A new book showcases the stories and inspirations behind some of Ireland's top spirit makers - alongside a host of beautiful cocktail recipes.
Craft Cocktails is the brainchild of food and drinks photographer Monika Coghlan, who came up with the idea during one of last year's lockdowns. "I wanted to create something fresh that hasn’t been done before while supporting local Irish brands and showcasing my own photography," she explains.
"I thought our incredible spirit makers, just like artisan food producers, deserved and needed some more attention and exposure in these strange times. Also, I saw that more and more people were making cocktails at home and looking for recipes and inspiration. It seemed like a win-win situation."
The book is the first-ever Irish cocktail book showcasing Irish spirits and features both well-established and up-and-coming artisan distillers and drinks makers. So whether you're a gin or whiskey fan, or you want to try something different like mead, poitín or even apple brandy, there should be something in its pages to spark your interest. And there's over 50 craft cocktail recipes to play with too - we have four below to get you started.
READ MORE: 3 Irish whiskey cocktails to up your at-home bartending game
Rose Gin Spritz
Rose Gin Spritz combines the floral and Turkish delight notes from Glendalough Distillery's Rose Gin with the fresh fruit juices and mint in a refreshing spritz with a naturally pink hue.
Ingredients
- 60ml Glendalough Rose Gin
- 30ml sugar syrup
- 30ml fresh lime juice
- 30ml grapefruit juice
- Soda water
- Grapefruit wheel and sprig of mint to garnish
Method
Shake with ice and strain. Top with soda water. Garnish with a grapefruit wheel and a freshly torn and slapped sprig of mint.
Bury the Hatchet
This refreshing whiskey cocktail oozes a bold flavour that you won’t forget. The lemon juice enhances the complex citrus notes of The Sexton Single Malt, while the hint of sugar complements the smooth honey finish of the spirit.
Ingredients
- 50ml The Sexton Single Malt
- 25ml lemon juice
- 12.5ml sugar syrup
- Soda water
- 15ml Pedro Ximénez sherry
- lemon peel twist, to garnish
Method
Pour the whiskey into a tall glass over cubed ice. Add the lemon juice and sugar syrup. Top with soda water and Pedro Ximénez float. Garnish with a twist of lemon.
Micil Sour
A Micil take on a classic sour made with poitín instead of whiskey. A fantastic must-try drink.
Ingredients
- 50ml Micil Poitín
- 25ml lemon juice
- 15ml sugar syrup
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
Method
Place all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled glass with ice.
Mediterranean Snapper
A Mediterranean version of a bloody Mary, using gin and sherry instead of vodka, with a subtle addition of balsamic vinegar. It’s a real tomato explosion and a perfect hangover cure too!
Ingredients
- 40ml Míl Gin
- 15ml Pedro Ximénez sherry
- 3 dashes balsamic vinegar
- 120ml tomato juice
- 15ml lime juice
- Pinch of celery salt & black pepper
- Cherry tomatoes & basil leaf, to garnish
Method
Put all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until very cold. Pour into a tall glass with ice. Garnish with cherry tomatoes and a basil leaf.
You can pick up a copy of Craft Cocktails on pepperazzi.ie and selected stores including Meadows & Byrne and Brown Thomas.
This article first appeared on our sister site, irishtatler.com
