5 Colorful Cocktails
Sophisticated cocktails don’t have to be brown or colorless.
After a long, dreary day, that glassy Martini can sometimes feel lackluster. And while classic films might look best in black and white, your cocktails need not be confined to the same fate.
Take a walk on the kaleidoscopic side, with these five gin cocktails that don’t skimp on flavor or eye-pleasing presentation.
No psychedelic marching garb required when shaking up this Beatles-approved cocktail. Muddled Macintosh apple lends a warm honey color and sweetness, emboldened by tart black currants and black peppercorns.
Get the recipe for the Sergeant Pepper.
Don’t worry: This blushing sip won’t bite. Reddened with muddled Bing cherries and ruby port, this gin-based bulldog is intensely fruity, but balanced by a streak of star anise and citrus.
Get the recipe for the Cherry Bulldog.
Sugar snap peas have a delicate, clean flavor that’s a natural partner for gin, which boasts the very same qualities. This grassy green cocktail shakes muddled pea pods and tarragon with gin, dry vermouth and lemon juice, and is just as refreshing as any Mojito or Mint Julep.
Get the recipe for the Green Giant.
A scant slip of crème de violette gives this old-school gin classic its pale purple hue. The cocktail recalls a more glamorous period of commercial aviation, back in the ’20s and ’30s when flying was reserved for daredevils and well-to-dos. Balanced with Maraschino liqueur and lemon juice, this might be the only purple cocktail that stands the test of time.
Get the recipe for the Aviation.
The inspiration for this royal blue beverage? Kate Middleton’s giant sapphire engagement ring, of course. Blue curaçao and crème de violette team up to create the vibrant color, and a bubbly Champagne cap and edible silver garnish tip the scale into extra-luxurious territory.
