New Cocktails March 2018

Words by Simon Difford

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The cocktails we came across during March and liked enough to add to Difford’s Guide.

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La Alianza

With: Mezcal, Lillet Rose and gentian liqueur.
We say: Mezcal sings in this dry aperitif-style cocktail with delicate vinous notes and light gentian bitterness.
La Alianza recipe

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Am I Blue?

With: Birch spirit, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, sugar syrup and IPA beer.
We say: Long and refreshing, based on India pale ale and birch spirit with grapefruit freshness.
Am I Blue? recipe

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Beelzebub

With: Bourbon whiskey, mezcal, amaro, orgeat and lemon juice.
We say: Whoever created this bittersweet drink is clearly in league with Beelzebub himself - it's devilishly good. With rich bourbon, a hint of smoky mezcal, amaro bitterness and lemon freshness balanced by almond syrup. Also try substituting all, or at least half of the amaro with Ferro China to put a bit of iron into this devil.
Beelzebub recipe

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Bermuda Triangle

With: Batavia-arrack, pedro ximénez sherry, pineapple juice, sugar syrup and pimento bitters.
We say: As Ralf, the drinks creator, says, "The Batavia plays well with the pineapple and the gomme, and the sherry gives it depth and body" to produce a punch-style cocktail.
Bermuda Triangle recipe

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Boston Sour

With: Bourbon, Lemon juice, sugar syrup and egg white.
Bourbon whiskey soured with lemon juice and smoothed by egg white.
Boston Sour recipe

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Del Famoso (The Famous)

With: Blanco tequila, Fernet Branca, Antica Formula, sugar syrup and Angostura aromatic bitters.
We say: The herbal spicy peppermint and liquorice notes of Fernet Branca dominate this digestive-style tequila laced cocktail.
Del Famoso recipe

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Dutch Orange Cup

With: Dry gin, orange curaçao, sweet vermouth, Angostura Bitters and ginger ale.
Easy drinking, fruity, summery and gin laced with caramel vermouth freshened by zesty orange.
Dutch Orange Cup recipe

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Dutch Tea

With: Genever, orange curaçao and cold black tea.
We say: Bready genever and zesty orange curaçao dried, lengthened and flavoured with the cold black tea tannins. Simples by Simon!
Dutch Tea recipe

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The Duchess

With: Dry gin, orange curaçao, Sauvignon Blanc wine and dry vermouth.
We say: Gin's light gin botanical spice combines with rich orange and complex vinous notes from the combination of Sauvignon Blanc wine and dry vermouth.
Created in February 2018 by yours truly at the Cabinet Room, London, England.
The Duchess recipe

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First Emperor

With: Lillet Blanc, agricole rhum, Yellow Chartreuse, pineapple juice and sugar syrup.
We say: Grassy spirituous agricole rhum is mellowed by fruity pineapple, sweet herbal liqueur and vinous herbal vermouth.
First Emperor recipe

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Grassoide Ferro Cocktail

With: Dry gin, Ferro China, bianco vermouth and Angostura Bitters.
We say: This simple but brilliantly complex aperitif come digestive dates from the 1930s when it, and most other cocktails were shaken. Don't allow modern bartending convention to stir such a cocktail detract from its sublimeness.
Grassoide Ferro Cocktail recipe

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The Haiti Cocktail

With: Ferro China, dry vermouth, vermouth di Torino, Campari, navy rum and Angostura Bitters.
We say: This vintage aperitif is lightly bitter and wonderfully complex with distinctive Ferro China, vermouth and Demerara rum favours.
The Haiti Cocktail recipe

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Humdinger Cocktail

With: Pisco, gentian liqueur, lemon juice, sugar syrup and orange bitters.
We say: Zesty lemon and bittersweet gentian laced with pisco.
Humdinger recipe

