Cheers to World Cocktail Day: Celebrate with 11 Stunning Summer Serves
From reinvented classics to regionally inspired creations, there's something here for every palate.
Every year on May 13, cocktail lovers around the world raise a glass to celebrate World Cocktail Day, marking the birth of the first-ever definition of a cocktail published in 1806. This year, toast in style with a collection of 11 exquisite cocktail recipes—each crafted to reflect the diverse flavours, cultural twists, and seasonal freshness that make a perfect summer sip. From reinvented classics to regionally inspired creations, there's something here for every palate. Let the mixing begin!
Paper Plane
A bittersweet, zesty modern classic with a smooth malt depth.
Ingredients:
25 ml The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
25 ml Aperol
25 ml Amaro
25 ml Fresh Lemon Juice
Method:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake well and double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a twist of orange zest.
Horse's Neck Highball
A 19th-century classic revived with Chivas Regal XV.
Ingredients:
50 ml Chivas Regal XV
100 ml Soda
Build in a highball glass filled with ice. Stir gently and garnish with a long lemon twist.
JGL (Jameson, Ginger & Lime)
A globally loved signature serve that's zesty and refreshing.
Ingredients:
45 ml Jameson Irish Whiskey
Ginger ale (top up)
Lime wedge
Method:
Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour Jameson, top with ginger ale, and squeeze in a lime wedge.
The Pinklet
A vibrant strawberry-forward cocktail, perfect for sunlit afternoons.
Ingredients:
50 ml Beefeater Pink Strawberry
20 ml Fresh Lime Juice
10 ml Sugar Syrup
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain straight. Garnish with a strawberry.
The Cobbler
Ingredients
40ml The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old
10ml Lemon juice
20ml Freshly pressed apple juice
5ml Elderflower cordial
Garnish: Fruit slices and a mint sprig
Method
Add all ingredients to an ice-filled shaker
Shake well and strain into a highball glass filled with crushed ice
Top with soda water and garnish with fruit slices and a mint sprig
Amalfi Settantacinque
A zesty champagne cocktail with a Mediterranean touch.
Ingredients:
25 ml Malfy Con Limone
20 ml Clementine Juice
15 ml Simple Syrup
20 ml Lemon Juice
75 ml Perrier-Jouët NV Brut
Method:
Shake the first four ingredients with ice, double strain into a champagne flute, and top with champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist and star anise.
Discarded Highball
An elegant rum highball with sustainable spirit.
Ingredients:
60 ml Camikara 3-Year-Old Rum
120 ml Discarded Soda
Orange coin & mint sprig for garnish
Method:
Build in a highball glass with ice. Stir gently and garnish with orange coin and mint.
Cranberry Punch
A vibrant, fruity cooler with a hint of herbaceous rosemary.
Ingredients:
25 ml Absolut Vodka
25 ml Lillet Rosé
25 ml Lime Juice
25 ml Simple Syrup
1 cup Cranberries (for infusion)
Soda water
Rosemary sprig for garnish
Method:
Blend cranberries with vodka, strain, and combine with remaining ingredients over ice in a rocks glass. Top with soda and garnish with rosemary.
Appletini
A crisp, festive drink with a tropical rum twist.
Ingredients:
45 ml Khukri White Rum
15 ml Green Apple Syrup
15 ml Triple Sec
15 ml Lemon Juice
20 ml Apple Juice
Apple slice for garnish
Method:
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with an apple slice.
Ballantine's Whisky Flip
A creamy, indulgent after-dinner drink with a classic flair.
Ingredients:
35 ml Ballantine's 7 American Barrel
15 ml Amaretto
20 ml Double Cream
1 Whole Egg
Ice
Nutmeg for garnish
Method:
Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice. Strain into a chilled glass and dust with nutmeg.
Camikara's Summer Mule
A tropical mule with an Indian twist of mango and khus.
Ingredients:
50 ml Camikara 3-Year-Old Rum
30 ml Mango and Khus Cordial
Ginger Ale (top up)
Edible flower for garnish
Mule mug for serving
Method:
Shake rum and cordial with ice. Strain into a mule mug and top with ginger ale. Garnish with an edible flower.
