It’s Time to Revamp Your Cocktail Menu!

In with the new, out with the old. 

Spring is the perfect time to freshen up your cocktail menu. New produce is in season, flowers are in bloom and patio pounders are on the mind. Give your guests something to gawk about with a revamped cocktail list that includes refreshing classics, new concoctions and tropical flavor blasts.

Classic Mojito Cocktail

Ingredients

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• 1 oz. fresh lime juice
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 8 fresh mint leaves 
• 2 oz white rum
• 1 oz. club soda
• Lime wedge and mint for garnish
• 1 cup ice

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Directions

Add lime juice, sugar and eight mint leaves to a cocktail shaker. Use the end of a wooden spoon or cocktail muddler to bash (or muddle) the mint into the lime juice and sugar. This releases oils from the mint and helps the sugar dissolve into the lime juice.

Add rum, stir well then pour into a glass filled with ice, leaving about an inch of room then top with club soda. Garnish with extra mint leaves and a lime slice.

Recipe courtesy of Inspired Taste

Feeling ambitious? Try this trendy combination:

Rhubarb Mojito

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• 1 oz. white rum
• 2 oz. rhubarb syrup (recipe below)
• 8 mint leaves
• 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
• Lime zest
• Nutmeg
• 1 cup ice

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Directions

In the bottom of a glass add a bit of nutmeg, lime zest, mint leaves and the lime juice. Using a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon muddle the ingredients. You want to really bruise and break up the mint leaves. Add the rum and syrup, give a light stir then top with ice. Garnish with mint and a thin slice of rhubarb.

Rhubarb syrup:

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• 8 oz. chopped rhubarb (2-3 small stalks)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cup water
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 vanilla bean (optional)

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Directions:

Combine all the ingredients in a small pot. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 5-7 minutes. Let cool completely.
Strain the ingredients. The syrup will keep covered in the fridge for two weeks.

Recipe & Image courtesy of not without salt

 Tequila Sunrise

Ingredients

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• 1 1/2 oz. tequila
• 1/4 c. freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 1/2 oz. grenadine syrup
• Orange slice and maraschino cherry for granish
• 1 cup ice

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Directions

Stir or shake together tequila and orange juice. Fill a chilled 12 ounce glass with ice cubes; pour in orange juice mixture. Slowly pour in the grenadine, and allow it to settle to the bottom of the glass (be patient). Garnish with a slice of orange, and a maraschino cherry.

Recipe courtesy of All Recipes

Have you ever heard of a Tequila Sunset?

Tequila Sunset

Ingredients

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• 1 oz. tequila
• 4 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/2 oz. blackberry brandy
• Maraschino cherry for garnish
• 1 cup ice

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Directions

Fill a collins glass with ice and stir in the tequila and orange juice. Top with blackberry brandy and garnish with a cherry.

Recipe courtesy of Drink Nation

Negroni

Ingredients

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• 1 oz. gin
• 1 oz. Campari
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• Orange twist for garnish
• 1 cup ice

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Directions

Place a cocktail or Old Fashioned glass in the freezer to chill.

Combine the gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth in a cocktail shaker and fill it halfway with ice. Stir until the outside of the shaker is frosted. If you’re using an Old Fashioned glass, add ice cubes to it. Strain the drink into the chilled cocktail or Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with the orange twist.

Recipe courtesy of Chow

Make it white

White Negroni

Instructions

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• 1 1/2 oz. gin
• 3/4 oz. gentian liqeur, such as Suze, Salers or Aveze
• 3/4 oz. Lillet Blanc
• Lemon twist for garnish
• 1 cup ice

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Instructions

Fill a mixing glass halfway with ice. Add the gin, gentian liqueur and Lillet Blanc. Stir vigorously, then strain into a chillled cocktail martini glass. Garnish with the twist of lemon peel.

Recipe courtesy of the Washington Post

Pina Colada – Frozen

Ingredients

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• 6 oz pineapple juice
• 2 oz white rum
• 1 1/2 oz coconut cream
• 1 oz heavy cream
• Pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry for garnish
• 2 cups ice

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Directions

Blend all ingredients with approximately 2 cups of ice until nice and smooth. Pour into a hurricane glass. Garnish with the cherry and pineapple wedge.

Recipe courtesy of About.com

Pina Colada – On the Rocks

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• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 2 oz white rum
• 1 1/2 oz coconut cream
• Pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry for garnish
• 1 cup ice

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Directions

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Pour into a chilled cocktail or collins glass. Garnish with the pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry.

Recipe courtesy of About.com

Tom Collins

Ingredients

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• 2 oz. gin
• 1 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp. simple syrup
• 3 oz. club soda
• Lemon twist and maraschino cherry for garnish
• 1 cup ice

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Directions

Fill a cocktail glass with ice and place all of the ingredients in the glass. Give it a stir and enjoy!

Recipe courtesy of Over the Hill and on a Roll

Meet Collin’s cousin John

John Collins

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• 2 oz bourban
• 1 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp. simple syrup
• 3 oz. club soda
• Lemon twist and maraschino cherry for garnish
• 1 cup ice

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Directions

Add simple syrup and lemon juice into iced highball glass. Add bourbon and fill with soda water. Stir and garnish with lemon wedge and Maraschino cherry.

Recipe courtesy of The Pour Pro

Also see our Garnish Pinterest board for ways to spruce up your existing cocktails.