Irish Spring

It doesn’t get much simpler than this! Using Glendalough’s Wild Botanical gin, sustainably hand foraged from the mountains around the distillery, this cocktail is light, refreshing, and a perfect sip for a Spring day… or any day to be quite honest!

Ingredients
60ml Wild Botanical Gin
20ml Fresh Lime Juice
20ml Simple Syrup
Garnish with Fresh Mint

Method
Shake up all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Or for a longer version, this can be built over ice in a highball glass and topped with soda water.

You can find out more about Glendalough Distillery by watching The Three Drinkers in Ireland on Amazon Prime!

Liked this? Why not check out The Most Popular Gin Cocktails or how about 10 Delicious Martini Variations?!

The Best Margarita Variations

Words by Ana Patterson

Today, you are not just learning about cocktails – you are learning about life. You’ll be introduced to a mixture so influential and so great; it can be described as when life truly began.

“But what was it?” we hear you cry

“The collision of matter and anti-matter to create everything in existence?” Nope.

“The formation of H2O?” Not that.

“The primordial soup containing the earliest forms of life?” Wrong, wrong, and wrong again.

The most influential mixture in history was obviously when tequila, lime and Cointreau came together to form the cocktail to reign all cocktails: the magnificent margarita. So come in close, grab a shaker and a healthy amount of ice and let’s explore some brilliant margarita variations, from the classic to the experimental!

Classic Margarita

You know what they say, you can’t go wrong with a classic – especially when it comes to cocktails. The classic margarita is a perfect balance of tangy, sweet, and punchy - a summer favourite but perfect for any time of the year. Often, margaritas are served with a salted rim, though this can take away from the lip smacking flavours of the tequila, so try it without! Here’s a classic recipe, which you should 100% commit to memory:

Ingredients

50ml blanco tequila
25ml fresh lime juice
25ml Cointreau
lime wedge for garnish 

Method
Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Shake for about 30 seconds until chilled. Strain everything into a margarita glass. Add plenty of ice and garnish with a wedge of lime.

Spicy Margarita

This is the cocktail. However hard you try, once you’ve had a Picante, no margarita will ever taste the same again. Spicy, sweet with a WHOOSH of reposado tequila – this delight is a Tommy’s margarita with the addition of chili. Knocking up a few of these will guarantee a great night in.

Ingredients

 50ml reposado tequila
25ml fresh lime juice
20ml agave nectar
2 slices of chili to muddle
slices of chili to garnish

Method
Add the chili slices to a cocktail shaker and muddle. Add the rest of the ingredients along with some ice and shake for 30 seconds until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over large ice cubes and garnish with the chili slices.

Hibiscus Margarita

If you love a pretty cocktail, you’ll love the hibiscus margarita. The vibrant magenta of the hibiscus syrup is a brilliant contrast with the lime wheel, and it tastes great too! Though it might seem a little exotic, you can get your hands on hibiscus syrup pretty easily – so pick some up and try it!

Ingredients

50ml blanco tequila
25ml fresh lime juice
25ml Cointreau
25ml hibiscus syrup (we like Monin)
lime wheel for the garnish 

Method
Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Shake for 30 seconds until chilled. Strain into a margarita glass and garnish with a lime wheel. Enjoy!

Blood Orange Margarita

As we know, the margarita is all about tang – but what about some bitterness? This blood orange margarita is not only beautiful to look at, but the blood orange juice works brilliantly against the tequila and makes for a tongue-tingling drink. This cocktail tastes great with a sugared rim to contrast the bitterness of the blood orange, but feel free to omit it if that’s not your style!

Ingredients

 50ml blanco tequila
50ml blood orange juice
25ml fresh lime juice
15ml agave nectar
caster sugar
blood orange wedge
blood orange wheel for garnish 

Method
Run a blood orange wedge around half the rim of a rocks glass and dip the rim in caster sugar. Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake for 30 seconds until chilled. Strain into the glass over ice and garnish with a blood orange wheel.