Longitude77 Ratnagiri Alphonso Mango Smash
A rich Indian whisky cocktail with creamy aamras and mint.
Ingredients:
60 ml Longitude77 Indian Single Malt
20 ml Alphonso Mango Juice
15 ml Lime Juice
20 ml Mint Syrup
30 ml Cow Milk
Garnish: A slice of Ratnagiri Alphonso or mango leather (aam papad)
top videos
View all
Method:
Shake all ingredients except milk with ice. Strain, then add milk and allow it to settle. Filter through a coffee filter before serving.
Watch CNN-News18 here. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!
tags :
cnn-news18 cocktail cocktail drugs Cocktail Recipes cocktails gin cocktails latest news lifestyle news18
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
May 12, 2025, 20:59 IST
News lifestyle Cheers to World Cocktail Day: Celebrate with 11 Stunning Summer Serves
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
29-07-2025
- News18
Diamond Now: How To Style Your Euro-Summer Fits With Sparkle, Sophistication And Ease
Last Updated: This season, diamonds are stepping out of the vaults of evening glamour and into everyday sunlight, adding a quiet elegance to linen co-ords, breezy dresses, and summer soirées. News18 There's something undeniably magical about a European summer, sun-drenched days, cobbled streets, Aperol in hand, and wardrobes that dance between comfort and understated luxury. This season, diamonds are stepping out of the vaults of evening glamour and into everyday sunlight, adding a quiet elegance to linen co-ords, breezy dresses, and summer soirées. From destination weddings to rooftop dinners in Paris, diamonds whether natural or lab-grown are redefining vacation dressing. And Indian women are embracing this shift, pairing sparkle with soft silhouettes and making each outfit feel personal, yet elevated. Weddings in the Sun: Subtle Yet Stunning Summer weddings call for jewellery that strikes the perfect balance between simple and striking. According to Mira Gulati, Founder & Principal Designer, Mirari, 'A pair of classic natural diamond studs paired with a delicate necklace adds just the right sparkle. This look works beautifully with both updos and soft waves, letting the diamonds catch the sunlight naturally." For evening weddings or more formal affairs, she recommends going bold with a diamond drop necklace or a tennis bracelet but keeping the rest of the accessories minimal so your statement piece shines through. Palak Bansal, Founder of Oliveara Jewels, echoes this vibe for summer styling: 'Lab-grown diamonds are the perfect plus-one to your curated warm-weather outfits. Think beyond traditional settings. For daytime, pair dainty diamond studs or a delicate tennis bracelet with puff-sleeved dresses, white linen, or floral maxis, it adds a subtle luminosity without overpowering your relaxed aesthetic." Vacation Mode: Light, Layered, and Luxe Diamonds aren't just for special events. They can elevate even your most casual travel outfits. 'When packing for a vacation, think minimal and versatile," says Gulati. 'A slim diamond band, small hoops, or a petite pendant can instantly elevate a relaxed look — be it a linen dress or a swimsuit cover-up." Bansal adds, 'If you're leaning into the quiet luxury vibe, stack minimalist diamond rings or go for a single, well-cut pendant. These pair beautifully with basket bags and espadrilles, adding polish while keeping things breezy." When the Sun Sets: Diamonds That Dazzle As dusk falls on your Euro-summer evening, let your diamonds take the spotlight. Bansal recommends statement chandelier earrings, layered chokers, or bold cuffs to glam up slip dresses or tailored jumpsuits. 'The trick is to balance sparkle with sophistication think refined, not flashy." Hair styled in loose waves or a low bun helps keep the focus on the jewellery, allowing it to frame your face and outfit. The Euro-Summer Diamond Rule? Quiet Luxury Meets Personal Style 'There's something truly special about a European summer, the soft sunlight, the slow-paced days, and the effortless way women express their style," says Gulati. 'I've always believed diamonds don't need an occasion; they just need the right mood. Whether it's a pendant worn with a breezy dress in Capri or stacked rings at a beachside lunch, it's all about that light, polished elegance." Bansal agrees, 'This Euro-summer, let your jewellery do more than shimmer, let it tell a story of modern glam, sustainable choices, and timeless style." So whether you're wandering the lavender fields of Provence or dancing barefoot in Mykonos, your diamonds can come along effortless, expressive, and endlessly chic. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
