Cantaloupe, honeydew, lime, mint, soda. A virgin-Melon-Ball with real fruit instead of Midori syrup. Pale green, barely sweet, refreshing.

Orange juice, grenadine, simple syrup. The alcoholic Tequila Sunrise's virgin sibling. Red-yellow gradient that actually works.

Fresh blackberries, sage, honey, lemon, sparkling. The herb-and-berry mocktail. Dark, fragrant, unexpected.

Orange juice, pomegranate juice, grenadine. The Tequila Sunrise's mocktail cousin. Red-orange gradient, Instagram gold.

Fresh cucumber, rose water, lemon, sparkling. The garden-party mocktail. Looks like a spa cocktail, takes 5 minutes.

White grape juice, peach, lemon, apple, soda water. The lighter-coloured, daytime version of the non-alcoholic sangria.

Frozen mango, lime, orange juice, Tajin rim. The virgin frozen margarita with mango, which is how it should've been made all along.

Frozen strawberries, lemon juice, sugar, blended. Slushy, pink, summer.

Vanilla soft serve, sprinkles, cream soda, cherry. The kids' mocktail. Chaotic good.

Grape juice, orange juice, apple, orange, sparkling water. The kids' table birthday-party drink that adults will also want.

L-theanine green tea, lavender syrup, lemon, sparkling water. The chill-out mocktail, without the CBD legal question.

Reishi or lion's mane mushroom powder, cacao, oat milk, vanilla. The wellness-crowd functional mocktail. Weird ingredient list, surprisingly good.

Ashwagandha, chamomile, honey, lemon. The functional mocktail designed to be a wind-down drink. No caffeine, low sugar, evening-appropriate.

Pineapple, orange, mango, coconut water, lime. Big-batch tropical punch. Served over ice, looks like sunset.

Fresh watermelon juice, lime, mint, sparkling grape juice. The summer pool-party batch mocktail. Refreshing, low-effort, pink.

Apple cider, grape juice, orange, cinnamon, pear, apple. Big-batch fall punch. Serves 8, batches easily.

Dark chocolate, whole milk, vanilla, salt, chili (optional). Proper hot chocolate. The winter non-alcoholic drink that owns everything else.

Gingerbread syrup, oat milk, cold brew, cinnamon. The Christmas coffee-shop mocktail.

Eggs, cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg. The classic eggnog without the bourbon. Christmas-level rich.

Apple cider, orange, cinnamon, clove, star anise. Big-batch autumn warmer. Bonfire-appropriate, dinner-party ready, winter-coat-and-gloves friendly.

Yuzu juice, honey, soda. A Japanese mocktail. Bright, aromatic, more interesting than lemonade.

Mango, yogurt, cardamom, rose water. The Indian lassi, in a cocktail glass. Smooth, aromatic, surprisingly complex.

Fresh lemon juice, honey, sparkling water, basil. The Amalfi Coast mocktail. Summer on a dinner table.

White peach puree, sparkling grape juice. The Harry's Bar classic, without the Prosecco. Brunch-appropriate, low-effort, high-impact.

Vanilla ice cream, cold brew, salt. Italy's affogato, mocktail-ified. Dessert or drink, you decide.

Chocolate milk, espresso, vanilla, cocoa rim. The dessert mocktail. Best served in a chilled coupe with dim lighting.

Fresh thyme, lemon, honey, sparkling. The herb-garden mocktail. Dinner-party clever.

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Tequila Shot📌 PinTequila ShotTequila, salt, lime. Lick, shoot, bite. The classic three-step ritual that turned cheap tequila into a party drink. Hold the salt and lime for good tequila; commit to the ritual for everything else. Tequila Shot A shot of tequila, a pinch of salt and a lime wedge. The classic three-step ritual: lick salt, shoot tequila, bite lime. Two ingredients plus tequila. The original party shot. 30 ml tequila (silver or blanco)1 pinch coarse salt (kosher or sea salt)1 wedge lime (fresh) Pour 30ml of tequila into a shot glass.Lick the

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Tequila Shot📌 PinTequila ShotTequila, salt, lime. Lick, shoot, bite. The classic three-step ritual that turned cheap tequila into a party drink. Hold the salt and lime for good tequila; commit to the ritual for everything else. Tequila Shot A shot of tequila, a pinch of salt and a lime wedge. The classic three-step ritual: lick salt, shoot tequila, bite lime. Two ingredients plus tequila. The original party shot. 30 ml tequila (silver or blanco)1 pinch coarse salt (kosher or sea salt)1 wedge lime (fresh) Pour 30ml of tequila into a shot glass.Lick the

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Jelly Bean📌 PinJelly Bean ShotSambuca and raspberry liqueur layered in a shot glass. Tastes uncannily like a black liquorice jelly bean. Two ingredients, party trick visual. Polarising flavour, but converts plenty. Jelly Bean Shot Sambuca and raspberry liqueur layered in a shot glass. Tastes exactly like a black liquorice jelly bean. Two ingredients, dramatic visual, polarising flavour. People love it or hate it. 15 ml raspberry liqueur (Chambord or Crème de framboise)15 ml Sambuca (white Sambuca) Pour the raspberry liqueur into a shot glass first.Hold a bar spoon upside down just above the

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Washington Apple📌 PinWashington Apple ShotCrown Royal, sour apple schnapps and cranberry. Shaken into a deep ruby-red shot that tastes like a candy apple with whisky. Late-90s American bar staple. Order in pairs. Washington Apple Shot Crown Royal, sour apple schnapps and cranberry juice shaken into a deep red shot. Tastes like a Jolly Rancher had a baby with a Cosmo. The American bar shot you order in pairs. 15 ml Crown Royal whisky15 ml sour apple schnapps (DeKuyper Pucker)15 ml cranberry juice Add Crown Royal, sour apple schnapps and cranberry to a shaker