Tommy’s Margarita

Though fairly similar to a classic margarita, the Tommy’s margarita is a super popular (and super tasty) variation. The most notable difference is the absence of orange liqueur, instead swapping it out for some agave nectar. Some argue that this deduction disavows the Tommy’s margarita of its margarita status – but who cares when it’s this good?!

Ingredients

50ml blanco tequila
25ml fresh lime juice
12.5ml agave nectar 

Method
Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake for 30 seconds until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over ice and enjoy!

Smoky Margarita

If you’re after something a bit moodier and closer to a dark spirits cocktail, you might want to check out the smoky margarita. Instead of the typical blanco tequila used for a classic margarita, this cocktail uses a mixture of aged ‘añejo’ tequila and super smoky mezcal. It’s dark, it’s moody and its perfect for sipping in the corner of a candlelit room.

Ingredients

25ml añejo tequila
25ml mezcal
30ml Cointreau
25ml lime juice
lime wedge
smoked salt for garnish
lime wheel for garnish 

Method
Run a wedge of lime around half of the rim of a rocks glass. Dip the rim in smoked salt. Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake for 30 seconds until chilled. Strain into the glass over ice and garnish with a lime wheel.

Wondering which tequila to use in your margarita? We’ve got your back! Check out The Best Tequila For A Margarita and just for fun, why not check out these Top Celebrity Owned Tequilas?!

Three Scotch Whisky Cocktails for Burns Night

Burns night is upon us! 25th of January is the birthday of Scotland’s own ‘Shakespeare’: Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns. This ‘Scottish bard’ was responsible for many books and poems including Auld Lang Syne. He is celebrated every year on this date, usually by eating Haggis with neeps and tatties and drinking Scotch whisky in some form, while his words are read out before the meal to ‘address the Haggis’. Here are three great Scotch whisky cocktails to try on Burns night 2022.

The Rob Roy

Rob Roy (full name Robert MacGregor ) was an infamous, red-headed, Highland outlaw with a reputation as the  Scottish Robin Hood. His fame was fanned by  Sir Walter Scott’s novel Rob Roy in 1818 and in the poems of William Wordsworth. This cocktail exists however because it was dreamed up at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan by a barman to celebrate the opening of the Rob Roy operetta in 1984. 

Ingredients

50ml Scotch Whisky (I’m using Glen Marnoch Highland Single Malt - £16.99 from Aldi)

30ml Sweet Vermouth

Dash Angostura bitters

Method

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, stir and strain into a coup glass.Garnish with an orange twist or maraschino cherry. 

Smoky Whisky Sour

For this whisky sour, it can only be Scotch whisky from the Island of Islay, just west of mainland Scotland where the peat used to dry the barley imparts that classic, smoky, peaty flavour. Ardbeg is set right by the water and prides itself on its quirky range of peaty whiskies named after myths and legends a lot of the time! If you’re a bit put off by using egg white, you can simply leave it out. It’s there to add a silky, creamy texture. 

Ingredients

50ml Islay Scotch Whisky (I’m using Ardbeg 10 year old)

25ml Fresh Lemon Juice

15ml Simple Syrup

1 Egg white (optional)

Bitters for colour

Orange or lemon peel for garnish

Method

Add the Scotch, lemon juice and egg white if you are using it into a shaker with ice and shake for around 30 seconds. Strain and pour into a rocks glass over ice. If you have foam, add a dash of bitters for colour. Mix the sugar and lemon very evenly for the best effect. 

