This month saw the serving of London Cocktail Week, which will be promoting [responsibly] that high-class category of refreshment. It may not always be Friday night, but globally speaking it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere. Thanks to Jimmy Buffet for that quote – his most well-known song coincidentally being ‘Margaritaville’.
And despite London being the venue for this event, if a cocktail’s name is associated with a place it does tend to be the United States. Here are just a few from an extensive menu.
Cosmo
A particular favourite of mine – The Cosmopolitan – with a “healthy” dose of fruit juice adding to the refreshment factor. I’m not going to quote International Bartenders Association’s official recipes here as most allow a degree of freedom, but suffice to say that cranberry and Cointreau are core ingredients. The origin of this cocktail is open to debate (or bar-room brawl), but the three main theories do all originate in America.
Long Island Iced Tea
The English may represent the most ardent followers of the hot tea drink, but Stateside the desire to utilise all of those ice machines gives us Iced Tea for the day and for happy hour; the Long Island Iced Tea cocktail. The recipe is quoted as mixing “amongst other ingredients” gin, vodka, rum and tequila. Originating in New York’s Long Island (or Tennessee; yes again the origin seems to be blurred – for whatever reason) this drink is also served long, with a dash or more of cola (usually available in a health-conscious sugar free version).
As we have touched on tequila, travelling south of the border…
Tequila Sunrise
Originating at a hotel in Arizona, and referenced musically by The Eagles (possibly written whilst at the Hotel California), this is a very attractive looking drink. Again, a fruity mix is part of this drink, with orange juice and grenadine syrup making it particularly refreshing.
Travelling to the South of Asia…
Singapore Sling
Your author was brought up in Singapore, where my English parents facilitated my early love of English tea. A recent trip back saw memories stirred (and shaken) as much had changed since the late 1960s. Still surviving, though, is the luxurious Raffles Hotel where the Singapore Sling originated – itself based on an American type of drink named “sling”.
Returning to London – this month why not enjoy a tequila sunrise under a Waterloo Sunset and enjoy the global variety of tastes?
All of these cocktails are very probably available in a “skinny” version – so no-one need miss out. Have a nice weekend!