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Washington Apple📌 PinWashington Apple ShotCrown Royal, sour apple schnapps and cranberry. Shaken into a deep ruby-red shot that tastes like a candy apple with whisky. Late-90s American bar staple. Order in pairs. Washington Apple Shot Crown Royal, sour apple schnapps and cranberry juice shaken into a deep red shot. Tastes like a Jolly Rancher had a baby with a Cosmo. The American bar shot you order in pairs. 15 ml Crown Royal whisky15 ml sour apple schnapps (DeKuyper Pucker)15 ml cranberry juice Add Crown Royal, sour apple schnapps and cranberry to a shaker

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Screaming Orgasm📌 PinScreaming Orgasm ShotKahlua, Baileys, vodka and amaretto shaken hard. Creamy coffee shot with almond and a vodka kick. The Orgasm cocktail family's loudest member. Sweet enough to be dessert, strong enough to count. Screaming Orgasm Shot Kahlua, Baileys, vodka and amaretto shaken into a creamy dessert-shot. Coffee, cream, almond and a vodka backbone. The B-52 grew up and got married. Order one for the table. 15 ml Kahlua15 ml Baileys Irish Cream15 ml vodka15 ml amaretto (Disaronno) Add Kahlua, Baileys, vodka and amaretto to a shaker with ice.Shake hard for 8

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Melon Ball📌 PinMelon Ball ShotMidori, vodka and fresh orange juice. Bright sunshine colour, sweet melon and orange flavour. The original Midori cocktail from the 1980s. Pure neon nostalgia in shot form. Melon Ball Shot Midori, vodka and fresh orange juice shaken into a sunshine-coloured shot. The 1980s Midori original. Tastes like a melon-citrus sweet and goes down like one too. 15 ml Midori melon liqueur15 ml vodka30 ml orange juice (fresh, with pulp) Add Midori, vodka and orange juice to a shaker with ice.Shake hard for 8 seconds.Strain into a chilled shot glass.Optional

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Melon Ball📌 PinMelon Ball ShotMidori, vodka and fresh orange juice. Bright sunshine colour, sweet melon and orange flavour. The original Midori cocktail from the 1980s. Pure neon nostalgia in shot form. Melon Ball Shot Midori, vodka and fresh orange juice shaken into a sunshine-coloured shot. The 1980s Midori original. Tastes like a melon-citrus sweet and goes down like one too. 15 ml Midori melon liqueur15 ml vodka30 ml orange juice (fresh, with pulp) Add Midori, vodka and orange juice to a shaker with ice.Shake hard for 8 seconds.Strain into a chilled shot glass.Optional

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Melon Ball📌 PinMelon Ball ShotMidori, vodka and fresh orange juice. Bright sunshine colour, sweet melon and orange flavour. The original Midori cocktail from the 1980s. Pure neon nostalgia in shot form. Melon Ball Shot Midori, vodka and fresh orange juice shaken into a sunshine-coloured shot. The 1980s Midori original. Tastes like a melon-citrus sweet and goes down like one too. 15 ml Midori melon liqueur15 ml vodka30 ml orange juice (fresh, with pulp) Add Midori, vodka and orange juice to a shaker with ice.Shake hard for 8 seconds.Strain into a chilled shot glass.Optional

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Melon Ball📌 PinMelon Ball ShotMidori, vodka and fresh orange juice. Bright sunshine colour, sweet melon and orange flavour. The original Midori cocktail from the 1980s. Pure neon nostalgia in shot form. Melon Ball Shot Midori, vodka and fresh orange juice shaken into a sunshine-coloured shot. The 1980s Midori original. Tastes like a melon-citrus sweet and goes down like one too. 15 ml Midori melon liqueur15 ml vodka30 ml orange juice (fresh, with pulp) Add Midori, vodka and orange juice to a shaker with ice.Shake hard for 8 seconds.Strain into a chilled shot glass.Optional

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › SoCo and Lime📌 PinSoCo and LimeSouthern Comfort and fresh lime. Two ingredients, one shot. Janis Joplin drank a quart of SoCo onstage every show; this is how she did it. The original American honky tonk shot. SoCo and Lime Southern Comfort and a squeeze of fresh lime in a shot glass. Two ingredients. Janis Joplin's drink. The American shot that built a thousand bar-band tours. 30 ml Southern Comfort15 ml fresh lime juice (or a fresh lime wedge) Pour the Southern Comfort into a chilled shot glass.Add the fresh lime juice or squeeze

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Scooby Snack📌 PinScooby SnackMidori, Malibu, banana liqueur, pineapple and cream. Tastes like a Pina Colada in shot form, with melon and banana for company. Tropical, creamy, sweet, dangerously easy to drink. Scooby Snack Midori melon liqueur, coconut rum, banana liqueur, pineapple juice and cream shaken into a tropical creamy shot. Tastes like a Pina Colada had a baby with a melon ball. Beach holiday in shot form. 15 ml Midori melon liqueur10 ml coconut rum (Malibu)10 ml banana liqueur (creme de banane)15 ml pineapple juice (fresh if possible)10 ml cream (or half and

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Rumple Minze📌 PinRumple Minze ShotRumple Minze 100-proof peppermint schnapps, served straight from the freezer. Crystal clear, icy cold, intensely minty. Like swallowing a Polo at minus 20. The ski-bar shot. Rumple Minze Shot Rumple Minze 100-proof peppermint schnapps, served straight from the freezer. Like swallowing a liquid Polo mint at minus 18 Celsius. The German peppermint shot that built a thousand ski seasons. 30 ml Rumple Minze peppermint schnapps (kept in the freezer) Keep the bottle in the freezer permanently. It will not freeze.Pour straight into a chilled shot glass.Drink in one go.The

