Welcome Spring With Classic Cocktails

Spring has sprung in Melbourne, and the sun is finally peeking through after a long, cold winter. What better way to celebrate the start of spring than to grab some mates and head out for cocktails? To make things even more enticing, the best bar in Moonee Ponds has updated its cocktail list.

And more great news! The Victorian Government is once again subsidising dining out, so guests can claim 25% of their receipt. As if we needed another reason for cocktails. But now is the perfect time to gather for al-fresco dining and enjoy Melbourne’s glorious spring season.

Don’t miss out on trying the best cocktails to kick off spring. There are so many on our drinks menu to enjoy. So if you’re wondering where to start, the classics will never disappoint. From the Martini to the Mojito, once you know your go-to classic cocktail, then go ahead and start adding your own twist.

5 Classic Cocktails Perfect for Spring

Martini

When it comes to classic cocktails, the martini is king. There have been so many variations over the years that it’s hard to tell which one was the original. For your information, the original martini is made with gin and vermouth, garnished with an olive or a lemon peel twist. 

When it’s hard to choose a cocktail, you know you can’t go wrong with a good ol’ classic martini. Do you like your martini dry, dirty or wet? Do you prefer your olives loose in the martini glass or on a cocktail spear? 

If it’s your first time trying a martini, then it may take some time for you to discover how you like your martini. 

When it comes to pairing a Martini with food, go for tapas and antipasto like our garlic and chilly prawns, fish bites, crab fritters, cheese, nuts, cheddar olives and more. There’s nothing better than sipping an ice-cold martini over a few nibbles. 

Whether you prefer it shaken or stirred, with gin or vodka, garnished with an olive or a cocktail onion, it is easy to sip away winter with this classic cocktail.

Aperol Spritz

If you like your cocktails as much as you love your prosecco, then this is the cocktail for you. Aperol Spritz is a wine-based cocktail made with three ingredients: Aperol, prosecco and soda. It was invented in 1919 by bartender Raimondo Ricci in Northeast Italy.  

The Italian summers were long and hot, and the Aperol was designed to help guests cool down. It was also served as an aperitif, which is why Aussies today love to sip on it before dinner. An aperitif is a light beverage before a meal that stimulates the appetite. 

While you’re sipping your aperitivo, you may want some snacks. Our favourite Aperol Spritz snacks are oysters and antipasto, or you can pair it with our pan-fried scallops and the goat souffle with pickled beetroot.

Drinking Aperol Spritz with your friends while the sun warmly caresses your face is the best way to welcome the sunny season. 

Pimms

Pimms is a quintessentially British drink, hailing from London. The first records of Pimms being used date back to the early 1840s’, in an oyster bar owned by fishmonger and confectioner James Pimm. 

Namely, James Pimms mixed the gin with quinine, herbs and spices and served it to the customers to help with digestion. 

A classic Pimms cocktail is made with ginger ale, lemonade, Pimm’s Liqueur, orange and mint leaves. But today, the Pimms cocktail comes in many variations, which is one more reason to ask the bartender to mix up a Pimms to your preference. 

And when you get the munchies, you should try some of our lamb ribs, fried scallops, or zucchini flowers. 

Choosing Pimms as the cocktail to welcome spring is as posh as Britain. 

French 75

The French 75 is a gin-based cocktail, first mentioned in the early 1900s. There are several stories about its origin and the inspiration behind the name, from being invented in a French bar to being named after the French 75-millimetre field gun used during WWI as a symbol of hope.

We like to believe it was named after French 75 the gun, as it feels like you’ve been hit with it after having a few glasses. That’s the only French you’ll get out of this cocktail, so you better count your drinks and order some food with it. 

The best food pairings are pasta like our saffron linguini with seafood, or you can opt for the baked camembert. 

A classic French 75 cocktail is made with dry gin, lemon juice, champagne and powdered sugar. 

Our bartenders mix up Melbourne gin with prosecco, lemon and sugar syrup. 

Mojito 

Cuba’s Mojito cocktail is a summer favourite, and rightly so. The freshness from the mint, the sweetness from the sugar and rum, and the chill from the crushed ice are the perfect combination to beat the Melbourne heat. 

When you pair this goodness with baked crab, artichoke dip, or coconut shrimp, you are then drinking your mojitos right. 

Our menu offers a few appetizers and meals that pair with a Mojito including the garlic and chilli prawns, the pan-fried scallops and smoked mozzarella. Or try our saffron linguini with seafood. Any of these dishes will transport you to Cuba.

Conclusion

Whether you feel like refreshing with a Mojito, sipping on a French 75 or trying something that is not on our menu, our bartenders can make up any cocktails to order. Don’t forget that you can claim 25% off through the Victorian Dining and Entertainment Program, just by spending $40 or more. So bring your best company to Saros Bar + Dining – Moonee Ponds favourite bar – and take advantage of it all.