World of Zing Leather and Walnut Manhattan

World of Zing were allegedly the pioneers of bottled cocktails, founded and crafted by Pritesh Moody from Sunday Brunch. A Manhattan is traditionally whisky, with sweet vermouth and bitters like the Rob Roy above. Rye whiskey is more usually used but it works particularly well with blended Scotch whisky too, such as the Johnnie Walker here. This handcrafted blend features Johnnie Walker Black Label, Rosso Vermouth, Walnut Bitters, Walnut Liqueur and Tannic Tincture.  ABV: 28% Look out for their Easter ones too! Hot Cross Bun-Hattan and Chocolate Orange Negroni

Find it for £15 from www.worldofzing.com, RRP from £15.00

Rebel without a Claus Cocktail

As one of the world’s oldest alcoholic drinks, mead has been enjoyed for thousands of years. Your first thought may be how on earth do I drink it?! But, fear not, mead is extremely versatile so you can enjoy it cold in a wine glass, warmed up in a mug or even try mixing it up in a cocktail like the one below from Jack Jamieson and our friends at Afon Mêl. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed!

Ingredients
50ml golden rum
20ml honey syrup
20ml Afon Mêl Ginger mead
20ml Lime juice
Top up with Afon Mêl Sparkling mead, Nectar
3 dashes Angostura bitters

Method
Add the first four ingredients to the glass and fill with ice. Stir and top up with Afon Mêl Nectar. Dash some Angostura bitters in and garnish with a lime slice.

Like this? Then have a look at Warm Scotch Cider or The Best Cocktails to Make with Scotch Whisky

What Are Bitters?

Bitters are often said to be the ‘salt and pepper’ of the cocktail world, and it’s 100% true! Seasoning is incredibly important when it comes to cooking, so why shouldn’t it be when creating drinks? If you’ve been making the same cocktail recipes over and over but feel it’s missing just one touch on the palate - it might be missing bitters!

What are bitters?

But what are bitters? Bitters actually started life as a medicine, with Angostura being one of the first commercially available. They are a spirit that has been infused with very bitter ingredients (hence the name) such as tree bark, bitter herbs and many other flavourings. As they are so incredibly bitter, they are usually sold in small bottles with droppers, meaning you can drop them right into your cocktails!

If you want to step up your mixology game and be producing some top quality cocktails, bitters are the way to go. To help you out we’ve made a list of some bitters our resident mixologist, Aidy Smith, gives the seal of approval to:

Angostura Aromatic Bitters

Perhaps the most iconic bitters there are, the legendary Angostura Aromatic Bitters. These have been used far and wide to spruce up every cocktail you can think of. They’re particularly delicious in whisky cocktails such as a Whisky Sour or an Old Fashioned! Now time for the fun facts:

1)    Angostura was originally created as a medicine by Dr Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, a surgeon in Venezuela but it has now ended up in all sorts of drinks! It was said to aid seasickness and stomach issues.

2)    The oversized label that has now become a staple of all Angostura bottles started as an accident. When the founder passed down the brand to his sons for a rebrand, there was a mix up in label and bottle design meaning the label didn’t fit! This mix up ended up making Angostura stand out from the rest, and it continues to this day!

3)    Only 5 people in the world know the recipe!

4)    Pink gin was invented by dropping Angostura into gin as a medicine for the Navy (it’s always the Navy)!

ABV: 44.7%
Size: 20cl
Find it here: £13.10

Angostura Orange Bitters

Though the original bitters were released in 1824, it took Angostura 183 years to release an orange bitters. Even though its history is short, it’s still made an impact on the mixology world and is now one of the most popular orange bitters out there! It too features the oversized label and its blend of Caribbean orange peel, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves is delicious in a rum or whisky based cocktail!

ABV: 28%
Size: 10cl
Find it here: £13.80

Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters

Looking to add a nutty flavour to your cocktails but don’t want to have to blend some nuts and then worry about accidentally finding bits in your cocktail? Instead of worrying, try Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters! They’re a great way to make your cocktails just that bit more unique and add dimension. 

ABV: 6.4%
Size: 15cl
Find it here: £14.18

Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters

Fee Brothers are another brand that really knocks it out of the park with their bitters. Their flavours go on and on, but the two we had to include were the Black Walnut and this, the Aztec Chocolate. It’s been given the name Aztec Chocolate in honour of the Aztec people, who used to drink bitter hot chocolate (or hot cacao) made with caco, spices and peppers. Try these bitters with a rye whisky cocktail!

