7 Cocktail Recipes To Try While In Lockdown

Brought to you by our epic cocktail maker / bartender extraordinaire … we’re working on some new cocktails and cannot wait to be serving you on our reopening.

Meanwhile, there is nothing quite like bunkering in with a shiny drinks trolley full of spirits to make delicious cocktails. While we all love hot chocolate, getting a bit more adventurous with lockdown drinks is easy with a few great cocktail recipes.

Although we are currently closed, we thought we would share the love with some epic cocktail recipes that you can make at home (and THEN, when ‘rona is past) come in a try our cocktails the Saros Bar version!

Here is a list of 7 cocktail recipes that you too can make at home:

1. Watermelon Margarita

Tequila, Cointreau, Watermelon Liquor, Lime (Umm .. hello freshness!)

If you’re a Margarita fan (I have yet to find someone who is not!), then this little twist is definitely one to try.  The history of the origins of the Margarita are a bit shady, but check out this great article by National Georgraphic, which provides a pretty in depth overview of where, what, how and why (and a BIG maybe).  Who ever concocted this pleasure salty goodness in a glass, hats to you my friend:

• Step 1: roughly chop fresh watermelon and blitz in a blender
• Step 2: Add lime, tequila & Cointreau and blitz once more
• Step 3: Pour into a frosted margarita glass and ENJOY

 2. Limoncello Martini

Limoncello, Vodka, Sugar, Lemon

Some cocktails you look at and you just want to dive in. Well, this is one of those cocktails. Of course, you can’t really go wrong with limoncello. It has that refreshing quality, perhaps because it is served so cold. This martini recipe is quite simple but very delish.

• Step 1: Put all the ingredients apart from the lemon into a shaker that is filled half way with ice.  Shake, shake, shake!
• Step 2: Pour into a martini glass and add a ribbon of lemon (easy to do with a peeler).

3. Americano

Campari Rosso, Red Vermouth, Soda

The Americano is a gentle introduction to the unique and bitter taste of Campari. It is a fascinating drink with a long and rich history and it was the first cocktail mentioned in the James Bond novels.

• Step 1: Pour Campari Rosso and Red Vermouth into an old fashioned tumbler that has ice cubes.
• Step 2: Top with soda, garnish with a lemon slice and enjoy!

4. Aperol Spritz

Aperol, Proscecco, soda and fresh orange

Aperol was born in 1919 (101 years young!), and the idea of spritz looks to be traced back to the 1800s when soldiers and visitors in Northern Italy were said to have found wine too strong so lightened them with a splash (or ‘spritz’) of water.

• Step 1 : Mix equal parts Aperol and Prosecco
• Step 2 : Add a splash (spritz) of soda
• Step 3 : Garnish with an orange slice

5. Manhattan

Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth & Bitters

Apparently invented in the 1860s by a bartender named Black at a bar on Broadway near Houston Street. The original “Manhattan cocktail” was a mix of “American Whiskey, Italian Vermouth, and Angostura bitters”. During Prohibition (1920–1933) Canadian whisky was primarily used because it was available.

Step 1 : Fill a boston glass with ice

Step 2 : Add all the ingredients and stir thoroughly.

Step 3 : Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an orange twist OR maraschino cherry.

6. Cosmopolitan

Vodka, Cointreau, Cranberry, Lime

Sex and the City and Cosmopolitan are synonymous.  Carrie Bradshaw’s signature cocktail, and was the fixture drink when the girls were out. Such a pretty, dainty, pink cocktail drink, it all began post World War II when Cointreau was added to vodka, which was to become the Kamikaze (vodka, triple sec, lime juice).   Then in the 1980’s they added cranberry juice which gave it it’s reknown pretty in pink hue.  And thus the Cosmopolitan was born.

Step 1 : Shake all the ingredients into a iced shaker.

Step 2 : Pour into a martini or margarita glass and garnish with orange zest or lime wedge.

7. Mojito

Bacardi White Rum, Lime, Mint , sugar

It is said that the original Mojito was a medicinal drink to help cure illness and disease.  A moon shine type rum was mixed with mint, lime, and sugar cane syrup.  the origins are a little sketchy .. either Dutch sailors looking to pre-empt any sailing sicknesses OR African slaves wishing to make a very rough rum taste somewhat .. more pleasureable.  However, one thing is for certain, Havana is the birthplace of this herby little number.

Step 1 : Muddle lime juice, sugar and mint leaves in a small vessel, bruising the mint.

Step 2 : Pour the mixture into a tall glass with ice

Step 3 : Pour over the Barcardi and stir. Top with soda and garnish with mint.

Of course, there is more where that came from, check out our cocktail and drinks menu, and if there is something that you are wishing to try? We are sure to be able to create magic behind the bar!