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Rumple Minze📌 PinRumple Minze ShotRumple Minze 100-proof peppermint schnapps, served straight from the freezer. Crystal clear, icy cold, intensely minty. Like swallowing a Polo at minus 20. The ski-bar shot. Rumple Minze Shot Rumple Minze 100-proof peppermint schnapps, served straight from the freezer. Like swallowing a liquid Polo mint at minus 18 Celsius. The German peppermint shot that built a thousand ski seasons. 30 ml Rumple Minze peppermint schnapps (kept in the freezer) Keep the bottle in the freezer permanently. It will not freeze.Pour straight into a chilled shot glass.Drink in one go.The

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Jagermeister Shot📌 PinJagermeister ShotA chilled shot of Jagermeister, straight from the freezer. The German way. Bitter, herbal, complex, and at minus 18 Celsius oddly refreshing. The drink Jager was designed for, before Red Bull existed. Jagermeister Shot Just Jagermeister, served straight from the freezer in a chilled shot glass. The German digestif at its native temperature. Bitter, herbal, oddly refreshing. The original way to drink it. 30 ml Jagermeister (kept in the freezer) Keep the bottle of Jagermeister in the freezer for at least 4 hours (preferably permanently).Pour straight into a chilled shot

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Jagermeister Shot📌 PinJagermeister ShotA chilled shot of Jagermeister, straight from the freezer. The German way. Bitter, herbal, complex, and at minus 18 Celsius oddly refreshing. The drink Jager was designed for, before Red Bull existed. Jagermeister Shot Just Jagermeister, served straight from the freezer in a chilled shot glass. The German digestif at its native temperature. Bitter, herbal, oddly refreshing. The original way to drink it. 30 ml Jagermeister (kept in the freezer) Keep the bottle of Jagermeister in the freezer for at least 4 hours (preferably permanently).Pour straight into a chilled shot

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Watermelon Shot📌 PinWatermelon ShotVodka, watermelon liqueur and sour mix shaken cold. Looks like a pink Jolly Rancher, drinks like one too. The classic summer party shot. Order three. Watermelon Shot Vodka, watermelon liqueur and sour mix shaken into a candy-pink shooter. Tastes like a Jolly Rancher. Goes down too easily. Made for pool bars and 80-degree afternoons. 15 ml vodka15 ml watermelon liqueur (Midori Watermelon or DeKuyper Pucker)15 ml sour mix (or equal parts lemon and simple syrup) Add vodka, watermelon liqueur and sour mix to a shaker with ice.Shake hard for 8

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Watermelon Shot📌 PinWatermelon ShotVodka, watermelon liqueur and sour mix shaken cold. Looks like a pink Jolly Rancher, drinks like one too. The classic summer party shot. Order three. Watermelon Shot Vodka, watermelon liqueur and sour mix shaken into a candy-pink shooter. Tastes like a Jolly Rancher. Goes down too easily. Made for pool bars and 80-degree afternoons. 15 ml vodka15 ml watermelon liqueur (Midori Watermelon or DeKuyper Pucker)15 ml sour mix (or equal parts lemon and simple syrup) Add vodka, watermelon liqueur and sour mix to a shaker with ice.Shake hard for 8

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Jelly Belly📌 PinJelly Belly ShotVodka, blue curacao and a splash of lemonade. Bright blue, fruity, sweet, drinks like a blue raspberry sweet shop. The party shot for people who do not like party shots. Jelly Belly Shot Vodka, blue curacao and lemonade shaken into a candy-coloured shot. Tastes like a blue raspberry sweet, drinks like a soft party shooter. The kind of shot people ask for by name on a hen do. 15 ml vodka15 ml blue curacao15 ml lemonade (cloudy lemonade or lemon-lime soda) Add vodka and blue curacao to a shaker

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Mind Eraser📌 PinMind Eraser ShotKahlua, vodka and fizzy soda water layered in a rocks glass and pulled up through a straw in one go. Coffee sweetness, vodka punch, fizzy cleanup, all delivered fast. Made for finishing a round of beers. Mind Eraser Shot Kahlua, vodka and soda water layered in a rocks glass and drunk through a straw from the bottom up. Coffee, vodka and fizz in one fast pull. Hence the name. 30 ml Kahlua (bottom layer)30 ml vodka (middle layer)30 ml soda water (top, fizzy)1 cup ice (half-fill the glass) Half-fill

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Liquid Cocaine📌 PinLiquid Cocaine ShotEqual parts Jagermeister, Goldschlager and Rumple Minze. Bitter herbal, hot cinnamon with real gold flakes, freezing peppermint. Three high-octane German liqueurs in one shot. The name is not subtle; neither is the drink. Liquid Cocaine Shot Three German liqueurs in a single shot: Jagermeister, Goldschlager and Rumple Minze. Bitter, spicy, cinnamon and minty all at once. Hits like the name suggests, drink one and reconsider. 15 ml Jagermeister (bottom layer)15 ml Goldschlager (middle layer)15 ml Rumple Minze peppermint schnapps (top layer) Pour the Jagermeister into a chilled shot glass.Slowly

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Kamikaze📌 PinKamikaze ShotVodka, triple sec and fresh lime in equal parts, shaken and strained. Tastes like a Cosmo without the cranberry, or a tiny Margarita with vodka instead of tequila. Sharp, clean, the polite way to take a shot. Kamikaze Shot Equal parts vodka, triple sec and fresh lime juice, shaken hard and strained into a shot glass. The shot version of a Cosmo without the cranberry. Sharp, clean, citrusy. 15 ml vodka15 ml triple sec (or Cointreau)15 ml fresh lime juice Add vodka, triple sec and lime juice to a cocktail shaker