ABV: 2.6%
Size: 15cl
Find it here: £13.92

Bob’s Vanilla Bitters

Vanilla in a cocktail? Yum! This Vanilla Bitters is great for a sweeter cocktail, as the rich vanilla notes give it a beautiful creamy edge. Try this in a piña colada, or just a simple rum and coke!

ABV: 35%
Size: 10cl
Find it here: UK £17.55

Check out these cocktail recipes for further inspiration… The Most Popular Gin Cocktails, 10 Must-Try Martini Variations and The Best Cocktails to Make with Scotch Whisky.

The 10 Best Martini Variations

The martini is a cocktail that never seems to be out of style. No matter where you look, what TV show or film you’re watching, there’s always one character drinking this classy cocktail. Though some say you can’t beat a classic, at The Three Drinkers we’re always open to some variation and innovation! So without further ado, here’s our list of the top 10 variations on a martini!

The Classic Martini

The first thing you need to know about the classic martini is that it’s made with gin. That’s right - gin. Take that bottle of Grey Goose out of your hand right this instant, you’re not going to be needing it. Before you put vodka anywhere near a martini, have a go at the original recipe. A perfect blend of gin and dry vermouth that will never go out of style, here’s how to make the classic martini.

Ingredients
70ml Bombay Sapphire
15ml Dolin Vermouth Dry
lemon twist or olives for garnish 

Method
Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice, stir vigorously for 30 seconds and strain into a pre-cooled martini glass. Garnish with either a twist of lemon or a couple of olives. Enjoy! 

Helena’s Smoky Martini

Though a smoky martini (using Scotch whisky instead of vermouth) has been knocking around for a while, this martini variation has been a recent favourite of our very own Helena Nicklin - so we’ve renamed it Helena’s Smoky Martini! The whisky gives the martini a significantly more smoky flavour (hence the name), and the savoury notes in the Scotch work perfectly with the botanicals of London Dry gin.

Ingredients
15ml The Glenturret 10 Year Old Peat Smoked Whisky
60ml London Dry gin
lemon twist for garnish 

Method
Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice, stir well and strain into a cooled martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon and enjoy!

Dirty Martini

It’s time to get down and dirty with a classic dirty martini. You’ve probably heard this drink being ordered a few times, but do you know what actually makes it dirty? No, it’s not a handful of dirt, it’s pickle juice! The salty bathwater of olives is an ingredient that while not exactly expected, is as popular as ever. Our salt craving taste buds can’t get enough of the savoury Dirty Martini…

Ingredients
70ml Dima’s Vodka
25ml Dolin Vermouth Dry
15ml pickle juice
pickles for garnish

Method
Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with cracked ice, stir vigorously for 30 seconds and strain into a pre-cooled martini glass. Garnish with a pickle. Enjoy! 

Bond’s Vesper Martini

We’ve been expecting you… The Vesper, named after Bond character Vesper Lynd, isn’t just a movie invention - no, this cocktail comes straight out of the Bond novels (Casino Royale, published in 1953, to be exact). We even get a fairly comprehensive recipe given to us: “Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?”. Unfortunately, Kina Lillet stopped being produced in the 1970s. Since then, Bond lovers and mixologists have bound together to either a) Track down a rare bottle, or b) Find a suitable alternative. As for A, the last known full bottle to exist sits in the Museum of the American Cocktail, but for B, they’ve collectively decided that Cocchi Americano is a great alternative (phew).

Ingredients (according to Bond, James Bond)
3 measures Gordon’s Gin
1 measure vodka
½ measure Cocchi Americano
A large slice of lemon peel for garnish 

Method (according to Drinkers, The Three Drinkers)
Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice and stir well until ice-cold. We’re stirring rather than shaking, because shaking dilutes the Vesper too much in our opinion… sorry, James! Garnish with a large slice of lemon peel, got it?

