There is a fine line between a cocktail and a magic potion. Some ingredients definitely don’t belong in a cocktail whereas others are essential. You could stick to tried and tested recipes for Sex on the Beach, mojito, or strawberry daiquiri, but sometimes, you need to up your game and try something different.
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Here are some really quirky ingredients that will add the ‘wow’ factor to your next cocktail party.
Bacon
Bacon is more versatile than you think. Sure, it tastes amazing drizzled with maple syrup and piled on top of a stack of American pancakes, but did you know that you can also add bacon to your cocktails? Obviously, this one won’t work if your guests are vegetarians, but if not, fry up bacon and then add 1 tbsp of pan fat to a bottle of vodka. This will infuse the vodka with a subtle bacon flavor . Before using the vodka, pop it in the freezer for half an hour and then strain it through a coffee filter to remove the fat particles.
Mix your bacon vodka with cider, maple syrup, and a dash of bitters. Garnish with a slice of crispy bacon.
Matcha Tea
Matcha tea cocktails are tasty. Green matcha tea goes amazingly well with gin, so make gin the focus of your matcha cocktail matcha cocktail recipe. Throw some of your favorite brand of gin in a cocktail shaker and mix it up with matcha powder, mint, lime juice, and agave for a refreshing summer cocktail. It is the perfect drink for a late afternoon brunch.
Beetroot
Beetroot is a beautiful vivid crimson color, so any cocktails containing beetroot juice will look amazing. Beet juice goes well with gin, but if you are feeling adventurous, try mixing it with whiskey. Beetroot has a distinct flavor, but a good quality Scotch whiskey more than holds its own when paired with beetroot, and it gives the cocktail real depth.
Blend whiskey with beetroot juice, lemon juice, and some honey to taste. Garnish with fresh tarragon.
Kale
Kale is something we all need to eat more of, but unless you are on a serious health kick, you might give kale a miss. Kale packs a lot of punch and adds a verdant green hue when added to a drink. Use a juicer to extract liquid from kale, and then mix it with gin, cucumber, and a dash of lime. It is a lovely refreshing drink for a hot summer’s day.
Pine Needle Syrup
Pine needles are very reminiscent of Christmas. They also contain ten times more vitamin C than a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. If you want to make a festive cocktail, mix some pine syrup with gin or vodka and add a touch of lemon and lime juice. Garnish with fresh cranberries for extra flavor and seasonal spice.
Other interesting ingredients include spiced butternut squash mixed with bourbon and figs, and for a more refreshing drink, mix eucalyptus syrup with gin, egg, and a dash of lime.