28-07-2025
- News18
The Only Cocktail List You Need To Match Your 2025 Vibe
Last Updated: Whether you're living your delulu dream, soft-launching your peace, or ghosting chaos with grace, there's a drink that gets your vibe We're halfway through 2025, and one thing's clear: everyone's in their main-character era—with a playlist, a moodboard, and now… a cocktail. Whether you're living your delulu dream, soft-launching your peace, or ghosting chaos with grace, there's a drink that gets your vibe. So, what's your cocktail persona this year? Let's pour one for your current energy. 1. For Your 'Smooth But Unbothered' Era: The Weller Paper Plane You've stopped overexplaining, your boundaries are clear, and your peace is non-negotiable. The Weller Paper Plane? Smooth, confident, with just enough zing—exactly like your energy. Ingredients: 30ml Weller Special Reserve Bourbon 30ml Aperol 30ml Amaro Nonino 30ml fresh lemon juice How to Make It: Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a coupe glass. Sip slowly, effortlessly. 2. For Your 'Main Character Clarity' Phase: The Patrón Margarita Booked, glowing, and done with bare-minimum energy. This drink is fresh, unfussy, and always in season—just like you. 60ml Patrón Reposado 15ml orange liqueur 20ml fresh lime juice How to Make It: Shake with ice and pour into a salt-rimmed glass. Garnish with lime. Sip while mentally soft-blocking bad energy. 3. For Your 'Soft Life, Sharp Mind' Season: Watermelon Basil Margarita You're linen-clad, joy-prioritising, and five moves ahead. This cocktail is soft, layered, and strategic just like your glow-up. Ingredients: 60ml Patrón Reposado 30ml watermelon juice15ml sugar syrup 20ml lime juice 6 basil leaves How to Make It: Shake with ice. Strain into a salt-rimmed coupette. Sip: playful meets power. 4. For Your 'Rooted But Radiant' Energy: Golden Elixir You've done the work—and it shows. This cocktail is refined, grounded, and unapologetically you. Ingredients: 45ml Dewar's 12-Year Scotch 15ml saffron-infused honey 15ml lemon juice 2 dashes cardamom bitters Soda water to top How to Make It: Shake Scotch, honey, lemon, and bitters. Strain into a black salt-rimmed glass, top with soda. Sip slow, this one's for the long game. Whatever vibe you're carrying into the second half of 2025, bold, blissed-out, or beautifully balanced, there's a cocktail for it. So raise a glass to your era, one unapologetic sip at a time. First Published: July 28, 2025, 14:03 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- The Hindu
How to navigate some of Asia's best bars, in Hong Kong
Leave your stilettos at home. Sure, Hong Kong cocktails bars can be dressy, but martini nights in this glittering high-voltage city seem to involve either sprinting up brutally steep stairs or standing in long, patient queues waiting for admission. It takes me a couple of days to get used to bar hopping in the mid-levels. There is a clever escalator that takes you up the hill, with a convenient pause at Tai Kwun, where you can sip a relaxed Aperol spritz. But I lose my way frequently, usually distracted by pastry (make sure you pause at Bakehouse for a sourdough egg tart, or three) and boutiques. Inevitably, every wrong turn leads me to yet another steep ladder street. Nevertheless, I am determined to hit some of the spaces that made Asia 30 Best Bars list, announced recently in Macau to try some of the continent's best cocktails. Bar Leone Naturally, I start with Asia's best bar, which turns out to be disarmingly friendly. Ranked second on the World's 50 Best Bars list, after Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico, Bar Leone has been listed as Asia's best bar once again this year. With warm buttery lighting, puddled with pools of flickering candles, the space is cluttered, but by design: I spot a green toy train and retro posters under a disco ball straight from the Seventies. The space hums with conversation, punctuated by the clink of glasses and cutlery. Founder Lorenzo Antinori defines the bar as cocktail popolari, which in Italian means 'cocktail for the people'. Discussing what sets it apart, he says, 'We're not trying to reinvent the wheel at Bar Leone, we're just making sure it rolls well. I think what makes us