Perfect Martini

In this sense, perfect does not mean ‘the best martini to exist ever’, it actually means that the cocktail has equal parts sweet and dry vermouth. The addition of the sweet vermouth makes this cocktail a little sweeter and gives it a beautiful amber colour. The Perfect martini makes a wonderful aperitif, but could also work as a tasty after dinner drink. Fun vermouth tip: keep the vermouth refrigerated after opening, as vermouth will oxidise and go bad after about a month!

Ingredients
50ml gin
15ml Dolin Vermouth Dry
15ml Antica Formula Carpano Vermouth
orange twist for garnish 

Method
Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice, stir well and strain into a cooled martini glass. Garnish with a twist of orange and enjoy!

Gibson

The Gibson may have fallen a little out of fashion, but that doesn’t mean it can’t come back into fashion! Though it has a different name, a Gibson is really just a funky name for a martini that’s been garnished with a tiny pickled onion rather than olives or lemon peel. We have to admit, the white onion with the clear cocktail does look pretty stylish and the savoury onion gives the cocktail an umami undertone it might not get otherwise. Try this one out!

Ingredients

70ml Bombay Sapphire
15ml Dolin Vermouth Dry
mini pickled onions for the garnish 

Method
Pour all the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice, stir well and strain into a cooled martini glass. Garnish with a mini pickled onions and enjoy! 

Breakfast Martini

The breakfast martini is an interesting take on a martini, namely because it uses a spoon of marmalade in its creation, but it is definitely worth a try. The trick to mastering this cocktail is using REALLY good marmalade (we’ve heard Paddington Bear gives out great recommendations). The result is an orangey treat you’ll be glad you took a risk on.

Ingredients
1 spoon marmalade
50ml gin
15ml Cointreau
15ml fresh lemon juice
orange peel twist for garnish
small triangle of toast for garnish 

Method
Put the marmalade and gin in the bottom of a cocktail shaker and stir until dissolved (this might take a while). Add the other ingredients and shake vigorously with ice. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a twist of orange. Slot the tiny toast onto the rim of the glass and enjoy!

French Martini

Oui oui mon ami, c'est le martini français! This delicious, fruity treat will transport you all the way to France with the inclusion of French raspberry liqueur Chambord. We’re not too sure how native pineapples are to France, but all geographical qualms will melt away once you taste the fresh, juiciness of this drink.

Ingredients
60ml vodka
15ml Chambord
45ml pineapple juice (not from concentrate)
slice of pineapple for garnish 

Method
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Fine strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and garnish with a slice of pineapple. Tchin tchin!

Espresso Martini

You know it, you love it, it’s the in your face bang slam cocktail that the world can’t get enough of, The Espresso Martini. There’s something about that beautiful white foam that glistens on top of this cocktail that is nothing short of mesmerising, and really impressive to serve to friends. If you’ve been too afraid to venture into espresso territory before, why not start now? We assure you that with the right ingredients, the Espresso Martini is nowhere near as scary as it might seem…

Ingredients
40ml Black Cow Vodka
25ml Kahlúa coffee liqueur
25ml cooled espresso
½ tbsp simple syrup
three coffee beans, for garnish 

Method
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Fine strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with three coffee beans. Enjoy! 

Pornstar Martini

Oh come on, you know we had to include this one. Just the smell of passion fruit liqueur can get you thinking about nights full of raucous fun and bad jokes. You may want to check the stability of your kitchen table before you start serving these, however, as dancing is guaranteed. With the prosecco shot accompaniment, we like to sip it while we drink the cocktail - but you do you.

Ingredients
1 ripe passion fruit, halved
30ml vanilla vodka
30ml Passoa
10ml lime juice
10ml sugar syrup
prosecco, to serve 

Method
Scoop the seeds from half of the passion fruit into the tin of a cocktail shaker, add the vodka, passion fruit liqueur, lime juice and sugar syrup. Add a handful of ice and shake well, strain into a coupe and float half a passionfruit on top. Serve with a shot of prosecco and worry about when to drink it...

