Enjoy cocktails and flowers in equal measure? Then a glass full of flowers should suffice! Cocktails, after all, are big on fusion. Whether you’re mixing sour and sweet, syrups and spirits or substance and style, there is a concoction to suit even the most discerning of taste buds. With this in mind, let’s throw some flowers into the mix!
Cocktails and flowers – a history
For many years, cocktail recipes have embraced flowers, in the shape of decoration, edible blooms, infusions and floral liqueurs -Some great examples of this include rose syrup and St. Germain elderflower liqueur. There are numerous blooms that can be used as decor or to add a tangy, fragrant taste to the mix. The likes of orchids and roses can both be eaten, with each boasting a delicate, sweet flavour that perfectly complements their beauty.
Buying flowers
Buying flowers to decorate an array of cocktails is as easy as the click of a button! Online florists such as Serenata flowers boast a wide selection of fresh, seasonal blooms, ranging in colour, size and style. To place an order, visit their website, choose the blooms you like the look of and add them to your basket! The majority of bouquets come as standard with same or next day delivery. As well as using blooms to decorate cocktails, you can also create stunning centrepieces and colour coordinated table displays.
Edible flowers
Whether your guests (or you) eat the blooms garnishing your glass is entirely down to personal preference. One thing is for certain though, floral embellishment is a guaranteed talking point. Including flowers at your next cocktail party is a great way to add extra pizazz to a simple, classic martini, a champagne cocktail or more – turning your chosen cocktails into tasteful art displays that often look too good to drink.
To give you inspiration, we’ve listed three of our favourite cocktail recipes (all of which use flowers as embellishment) and all of which are guaranteed to bring out your inner mixologist and impress your guests.
Rose Martini
This picture-perfect rose martini cocktail recipe is the perfect way to start a party – an ideal tipple for a summer evening and a great way to add a splash of colour to lunch.
What will you need?
• 30 ml white crème de cacao
• 45 ml vodka
• 1 drop of rose food colouring
• 8 ml rose water
• Rose petals to garnish
Method:
Place the white crème de cacao, rose water, food colouring and vodka into a cocktail shaker. Once all ingredients are in the shaker, add some ice and shake the mixture a handful of times. This will both combine and chill the liquids.
Once combined, pour the liquid into a stylish martini glass and finish with a scattering of pink rose petals. These will float elegantly on top of the liquid, creating a stunning visual display.
Blood Orange Bee’s Knees
A combination of sweet honey, citrus notes and beautiful, bold blooms, this hot-hued cocktail (as the name suggests) is the bee’s knees and is a great option for happy hour. Garnish with nasturtium or exotic orchid to make this cocktail really stand out.
What will you need?
• 60 ml gin
• 30 ml of fresh blood orange juice
• 15 ml honey syrup (to make this, combine equal parts warm water with equal parts honey)
• 15 ml lemon juice
• 2 dashes of orange bitters
• One orchid
Method:
Place everything from the ingredient list (bar the bloom) into a shaker brimming with crisp ice. Once you have given the shaker a good shake, use a strainer to pour the mixture into a chilled cocktail vessel of your choice. For the final touch, add a beautiful bloom to embellish an equally beautiful drink.
Real Fruit Lemon Drop
This recipe calls for Meyer lemons, a hybrid which is a combination of Mandarin oranges and lemons. The result is a crisp, tangy edge that promises to pack a punch! In this recipe, you can use an equal combination of orange juice and lemon juice if you don’t have Meyer lemon juice available.
What will you need?
• 45 ml Mandarin Blossom Vodka
• 15 ml Cointreau
• A dash of crisp, sparkling wine
• 15 ml Meyer lemon juice (or 50/50 fresh lemon and orange juice)
• 1 thin lemon slice
• Sugar to line the edge of the cocktail glass
• One pretty pansy
Method:
Firstly, add a little sugar to the rim of your chosen cocktail glass. The easiest way to do this is to run a slice of lemon around the edge of the glass then dip it into a bowl of sugar. For best results, use a chilled martini glass. The next step requires you to mix the liquid ingredients (apart from the sparkling wine) in a shaker filled with ice.
Once completely combined, pour the mixture into the glass. Finish with a dash of sparkling wine, pouring it slowly so that it sits on top of the mixture. Embellish with a lemon slice and add a pansy in a hue of your choice.
Source: elledecor.com
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