different than other bars is that we focus on the overall bar experience: quality cocktails and food, a curated playlist, the right lighting, and warm service.' That is evident as I settle into my seat, guided by a chatty waitress. She recommends the olives, which are big, smoked, and juicy. I pair them with an easy Garibaldi, bright with campari and orange. Then dig into warm slabs of focaccia, hefty with mortadella, creamy whipped ricotta and pickled chillies. Lorenzo says his personal favourites on the menu are probably the Filthy Martini and the Olive Oil Sour. Then adds, 'But honestly, the best part of Bar Leone isn't what's in the glass, it's who's around it. The vibe, the people, the community we've built… that's the real magic.' Coa Jay Khan has been called Asia's hottest bartender, and for a good reason. Born and raised in Hong Kong, he started bartending at 18 at a karaoke club, worked in Melbourne and then discovered the charms of Mezcal in Mexico. He ended up launching Coa in 2017, to celebrate all things agave. Coa shot up Asia's 50 Best Bars list, and is currently at No 17, while Jay won the Roku Industry Icon Award this year for being 'The agave evangelist shaping Hong Kong's cocktail culture.' I meet Jay when I am standing in a long and friendly line to get into Coa. As he walks me in, I'm captivated by the bar's seductive, shabby-chic vibe. It's like stumbling upon a particularly juicy secret: pulsing with music, mirrors and frequent peals of laughter. Scrawled across a wall, I read, 'You don't find mezcal, mezcal finds you.' A pepper smash finds me. An assertive agave-based cocktail, blending jalapeno-infused tequila, Cointreau, fresh shiso and capsicum juice, it's herbaceous with an addictively spicy kick. The food is from Chicano, a neighbouring Mexican restaurant. I try their popular Al pastor tacos, generously filled with pork and pineapple, as well as the quesadillas rich with Oaxacan cheese and cool dollops of guacamole. 'When I opened this space, I was quite naive. I was driven by passion,' says Jay, adding that it took a year-and-a-half for people to really discover them. In 2021, however, they won Asia's best bar, and then went on to top the list for the next two years. His secret? Jay's been building a culture, not just creating memorable cocktails. 'We always have something in the loop, we constantly have new things coming up...' He says, adding 'We are trying to activate the community.' Savoury Project Opening this bar took guts. Focussing on spicy, savoury notes instead of the more traditionally accepted sweet fruity flavours, Jay Khan and Ajit Gurung launched The Savoury Project in May 2023, and were quickly rewarded by zooming up the list of Hong Kong's favourite bars, Currently listed as 32 on Asia's 50 best Bars list, the Savoury Project, set in trendy Soho district, jostling with beautiful people, is dominated by a custom-made hexagonal bar that encourages customers to chat with the bartender. Realising that more guests were choosing savoury cocktails, the partners decided to create a menu pivoting on umami. While the menu is short, with just eight signature cocktails (as each one requires hours of prep), there is plenty of variety, from a salty Michelada made with clamato, habanero, pickle and lager, to the deliciously intense Pepper + Corn, heady with mezcal and cumin. 'We char the husk, and that aroma reminds you of Mexican barbeque,' says Ajit. There's also a Temperance section, which includes a nutty Teriyaki freeball, with Japanese white soy sauce, and Seed of Life that includes papaya seeds and ginger kombucha. Ajit says is getting increasingly popular as more people give up alcohol. I am not one of them. He slides across a Chilled Biryani, a cocktail made with ghee, biryani masala, tequila, plum, pineapple and peppers as we chat. It is both familiar, and intriguing. Says Ajit, 'People believe savoury cocktails are like a glass of soup, but they're actually light.' He explains why being 'commercially successful' was not enough for the ambitious partners. 'It's like selling your soul to the devil,' he says, adding that they decided it was time to try something new. 'Not because we wanted to be cool or stand out. We looked at what defines us as founders. You don't want to be too ahead of the curve, but you don't want to be too late either.' I sip on my biryani reflectively. Fortunately, like Goldilocks, their timing and flavours are just right.