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Inside Job Cocktail

With: Bourbon, maraschino liqueur, sugar syrup, Angostura Bitters and absinthe.
We say: A deliciously subtly absinthe (anise) and maraschino (cherry) influenced fresh take on the classic Manhattan. Serve on-the-rocks as illustrated here or serve straight-up strained into a chilled coupe. Boozy and surprisingly dry.
Inside Job recipe

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Mai Dutch Tai

With: Genever, orange curaçao, pineapple juice, lime juice and absinthe.
We say: Wonderfully fruity with underlying bready genever replacing the almond notes from the orgeat syrup almond notes of a classic Trader Vic Mai Tai.
Mai Dutch Tai recipe

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Mandarine Daisy

With: Dry gin, Mandarine Napoleon, lime juice and agave syrup.
We say: "Citrusy and sour" sums up this refreshing gin laced cocktail with rich mandarin orange liqueur soured by lime.
Mandarine Daisy recipe

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Mexican Duchess

With: Dry gin, reposado tequila, genever, orange curaçao and vermouth amaro.
We say: Spirituous and lightly vinous with subtle agave notes, bready genever and spicy gin all refreshed by zesty orange curaçao. Five equal parts is a faff to measure for individual cocktails but a dream to batch.
Mexican Duchess recipe

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Napoléon Margarita

With: Tequila, Mandarine Napoleon, lime juice and agave syrup.
We say: As the name suggests, this tasty Margarita benefits from a slug of rich mandarin orange liqueur.
Napoléon Margarita recipe

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No Borders Cocktail

With: Freya Birch Spirit, gentian liqueur, rosolio di bergamotto and Campari.
We say: A tasty bittersweet Negroni-style aperitif.
No Borders recipe

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Pangalactic Gargle Blaster

With: Fresh basil leaves, vodka, black raspberry liqueur, triple sec, Grand Marnier Rouge, cranberry juice and strawberry puree
We say: The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is said to be like "having your brains smashed in by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick".
Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster recipe

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The Queen's Steeple

With: Montenegro, Cynar, rosolio di bergamotto and Bokers Bitters.
We say: Montenegro amaro dominates this bittersweet delicately orangey aperitif cocktail.
The Queen's Steeple recipe

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Sage Sazerac

With: Pastis, sage leaves, birch Spirit, sugar syrup and orange bitters.
We say: Subtle notes of pine, pastis and sage combine in this pre-dinner sipper of a cocktail.
Sage Sazerac recipe

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Suzy & Peat

With: Cucumber, gentian liqueur, Islay single malt whisky, tarragon syrup and lime juice.
We say: Cucumber vegetal freshness, bittersweet gentian liqueur and peated scotch characterise this aperitivo sour.
Suzy & Peat recipe

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Vanadis

With: Birch spirit, Barolo Chinato, Campari and pinch salt.
We say: Dry and spirituous, yet (with the right dilution) complex and subtle - even delicate. An interesting aperitif alternative to a Dry Martini or a Negroni.
Vanadis recipe

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Whisky Mac Toddy

With: Blended scotch, green ginger wine and boiling water
A Whisky Mac made into a long warming toddy by simply adding boiling water.
Simple, warming and comforting - rich ginger wine gently spices and sweetens whisky.
Whisky Mac Toddy recipe

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White Americano

With: Lillet blanc, gentian liqueur, elderflower liqueur, orange bitters and champagne.
We say: A floral aperitif cocktail awakened by a spritz of champagne.
White Americano recipe

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Wild & Dirty Martini

With: Freya Birch Spirit, dry vermouth and lemon bitters.
Pine (birch) notes mix well with the vermouth in this 2:1 Martini with lemon bitters adding citrus freshness the olive and rosemary sprig garnish adding to the cocktails aroma and complexity.
Wild & Dirty Martini recipe

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The Windfall

With: Birch spirit, armagnac and apple juice.
An autumnal sounding cocktail to be enjoyed in place of a Daiquiri at any time of the year. Yes, it's appley with delicate armagnac undertones and complexity, but it is made interesting by the birch spirit which gives this drink faint pine, almost smoky bacon notes.
The Windfall recipe

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