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Kamikaze📌 PinKamikaze ShotVodka, triple sec and fresh lime in equal parts, shaken and strained. Tastes like a Cosmo without the cranberry, or a tiny Margarita with vodka instead of tequila. Sharp, clean, the polite way to take a shot. Kamikaze Shot Equal parts vodka, triple sec and fresh lime juice, shaken hard and strained into a shot glass. The shot version of a Cosmo without the cranberry. Sharp, clean, citrusy. 15 ml vodka15 ml triple sec (or Cointreau)15 ml fresh lime juice Add vodka, triple sec and lime juice to a cocktail shaker

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Bomb Shots › Jagerbomb📌 PinJagerbombA shot of Jagermeister dropped into half a pint of Red Bull. Bitter herbal punch on top of carbonated sugar caffeine. Two ingredients, one chug, the unofficial drink of every stag party since 2003. Jagerbomb A shot of Jagermeister dropped into a half-pint of Red Bull and chugged. Bitter herbal Jager, sweet sugary Red Bull, the carbonation does the rest. The drink that built a thousand stag dos. 30 ml Jagermeister (chilled if possible)120 ml Red Bull (half a can, in the pint glass) Pour the Red Bull into a pint

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Bomb Shots › Vegas Bomb📌 PinVegas BombCrown Royal and peach schnapps with a splash of cranberry, dropped into a half-pint of Red Bull. Sweet, fruity, fizzy, caffeinated. The bachelorette party special. A whole crew's worth of trouble per round. Vegas Bomb Crown Royal, peach schnapps and a splash of cranberry, dropped into a half-glass of Red Bull and chugged. Sweet, citrusy, caffeinated and built for the kind of night that ends in tacos at 4am. 15 ml Crown Royal whisky15 ml peach schnapps15 ml cranberry juice120 ml Red Bull (half a can, in the pint

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › B-52📌 PinB-52 ShotThree layers of Kahlua, Baileys and Grand Marnier in a shot glass, poured over the back of a spoon so they sit clean on top of each other. Coffee, cream and orange in one swallow. The shot bartenders actually like making. B-52 Shot Three crisp layers of Kahlua, Baileys and Grand Marnier in a shot glass. Sweet, creamy, citrusy and as much about the visual as the drink. The party trick that actually tastes good. 15 ml Kahlua (bottom layer)15 ml Baileys Irish Cream (middle layer)15 ml Grand Marnier (top layer)

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Tequila › Blue Margarita📌 PinBlue MargaritaTequila, blue curacao, lime, salt rim. A regular margarita that took a swim in a pool. Electric blue, retro 1990s, exactly the same balance as a classic margarita. Photographs incredibly well. Blue Margarita Tequila, blue curacao, fresh lime juice, triple sec, salt rim. Same body as a regular margarita, dressed in electric blue. The retro 1990s pool-bar order that became a permanent menu fixture. 1 wedge lime (for rimming)2 tsp flaky sea salt (on a plate, for the rim)60 ml blanco tequila (100% agave)30 ml blue curacao (Bols or Senior

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Tequila › Watermelon Margarita📌 PinWatermelon MargaritaTequila, fresh watermelon juice, lime, triple sec, salt rim. Pink, refreshing, the summer cookout cocktail. Tastes exactly like fresh watermelon and tequila got along really well. Easy to drink fast. Watermelon Margarita Tequila, fresh watermelon juice, lime juice, triple sec. The summer cookout margarita. Tastes exactly like fresh watermelon got friendly with tequila. Bright pink, salt-rimmed, gone in three sips. 1 wedge lime (for rimming)2 tsp flaky sea salt (on a plate, for the rim)60 ml blanco tequila (100% agave)90 ml fresh watermelon juice (about 1.5 cups blended cubes, strained)22

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Tequila › Peach Margarita📌 PinPeach MargaritaTequila, fresh peach, lime, triple sec, salt rim. Standard Margarita with stone fruit on top. Sweet and sharp at the same time. The drink that turns up at every summer barbecue and earns its place. Peach Margarita Tequila, fresh peach puree (or schnapps), lime juice, triple sec, served on the rocks or frozen with a salt rim. Margarita season meets stone fruit season. Sweet, sharp, summer in a glass. 1 wedge lime (for rimming)2 tsp flaky sea salt (on a plate, for the rim)60 ml blanco tequila (100% agave)30 ml

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Champagne › Jacuzzi Cocktail📌 PinJacuzzi CocktailGin, peach schnapps, fresh OJ, topped with Prosecco. A Bellini went on a stag weekend with a Mimosa and got rowdy. Pastel pink, fizzy, brunch in a flute. Drinks like sunshine. Jacuzzi Cocktail Gin, peach schnapps, fresh OJ, topped with sparkling wine. A Bellini's rowdier cousin. Brunch in a flute, looks pastel, drinks dangerously fast. The "jacuzzi" is the bubbles. 15 ml gin (London Dry)15 ml peach schnapps (Archers or De Kuyper)30 ml fresh orange juice90 ml sparkling wine (Prosecco or Cava, dry)1 slice peach (optional, garnish) Add gin, peach