Warm Scotch Cider

Colder days scream for warm, spiced cocktails to heat you up from the inside out so here is a gorgeous one to get you started!

Ingredients
1 gal. (16 cups) fresh apple cider
5 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
750ml whisky (we recommend Deanston 12)

Method
In a stockpot, gently heat the apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. When the mixture is hot but not boiling, remove from the heat and add the whisky. Stir to distribute the spices and divide it between 20 mugs.

Like the idea of a cocktail but not this one? Then have a look at The Best Negroni Recipes or One Drink, Three Ways: X by Glenmorangie.

One Drink, Three Ways: X by Glenmorangie

One Drink, Three Ways is the signature feature by The Three Drinkers. Join The Three Drinkers’ Helena, Aidy and Colin as they take one bottle and create a trio of phenomenal serves which you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. From rums and whiskies to gins and wine styles, the three help you get the most out of your glass. It’s time to get liquid on lips.

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By now, you will all know that we are huge fans of Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky and the legendary master distiller that is Dr Bill Lumsden. Glenmorangie are the leaders for intriguing new whisky flavours and styles, from various incredible, limited edition wine finishes to whisky that is perfect for mixing. 

Enter X by Glenmorangie: a sweeter, richer style of the classic, delicate and fruity Glenmorangie that Dr Bill has crafted alongside top bartenders with the express intention of mixing into cocktails and highballs. Lucious and aromatic, think pear, vanilla and honeysuckle with a touch of chocolate orange and citrus spritz. The whisky was aged in ex bourbon casks and part finished in new char oak casks, which help elevate the tropical flavours. To inspire your drinks choices, Glenmorangie have also created a series of super simple cocktail recipes for the new X on their website (glenmorangie.com) and we have picked our favourites below. Have a try and let us know what you think! 

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Helena’s Choice: Glenmorangie X Marmalade

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This refreshing citrus combo with a bitter, orange rind kick on the finish is so light on its feet, it would work really beautifully to kick off a brunch, afternoon tea or as a cool sundowner. The zesty freshness is a great match for those finger sandwiches and cupcakes. Simply pour all the ingredients into a highball glass, stir well to mix in the marmalade, then add ice, stir again and finish it off with an orange twist for garnish.

Glenmorangie X Marmalade

Recipe

50ml X by Glenmorangie

10ml Fresh Lime Juice

3 tsp Marmalade

Orange twist for garnish

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Aidy’s Choice: Glenmorangie X Date Night

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The hint of sparkle with this combination brings an interesting twist to a whisky highball. It’s floral, fragrant and the perfect conversation starter for your date night as the leafy notes from the elderflower intertwine beautifully with the orange citrus and hint of spice from the whisky. Fill a highball glass with crushed ice and pour over all the ingredients. Stir and top up with sparkling water to your taste and garnish with a lemon or orange twist.

Glenmorangie X Date Night

Recipe

50ml X by Glenmorangie

20ml Lemon Juice

20ml Elderflower Cordial

Club Soda or Sparkling Water, to taste

Lemon twist for garnish

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Colin’s Choice: Glenmorangie X Brunch

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I love a good brunch as it invariably involves some kind of quirky, delicious drink like this one. Bright and citrussy with a lot of vitamin C, this is definitely the kind of cool, long drink you can take your time over at brunch. Fill a highball glass with crushed ice and add the ingredients. Give it a good stir and garnish with half a grapefruit wheel. Pink if you can!

Glenmorangie X Brunch

Recipe

50ml X by Glenmorangie

25ml 100% Grapefruit Juice

25ml 100% Orange Juice

10ml Agave Syrup

Pink Grapefruit wheel for garnish

Like this? Check our our other One Drink, Three Ways pieces: Belvedere Organic Infusions, Tanqueray Gin and The Macallan 12.