grapefruit juice.
3. Top up with tonic water.
4. Stir gently to combine.
5. Garnish with a grapefruit slice or lemon wheel.

Taste: Refreshing, citrusy, bittersweet with a crisp tonic finish.

Ingredients

• 20 ml Campari
• 20 ml gin
• 20 ml sweet vermouth (Martini recommended)
• Ice (cubed)

Method

1. Fill a rock glass with cubed ice.
2. Pour in Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth.
3. Stir gently to mix.
4. Garnish with an orange slice or orange peel twist.

Taste: A bold balance of bitter, sweet, and herbal flavors — the signature aperitif cocktail.

Ingredients

• 45 ml gin or vodka (your choice)
• 15 ml dry vermouth
• Ice

Method

1. Add gin or vodka and dry vermouth into a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir well (not shaken, unless preferred).
3. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist or green olive.

Taste: Clean, crisp, aromatic (gin) or smooth (vodka).

Ingredients

• 45 ml gin or vodka
• 15 ml dry vermouth
• 15 ml olive brine (from green olives)
• Ice

Method

1. Add gin/vodka, vermouth, and olive brine into a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir well and strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with 2–3 green olives.

Taste: Salty, savory, bold twist on the classic.

Ingredients

• 45 ml vanilla vodka
• 15 ml passionfruit liqueur (Passoã)
• 30 ml passionfruit purée
• 15 ml lime juice
• 15 ml sugar syrup
• Sparkling wine (Prosecco, served on the side)

Method

1. Shake vodka, passionfruit liqueur, purée, lime juice, and syrup with ice.
2. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with half a passionfruit.
4. Serve with a shot of Prosecco on the side.

Taste: Sweet, fruity, tropical.