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Gin › Fluffy Duck📌 PinFluffy DuckGin, advocaat, OJ, cream, topped with lemonade. The Aussie pub favourite that drinks like a creamy boozy orange-and-vanilla dessert. Looks pastel-yellow and soft. Tastes like trouble. Fluffy Duck Gin, advocaat, OJ, cream, topped with soda. The Aussie pub-pour version of a cocktail your nan probably ordered. Creamy, fluffy, sweet, tastes like a creamy citrus dessert. Goes down very fast. 30 ml gin (London Dry)30 ml advocaat (egg yolk and brandy liqueur)30 ml fresh orange juice30 ml cream (pure or thickened)90 ml lemonade or soda water (to top)1 wheel orange (garnish)1

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Shots › Three Wise Men📌 PinThree Wise MenEqual parts Jameson, Jack Daniel's and Jim Beam in a shot glass. Three whiskey men, three styles, one shot. A pub joke that became a regular order. Loud, fast, memorable for the wrong reasons the next morning. Three Wise Men Equal parts Jameson, Jack Daniel's and Jim Beam in a shot glass. Three different whiskey "Jims". The pub joke that became a thing. Strong, fast, the kind of order that comes with a story afterwards. 15 ml Jameson Irish whiskey15 ml Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey15 ml Jim Beam

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Vodka › Godmother Cocktail📌 PinGodmother CocktailVodka and amaretto over a big ice cube. The Godfather's vodka cousin. Two ingredients, 30 seconds, smooth almond sweetness. The kind of nightcap that ends conversations and starts naps. Where it came fromThe Godmother appeared in the 1970s as the vodka version of the Godfather (Scotch and amaretto). The Godfather was already on bar menus by the late 1960s, riding the wave of the Mario Puzo novel and the 1972 film. The Godmother followed when bartenders realised vodka would let the amaretto's almond character shine without the smoke.It became a

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Gin › Gin Southside📌 PinGin SouthsideGin, lime, sugar and fresh mint, shaken hard and double-strained into a coupe. Reads like a Mojito and a Gimlet had a clever child. Bartender favourite. Looks clean, drinks dangerously fast. Gin Southside Gin, fresh lime, sugar, mint, shaken hard and double-strained. The bartender favourite that drinks like a Gimlet that took a holiday at a country club. Clean, bright, dangerously easy. 60 ml gin (London Dry)22 ml fresh lime juice22 ml simple syrup (1:1)8-10 leaves fresh mint (plus 1 leaf for garnish) Add the mint leaves, lime juice and

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Gin › Gin Southside📌 PinGin SouthsideGin, lime, sugar and fresh mint, shaken hard and double-strained into a coupe. Reads like a Mojito and a Gimlet had a clever child. Bartender favourite. Looks clean, drinks dangerously fast. Where it came fromThe Southside is one of those cocktails with too many parents. New York 21 Club says it was theirs. Chicago lore claims it was named for a South Side mob crew who smoothed harsh Prohibition gin with sugar and mint. The Southside Sportsmen's Club on Long Island has its own claim. Probably all three are partly

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Sherry › Sherry Cobbler📌 PinSherry CobblerSherry, sugar, fresh fruit and crushed ice. The 1880s American invention that introduced the drinking straw to the world. Low ABV, refreshing, fruit-forward and one of the most beautiful drinks on any bar. Sherry Cobbler Sherry, sugar, fresh fruit and crushed ice. The 1880s American original that introduced the world to the drinking straw. Low-ABV, refreshing, fruit-forward. 90 ml amontillado sherry (or oloroso)15 ml simple syrup (1:1)2 wheels orange (plus extra for garnish)1 cup crushed ice (plus more for topping)1 mix seasonal fruit (berries, citrus, mint, for garnish) Add two

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Sherry › Sherry Cobbler📌 PinSherry CobblerSherry, sugar, fresh fruit and crushed ice. The 1880s American invention that introduced the drinking straw to the world. Low ABV, refreshing, fruit-forward and one of the most beautiful drinks on any bar. Sherry Cobbler Sherry, sugar, fresh fruit and crushed ice. The 1880s American original that introduced the world to the drinking straw. Low-ABV, refreshing, fruit-forward. 90 ml amontillado sherry (or oloroso)15 ml simple syrup (1:1)2 wheels orange (plus extra for garnish)1 cup crushed ice (plus more for topping)1 mix seasonal fruit (berries, citrus, mint, for garnish) Add two

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Gin › Gin Rickey📌 PinGin RickeyGin, fresh lime juice and soda water. No sugar. Three ingredients, austere and dry. The Tom Collins for people who want their gin to taste like gin. Prohibition-era classic that still drinks like a fresh haircut on a hot day. Gin Rickey Gin, fresh lime juice and soda water. No sugar. Three ingredients, austere and dry, the cocktail equivalent of a sharp linen suit. Prohibition-era classic. 60 ml gin (London dry)15 ml fresh lime juice120 ml soda water (cold)1 wedge lime (spent shell, dropped in) Squeeze the juice of half

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Tiki › Bahama Mama📌 PinBahama MamaLight rum, coconut rum, dark rum on top, orange juice, pineapple juice and grenadine. A Caribbean sunset in a glass. Sweet, fruity, layered, secretly strong. The pina colada's rowdier cousin. Bahama Mama Light rum, dark rum, coconut rum, orange juice, pineapple juice and grenadine. A Caribbean tiki sunset in a glass. Sweet, fruity, layered, dangerous. 30 ml light rum30 ml coconut rum (Malibu or Koko Kanu)15 ml dark rum (for the float on top)60 ml pineapple juice (fresh if possible)60 ml orange juice (fresh)15 ml grenadine (real, not corn-syrup grenadine)1

