Cocktail of the Day
12 September 2026
Today is National Chocolate Milkshake Day, so we are drinking a Death By Chocolate.
Italicus Cocktail Competition
As part of its ten-year anniversary celebrations, Italicus is challenging home cocktail enthusiasts to imagine a new way to spritz. The prize bundle includes
Pancho Villa (contemporary long version)
Fruity, yet balanced and well-weighted with just enough spirituous bite. Rum acts as a base while gin lightens and lifts.
Ponte Vecchio
A delicately bittersweet Italian brandy and grappa Boulevardier with amaro liqueur and vermouth amaro.
Bow and Arrow
Tropical but far from sweet, led by an interplay between mezcal, pineapple and lime, spiced by cinnamon, with bourbon providing this sour's underlying
Flyby
Lavender liqueur replaces crème de violette in this riff on an Aviation.
Bait 'n' Switch
A Pineapple Mezcal Margarita with chili and cinnamon spice.
Fizz Italiano
A superbly refreshing, bittersweet, zesty fizz.
Isle of Islay
A Penicillin turned Tiki.
Lavender & Honey Daiquiri
One of those cocktails that delivers exactly as its name suggests.
Lucky Lily Margarita
Spicy tequila and pineapple tingle with balance and flavour.
Green Fizz
A minty freshening after dinner fizz.
The Gentlemen
A Tequila and Tonic with apple juice and ginger spice. Not sure how a tequila-based cocktail is themed as the drink of choice of an English Gentleman,
Beverly Hills Hotel Cocktail
Zingy grapefruit sourness balances rich elderflower in this gin-laced cocktail, which you might consider enjoying with your breakfast. That's how they
Cadillac Margarita (AKA Grand Margarita)
A flavoursome Margarita, with the liqueur's rich cognac and orange notes adding to this cocktail's depth of flavour.
Champagne Cocktail
Starts bone dry and becomes slightly sweeter as you reach the dissolving cube at the bottom, depending on how briskly you drink of course. Back in the
Charlie Chaplin
Dilution is key to this fruity sweet 'n' sour cocktail, hence, depending on your ice, the Charlie Chaplin may benefit from the addition of a splash of
China Blue
This simple turquoise cocktail tastes more adult and interesting than its colour might suggest.
Tulane Aperitif
Adapted from the classic Tulane cocktail with Chambreyzette aperitif in place of strawberry liqueur.
Cotillion
The original recipe includes 1 dash rum to 1½ oz bourbon, so suggesting a BIG characterful rum. So don't hold back on the funkiness or strength of your
Elder Sour
So smooth that it's almost fluffy. A slightly sweet after-dinner cocktail.
Elegante Margarita
One of the best Margarita recipes around. Richly endowed with flavour.
Holland House (Craddock's London dry gin-based)
Don't be misled by the pineapple in this cocktail; it's spirit-forward and relatively dry with a tropical fruit garnish. It's also delicious!
Holland House (Kappeler's rye-based)
Spicy rye whiskey is softened with a touch of triple sec for subtle sweetness and citrus lift, while a couple of dashes of bitters add aromatic complexity.
