Must Mix: Cocktails Using Natural Ingredients

By Chilled Magazine

Sip smarter in 2016 with these recipes by top mixologists.

With 2016 in full swing, here’s a variety of craft cocktail recipes to help you imbibe smarter and wiser this year. Embrace the “new year, new you” motto by incorporating natural ingredients like aloe, ginger, matcha tea, pomegranate and acai into your next happy hour.

Here are some unique options to help shake up your drinking routine this year, without compromising on taste or forgoing group gatherings. These recipes will come in handy, whether you’re visiting some of the nation’s top craft saloons, experimenting at home with ingredients already in your kitchen cabinet, or ordering premium on-demand cocktail delivery packages for home entertaining.

Cooler than a Cucumber

Cooler than a Cucumber

Photo Courtesy Bombay Sapphire Gin

Cooler than a Cucumber

Created by Mixologist Justin Lavenue (North American Winner of the 2015 Bombay Sapphire Most Imaginative Bartender Competition)

Available at Roosevelt Room in Austin, TX

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin
  • 1 oz. Cucumber juice
  • 1/2 oz Aloe juice
  • 1/2 oz. Grapefruit juice
  • 1/2 oz. Texas Tarragon syrup
  • 2 oz. Prosecco

Preparation: Build ingredients over Crushed ice a 12 oz. Collins glass, Stir well to incorporate ingredients, Garnish with a Tarragon leaf, Cucumber slice and serve with a straw.


Big Green Bloody Mary

Big Green Bloody

Photo Courtesy Caliche Rum

Big Green Bloody

Created by Head Bartender Dave Danger

Available at Kimoto Rooftop (the first Japanese Beer Garden in Brooklyn, NY)

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 oz Caliche Rum (Premium Puerto Rican, Aged White Rum)
  • 4 oz. Bloody Mix*
  • 1 oz. Acai Syrup**

Preparation: Serve in large rocks glass or collins glass. Garnish with banana chip or fried plantain chip.

*Bloody Mix (in Quart Container)

Ingredients:

  • 15 oz. Tomatillo Juice (4:1 Water to Paste)
  • 10 oz. Green Tomato Juice (4:1 Water to Paste)
  • 1 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 2 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
  • 1 1/2 oz. Hot Sauce
  • 1 tsp. Garlic Puree
  • 3 tbsp. Fresh Grated Horseradish
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. Celery Salt (If You Are Concerned About Sodium, Substitute Ground Celery Seed)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Preparation: Mix all ingredients in a quart sized container.

**Acai Syrup (in Quart Container)

Ingredients:

  • 16 oz. Acai juice
  • 16 oz. Sugar (for Healthier Option, Use Sugar Substitute)
  • 1 tsp. Orange Blossom Water

Preparation: Heat Acai juice and sugar in small pot until sugar dissolves (do not boil). Remove from heat and add orange blossom water.


Apple Cider Light and Shifty

Apple Cider Light and Shifty

Photo Courtesy Caliche Rum

Apple Cider Light & Shifty

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. Caliche Rum (Premium Puerto Rican, Aged White Rum)
  • 2 oz. Apple Cider (1/2 Pressed Apple)
  • 2 oz. Be Mixed Zero-Calorie & Sugar Free “Margarita” Cocktail Mixer
  • 3 slices Muddled Fresh Ginger
  • dash Ground Cinnamon
  • pinch of Salt

Preparation: Shake all ingredients over ice until well chilled. Strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Garnish with apple wedge.


The Oracle

The Oracle

Photo Courtesy Raul Zelaya

The Oracle

Created by Mixologist Ran Duan (2014 North American Winner of the Bombay Sapphire Most Imaginative Bartender Competition)

Available at The Baldwin Bar at The Sichuan Garden in Boston

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin
  • 1/2 oz. Falernum
  • 1/2 oz. St-Germain French Elderflower Liqueur
  • 3 dashes Absinthe
  • 10 drops Citric Acid Solution
  • Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil (Helps Combat Depression)*
  • Fog

Preparation: Pour cocktail ounces mixed in base chamber of cruet. In other side of cruet, add 2-3 drops of Ylang ylang oil, dry ice, and water.

*Ylang-Ylang essential oil side is only used for aroma and not to drink


Pomegranate Rum Punch

Pomegranate Rum Punch

Photo Courtesy Caliche Rum

Pomegranate Rum Punch

Great for winter gatherings

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups Pomegranate Juice
  • 1 cups Lemon Juice
  • 1/4 cup Honey Syrup (1:1 Water to Honey)
  • 1 750 ml Bottle Caliche Rum
  • 1 cup Fresh Berries, Pomegranate Seeds
  • Lemon Wheels, for Garnish
  • Ice, for Serving

Preparation: Combine the pomegranate juice, lemonade and rum in a large punch bowl and stir well to incorporate. When ready to serve, add large ice cubes to float, stir well and then chill for at least 15 minutes. Garnish with the berries and lemon wheels. Serve over ice in punch or rocks glasses.


Tranquility

Created by Head Bartender Dave Danger

Available at Kimoto Rooftop in Brooklyn, NY

Ingredients:

  • 1 3/4 oz. lemongrass & Vietnamese Black Peppercorn Infused Bombay Sapphire East Gin
  • 1/2 oz. Kings Ginger Liqueur
  • 1/2 oz. Lemon Juice
  • 1/4 oz. Lavender Honey
  • 1 barspoon Vida Mezcal
  • 1/4 barspoon Matcha Tea (Even the Slightest Bit Too Much Will Ruin the Drink)

Preparation: Shake hard, serve in rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with wheatgrass tuft.


Miso Banana

Banana Miso

Photo Courtesy Caliche Rum

Banana Miso

Created by Mixologist Tyson Buhler (Death & Co.)

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. Banana-Miso Caliche Rum (Premium Puerto Rican, Aged White Rum)*
  • 1 oz. Lime
  • 1/2 Turmeric Syrup**
  • 1/4 Barrows Intense Ginger liqueur

*Banana-Miso Caliche Rum

Ingredients:

  • 1 750 ml Rum
  • 3 Bananas
  • 1 tbsp. White Miso Paste

Preparation: Blend on high then strain. (Normal straining would take far too long and leave you with cloudy, clumpy mess so we use a machine called a centrifuge that separates the rum from the solid and leaves a crystal clear product.)

*Turmeric Syrup

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp.
  • liter of H20

Preparation: Blend, strain, then add 2 parts cane sugar.


C.B. Connection No.1

C.B. Connection No.1

Photo Courtesy Caliche Rum

C.B. Connection No.1

Created by Mixologist Shinya Yamao (Piora)

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 oz. Caliche Rum (Premium Puerto Rican, Aged White Rum)
  • 2/3 oz. Barrows Intense Ginger Liqueur
  • 1/2 oz. Green Chartreuse
  • splash Yuzu Juice
  • 1 dash Orange Bitters
  • 5pc Basil Leaves
  • Fill with Tonic

Preparation: Add basil leaf and green chartreuse in a shaker, and muddle. Add all other ingredients (except tonic). Add ice into shaker and shake. Double strain into highball glass with ice. Top with tonic water. Basil leaf as garnish.


The Green Dream

The Green Dream

Photo Courtesy Caliche Rum

The Green Dream

Exclusive 2016 cocktail available for order from Instapour.com
Created by Instapour Mixologist Warren Hode

(Yields Approx: 6 drinks)

Ingredients:

  • Tangerine
  • Green Tea
  • Caliche Rum

Garnish: Dried Jasmine Flower

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