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Tiki › Blue Hawaiian📌 PinBlue HawaiianWhite rum, blue curacao, pineapple juice and cream of coconut. Like a Pina Colada that fell into the ocean. Bright electric blue and unapologetically tropical. Built for a hurricane glass and a paper umbrella. Blue Hawaiian White rum, blue curacao, pineapple juice and coconut cream. Like a Pina Colada that fell into the ocean. The drink that launched a thousand holiday postcards. 45 ml white rum30 ml blue curacao (Bols or Marie Brizard)90 ml pineapple juice (fresh if possible)30 ml cream of coconut (Coco Lopez)1 wedge pineapple (garnish)1 piece maraschino

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Vodka › Harvey Wallbanger📌 PinHarvey WallbangerA Screwdriver with a Galliano float on top. Vodka, orange juice and the herbal-vanilla Italian liqueur Galliano. The drink that defined disco-era cocktail culture and got Galliano on every back bar in the world. Harvey Wallbanger A Screwdriver with a Galliano float on top. Vodka, orange juice and the Italian herbal-vanilla liqueur Galliano. The disco-era poster child. Three ingredients, surprisingly elegant. 45 ml vodka120 ml orange juice (fresh if possible)15 ml Galliano L'Autentico (the yellow herbal liqueur)1 slice orange (garnish)1 piece maraschino cherry (optional, garnish) Fill a highball glass with

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Vodka › Harvey Wallbanger📌 PinHarvey WallbangerA Screwdriver with a Galliano float on top. Vodka, orange juice and the herbal-vanilla Italian liqueur Galliano. The drink that defined disco-era cocktail culture and got Galliano on every back bar in the world. Where it came fromThe Harvey Wallbanger was created in the 1950s, but exploded into pop culture in the 1970s when McKesson (the US distributor of Galliano) launched a marketing campaign featuring a cartoon surfer named Harvey. The story said Harvey was a Manhattan Beach surfer who lost a competition, drowned his sorrows in too many of

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Gin › Ramos Gin Fizz📌 PinRamos Gin FizzGin, citrus, sugar, cream, egg white, orange flower water and soda. Shaken for 12 minutes until the foam stands two inches above the glass. Henry C. Ramos's 1888 New Orleans masterpiece. The longest cocktail order on any menu. Ramos Gin Fizz Gin, lemon, lime, sugar, cream, egg white, orange flower water and soda. Shaken for 12 minutes (yes, really) until the foam is so dense it stands tall above the glass. The pride of New Orleans. 45 ml London dry gin15 ml fresh lemon juice15 ml fresh lime

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Mezcal › Naked and Famous📌 PinNaked and FamousEqual parts mezcal, Aperol, Yellow Chartreuse and lime. A modern classic from Death and Co in New York. Smoky, bitter, herbal, sour. The Last Word's smoky cousin and one of the great equal-parts cocktails. Naked and Famous Equal parts mezcal, Aperol, Yellow Chartreuse and lime juice. A modern classic from Death and Co. Smoky, bitter, herbal, sour. The Last Word's smoky cousin. 22.5 ml mezcal (joven, like Del Maguey Vida)22.5 ml Aperol22.5 ml Yellow Chartreuse22.5 ml fresh lime juice Combine all four ingredients in a shaker filled with

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Rum › Hemingway Daiquiri📌 PinHemingway DaiquiriErnest Hemingway's personal Daiquiri spec: white rum, fresh lime, fresh grapefruit, a touch of maraschino, no sugar. Drier, sharper and more aromatic than the original. Born at El Floridita in Havana, ordered double. Hemingway Daiquiri Ernest Hemingway's preferred Daiquiri: white rum, fresh lime, fresh grapefruit, a touch of maraschino liqueur, no sugar. Drier and sharper than the original. Born at El Floridita in Havana. 60 ml white rum (Cuban-style if possible)15 ml fresh lime juice30 ml fresh grapefruit juice (pink or ruby)7.5 ml maraschino liqueur (Luxardo)1 wheel lime (optional, garnish)

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Rum › Hemingway Daiquiri📌 PinHemingway DaiquiriErnest Hemingway's personal Daiquiri spec: white rum, fresh lime, fresh grapefruit, a touch of maraschino, no sugar. Drier, sharper and more aromatic than the original. Born at El Floridita in Havana, ordered double. Where it came fromConstantino Ribalaigua Vert, head bartender at El Floridita in Havana, created the Hemingway Daiquiri (also called the Papa Doble) in the 1930s for Ernest Hemingway, who was a regular. Hemingway was diabetic and preferred his Daiquiri without sugar, with double the rum.The original spec called for two shots of rum, a small grapefruit juice,

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Brandy › Brandy Old Fashioned📌 PinBrandy Old FashionedWisconsin's answer to the Old Fashioned. Brandy instead of bourbon, muddled orange and cherry instead of just a peel, topped with soda or 7Up. Sweet, sour or press. The supper club starter. Brandy Old Fashioned The Wisconsin take on the Old Fashioned: brandy instead of bourbon, muddled orange and cherry, sugar and bitters, topped with soda or 7Up. The unofficial state cocktail. 1 cube sugar (or 1 tsp sugar)3 dashes Angostura bitters1 slice orange (plus extra for garnish)1 piece maraschino cherry (plus extra for garnish)60 ml Korbel brandy

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Brandy › Brandy Old Fashioned📌 PinBrandy Old FashionedWisconsin's answer to the Old Fashioned. Brandy instead of bourbon, muddled orange and cherry instead of just a peel, topped with soda or 7Up. Sweet, sour or press. The supper club starter. Where it came fromAt the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, the Pabst brewing family from Milwaukee handed out free brandy at the German Pavilion. Wisconsin Germans took to brandy hard and never let go. By the post-war era the Brandy Old Fashioned had replaced the bourbon version as the standard supper-club opener across the state.Wisconsin still consumes

