Your homeboys may think you’re the “shiznit” when you open a bottle of beer with the crook of your elbow, but it does little for your lady when you’re trying to set the mood. Up your liquor game and wow her with these sexy cocktails.
Lets get one thing straight: There’s nothing wrong with chugging down a cold brewskie or whippin’ up some rum and Coke. But if you want to graduate from hard beverage basics and get a degree in cocktail mastery, then follow these tips from Ozzy bartender and Hendrick’s Gin brand ambassador, Tasha Lu.
Lu, a bartender of nearly 10 years, suggest that novice cocktail makers start with a gin and tonic or gin and soda. “Gin is a really good spirit to help you still party, feel good, and not feel sickly, like other spirits might make you feel. Hendrick’s Gin, in particular, is a very contemporary-style gin that’s very versatile.” Gin also gives you that right hit without making you feel bloated, she adds. Try these Hendrick’s Gin-based cocktails on for size.
Unusal Nigroni #2
“People think that gin always has to be refreshing and summery, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be like a moody, wintery drink,” says Lu, which is what you’ll get with this boss cocktail. The Fernet Branca in it brings out the more masculine notes, says Lu, which makes it more appealing to men.
- 45 ml Hendrick’s Gin
- 15 ml Aperol
- 15 ml Campari
- 30 ml Sweet Vermouth
- 5 to 10ml Fernet Branca
Method: Stir and strain into glassware
Watermelon Gin Fizz
If your lady is into something with a more floral, summer-vibe, then shake things up with this cocktail. “This cocktail is really good for pre-gaming,” says Lu. “It’s refreshing, fruity, and light, and something you could easily make at home.”
- 45 ml Hendrick’s Gin
- 15 ml fresh lime juice
- 10 ml sugar syrup (1:1)
- 3 coriander Seeds
- 4 mint leaves
- 3 watermelon chunks
- Top with soda water
Method: Muddle ingredients together, shake and double strain into glass
For 21 more cocktails recipes, visit hendricksgin.com.