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Vodka › Madras📌 PinMadrasVodka, cranberry juice and orange juice over ice. Bright, easy, three ingredients. The Cape Codder with extra orange. A reliable highball when the bar is busy and you want something refreshing. Madras Vodka, cranberry juice and orange juice over ice. Bright, easy, three ingredients. The Cape Codder with extra orange. A reliable highball when the bar is busy. 45 ml vodka (good quality)90 ml cranberry juice (unsweetened cocktail style)45 ml orange juice (fresh if possible)1 wheel orange (garnish) Fill a highball glass with ice.Pour in the vodka.Add the cranberry juice, then top

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Vodka › Madras📌 PinMadrasVodka, cranberry juice and orange juice over ice. Bright, easy, three ingredients. The Cape Codder with extra orange. A reliable highball when the bar is busy and you want something refreshing. Where it came fromThe Madras showed up in American bars in the 1960s, named after the Indian city (now Chennai) famous for its bright orange-red madras plaid fabric. The colour of the drink matches the cloth. Whoever named it nailed the visual.It is essentially a Cape Codder (vodka and cranberry) with orange juice added. The orange softens the tartness of the

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Vodka › Salty Dog📌 PinSalty DogA Greyhound dressed up with a salted rim. Vodka, grapefruit juice, salt. The salt cuts the grapefruit's bitterness and bumps up the citrus brightness. Brunch in a glass. Salty Dog A Greyhound (vodka and grapefruit juice) with a salted rim. The salt cuts the grapefruit bitterness and turns a simple highball into something more interesting. Three ingredients, one minute. 1 wedge lime (for rimming the glass)2 tsp flaky sea salt (on a plate, for the rim)60 ml vodka (good quality)120 ml grapefruit juice (fresh, ruby or pink)1 slice grapefruit (optional,

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Vodka › Salty Dog📌 PinSalty DogA Greyhound dressed up with a salted rim. Vodka, grapefruit juice, salt. The salt cuts the grapefruit's bitterness and bumps up the citrus brightness. Brunch in a glass. Where it came fromThe Salty Dog emerged in the 1960s as a sit-down upgrade of the 1940s Greyhound. The name first appeared in the 1967 Old Mr. Boston Bartender's Guide. Tableside salt rims were a small indulgence at the time, more elegant than asking for the salt shaker at the lunch counter.The original Salty Dog was made with gin, like the original

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Whiskey › Mint Julep📌 PinMint JulepBourbon, mint, sugar, crushed ice. The official drink of the Kentucky Derby. Served in a frosted silver cup that'll numb your hand. Aromatic, refreshing, dangerously easy on a hot day. Mint Julep Bourbon, mint, sugar, crushed ice. The official drink of the Kentucky Derby. Served in a frosted silver cup so cold your hand goes numb. The mint is half the experience. 8-10 leaves fresh mint (plus a big sprig for garnish)15 ml simple syrup (or 1 tsp sugar)60 ml bourbon (good quality)1 cup crushed ice (plus more for topping)

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Vodka › Greyhound📌 PinGreyhoundVodka and grapefruit juice. Two ingredients, takes a minute, tastes like a citrus highball with a kick. Add salt around the rim and it becomes a Salty Dog. Brunch staple since the 1940s. Where it came fromThe Greyhound first showed up in Harper's Magazine Bartender's Guide in 1945. Original recipes called for gin, but vodka took over in the 1950s as vodka cocktails went mainstream. Named (probably) after Greyhound bus stations, where the drink was supposedly served at lunch counters.It became a brunch staple because grapefruit juice was a breakfast beverage and

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Rum › Dark and Stormy📌 PinDark and StormyGoslings Black Seal rum floated over spicy ginger beer with a squeeze of lime. Two ingredients, takes 30 seconds, looks like a thunderhead in a glass. The official drink of Bermuda. Dark and Stormy Goslings Black Seal rum floated over ginger beer with a squeeze of lime. The official drink of Bermuda. Two ingredients, dramatic visual, takes 30 seconds to build. 60 ml Goslings Black Seal rum120 ml ginger beer (spicy, real ginger)15 ml lime juice (fresh, optional)1 wedge lime (garnish) Fill a highball glass with ice.Pour in

Drink Lab › Cocktails › Rum › Painkiller📌 PinPainkillerPusser's rum, pineapple, orange and coconut cream, fresh nutmeg over the top. The unofficial drink of the British Virgin Islands. Like a Pina Colada but with orange juice and a tropical-spice finish. Built in the glass, no blender required. Where it came fromThe Painkiller was created in the 1970s by Daphne Henderson at the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke, a small Caribbean island in the British Virgin Islands. The bar got its name because boats anchor offshore and patrons swim in, paying with soggy dollar bills.Pusser's Rum bought the trademark

Pomegranate, rosemary, fresh lemon, sparkling water. Jewel-tone colour, holiday appropriate year-round.

Fresh basil, lime, sugar, no gin. The herbaceous mocktail for summer patio drinking. Serves up in a coupe, looks like a $16 craft cocktail.

Espresso, oat milk, maple syrup, sea salt. Autumn mocktail. Better than the PSL and cheaper than Starbucks.

Cold brew, vanilla syrup, oat milk, cinnamon. The café mocktail. 10-second build, all-afternoon appeal.

Ginger beer, lime, mint, chili. The 'swicy' (sweet + spicy) mocktail that was the breakout flavour profile of 2026.

Fresh ginger, pear juice, lemon, honey, tonic. The winter Moscow Mule variant. Snap of ginger, pear fragrance, long finish.

Drink Lab › Bottle Library › Liqueur › Baileys📌 PinBaileys Irish CreamThe bottle that built the cream liqueur category. Baileys is Irish whiskey, fresh dairy cream, sugar, vanilla, and a touch of cocoa. Christmas in a glass for half a century. Slightly uncool, undeniably effective. Every freezer needs one in December.ABV17%CountryIrelandDistilleryDiageo, Dublin and BelfastOwnerDiageoFounded1974StyleIrish cream liqueurPrice band$22-28 (US) / AU$45-55Best mixerCoffee, Kahlua, vodkaWhat it tastes likeSweet cream, light Irish whiskey, vanilla, soft cocoa, a faint nutty finish. Heavy mouthfeel, dessert-like, almost milkshake at room temperature.Drinks at 17% ABV. The cream and sugar mean it goes down very easy and catches

Drink Lab › Bottle Library › Liqueur › Creme de Cassis📌 PinCrème de Cassis (Lejay)Blackcurrants and Burgundy, in a bottle. Crème de Cassis is the dry, rustic French liqueur that turns sparkling wine into Kir Royale. Lejay is the textbook brand. Underused outside France, slightly criminal that it is.ABV20%CountryFrance (Burgundy, Dijon)DistilleryLejay-Lagoute, DijonOwnerLejay-LagouteFounded1841StyleCrème de Cassis (blackcurrant liqueur)Price band$25-32 (US) / AU$45-60Best mixerSparkling wine, white wine, ginWhat it tastes likeConcentrated blackcurrant fruit, slight earthiness, gentle bitterness, dry finish for a liqueur. Lejay sources Noir de Bourgogne blackcurrants from Burgundy, which give the liqueur more depth than supermarket cassis.Drinks at 20% ABV with

Drink Lab › Bottle Library › Liqueur › Mr Black📌 PinMr Black Coffee LiqueurThe Espresso Martini's secret weapon. Mr Black is an Australian cold-brew coffee liqueur, less sweet than Kahlua, with the actual coffee front and centre. The bottle that turned a sweet weeknight cocktail into a serious one. Bartenders won't shut up about it for a reason.ABV25%CountryAustraliaDistilleryMr Black, Erina, NSWOwnerDiageo (since 2022)Founded2013StyleCold-brew coffee liqueurPrice band$30-38 (US) / AU$50-65Best mixerVodka, espresso, tonicWhat it tastes likeReal espresso, dark chocolate, cocoa, caramel, gentle bitterness, dry finish. Mr Black uses cold-brewed Arabica coffee from multiple origins, much less sugar than Kahlua, and a

Drink Lab › Bottle Library › Liqueur › Chambord📌 PinChambordBlack raspberries, French XO cognac, and a bottle that looks like a Faberge egg. Chambord is the raspberry liqueur that made the French Martini what it is. Sweet, lush, slightly silly, occasionally exactly the right thing.ABV16.5%CountryFrance (Loire Valley)DistilleryChambord, LoireOwnerBrown-FormanFounded1685 (recipe), 1980s (modern bottling)StyleBlack raspberry liqueurPrice band$30-38 (US) / AU$60-80Best mixerPineapple, vodka, sparkling wineWhat it tastes likeBlack raspberry, blackberry, light vanilla, cassis-style fruit depth, gentle floral, long sweet finish. The XO cognac base gives it more complexity than typical fruit liqueurs.Drinks at 16.5% ABV with thick, syrupy mouthfeel. A small pour goes

Drink Lab › Bottle Library › Liqueur › Aperol📌 PinAperolThe bright orange Italian aperitif that ate the world. Aperol is lighter, sweeter, and more orange-led than Campari, with a 11% ABV that lets you drink it like wine. The Aperol Spritz is the cocktail of the decade, deservedly so. Easy, sunny, summer in a glass.ABV11%CountryItalyDistilleryAperol, Campari Group, PaduaOwnerCampari GroupFounded1919StyleItalian bitter aperitif (light)Price band$22-28 (US) / AU$30-45Best mixerProsecco, soda waterWhat it tastes likeBitter and sweet orange, rhubarb, gentian root, cinchona, gentle herbs. Far less bitter than Campari, sweeter, lighter. The rhubarb note is what people don't expect.Drinks at 11% ABV like

Drink Lab › Bottle Library › Liqueur › Kahlua📌 PinKahluaThe coffee liqueur that built a category. Sweet, syrupy, vanilla-rich, slightly artificial in the best way. Kahlua is what every Espresso Martini was originally built on, and what every White Russian still demands. Mr Black is fancier; Kahlua is better-known.ABV20%CountryMexicoDistilleryPernod Ricard, VeracruzOwnerPernod RicardFounded1936StyleCoffee liqueur (sweetened)Price band$22-28 (US) / AU$45-55Best mixerVodka, espresso, creamWhat it tastes likeSweet coffee, vanilla, brown sugar, slight rum-cask warmth. The coffee character is dialled down behind a lot of sugar. Mr Black drinkers describe Kahlua as Coke-like; Kahlua drinkers think Mr Black tastes like burnt espresso. Both are

Drink Lab › Bottle Library › Liqueur › Cointreau📌 PinCointreauThe triple sec the rest measure themselves against. Cointreau is bitter orange, sweet orange, French neutral spirit, distilled clean to 40% ABV. The Margarita and Cosmopolitan are both built on it. If you only buy one orange liqueur, this is it.ABV40%CountryFranceDistilleryCointreau, Saint-Barthelemy-d'AnjouOwnerRemy CointreauFounded1875StyleTriple sec (curacao)Price band$30-40 (US) / AU$60-80Best mixerLime, tequila, vodka, ginWhat it tastes likeBright bitter orange peel, gentle sweet orange, hint of vanilla, dry finish. Cointreau is drier than most triple secs (no syrupy heaviness) and rounder than dry curacaos.Drinks at 40% ABV with structure. Holds up in shaken