20 unusual cocktails you need to try
Are you tired of ordering the same old popular cocktails every time you go out? Or, maybe you’re looking for something new to excite your taste buds when making cocktails at home?
From the intriguing combination of Coffee & Coke, to the classic yet herbaceous Bijou, and even the whimsical Cotton Candy Margarita, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Each cocktail comes with its own flair, ingredients, and method to ensure you can easily recreate these masterpieces at home – or pass it over to the bartender!
Whether you’re a seasoned mixologist or just starting out your cocktail-drinking journey, we’ve curated a list of unique and delicious drinks to elevate your next night out. Ready to discover your new favourite drink? Let’s dive into these innovative concoctions and shake up your cocktail repertoire!
1. Coffee & Coke
Looking for something a little different to your usual espresso martini? Try a Coffee and Coke!
Ingredients
- 25 ml of rye whisky
- 5 ml of bitter liqueur
- 5 ml of sweet vermouth
- 25 ml of espresso
- 1 dash of chocolate bitters
- 25 ml of Coca-Cola, to top
Method
Add all of your ingredients, minus the Coca-Cola, to a shaker tin. Shake hard for 10 seconds, before double-straining into a rocks glass with ice. Top the drink with cold Coke and garnish with an orange slice.
2. Bijou
Sometimes, we need to head back to the classics to find a new favourite cocktail. Channel the pre-prohibition era with a herbaceous Bijou!
Ingredients
- 25 ml of London dry gin
- 25 ml of sweet vermouth
- 25 ml of Green Chartreuse
- 1 dash of orange bitters
- Lemon peel, to garnish
Method
Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing glass and fill with cracked ice. Stir well for 20 seconds and then strain the cocktail into a chilled cocktail glass. Twist a piece of lemon peel over the drink to express, and then use it as a garnish.
3. Earl Grey Tea
Ever thought of ordering a brew at the bar? Now you can with an Earl Grey Tea… though do remind your bartender you want a cocktail!
Ingredients
- 150 ml of cold Earl Grey tea
- 30 ml of gin
- 5 ml of honey simple syrup
- 5 ml of fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 2 sprigs of lavender
Method
Start by brewing 4 cups of Earl Grey tea (this will give you enough to make a few cocktails) and then store in the refrigerator to keep cold. Add all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker, with 2 sprigs of lavender and ice. Shake well and then strain the cocktail into a glass over one large ice cube. Garnish with the sprigs of lavender.
4. Anna Banana
Searching for a fruity cocktail that packs a punch? Look no further than the Anna Banana!
Ingredients
- 40 ml malt scotch whisky
- 15 ml of sherry
- 10 ml of banana cream liqueur
- 1 bar spoon of Drambuie
- A lemon twist
Method
Stir all of the ingredients together, before pouring it over a large piece of ice. Express lemon over the top of the drink and then drop twist then lemon in to a garnish.
5. Death In The Gulf Stream
Whilst we can’t guarantee you’ll write as good as Hemingway after this drink, you will sure feel like him after his favoured Death In The Gulf Stream!
Ingredients
- Peeled zest and 1 tablespoon of juice from 1 lime
- 4 dashes of aromatic bitters
- 1 teaspoon of simple syrup
- 75ml of Genever
Method
Fill a tall chimney-style glass, nearly full, with crushed ice. Add the lime zest, lime juice, bitters, and simple syrup. Top the cocktail with Genever and stir – then serve immediately.
6. Cotton Candy Margarita
We fully believe that cocktails are meant to be fun, and nothing says that more than a Cotton Candy Margarita!
Ingredients
- 25 ml of tequila
- 10 ml of triple sec
- 15 ml of lime juice
- 25 ml of cream soda
- Cotton candy
- Corn syrup
- Pink sugar
- 1 lime wheel, to garnish
Method
Start by rimming the edge of the margarita glass in corn syrup and pink sugar, and then place a piece of cotton candy in the glass. Next, in an ice-filled glass, combine the tequila, triple sec, lime juice and cream soda. Stir, before transferring the cocktail over to the margarita glass. Garnish the drink with a lime wheel to serve.
7. Hendrick’s Coconut
Ever thought of gin on a tropical beach? We didn’t think so either, before trying Hendrick’s Coconut!
Ingredients
- 35 ml of Hendrick’s Gin
- 75ml of coconut water
- 25 ml of cold brew coffee
- 2 dashes of chocolate bitters
Method
Add all of the ingredients to a shaker and shake hard with ice. Then, finely strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with grated nutmeg and mint.
8. Hanky Panky
Looking for a naughty little drink on date night? Or perhaps a statement drink for your hen do? You’ll be sure to love a Hanky Panky!
Ingredients
- 35 ml of gin
- 35 ml of sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes of herbal liqueur
- Orange peel, to garnish
Method
Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing glass and fill it with ice. Stir well for 20 seconds, before straining it into a chilled cocktail glass. Twist a piece of orange peel over the drink to express and then use it as a garnish.
9. The Phoenix
Need a new pink, Instagram-able drink that also tastes good too? Try The Phoenix!
Ingredients
- 25 ml of coconut rum
- 50 ml of pineapple mango juice
- 25 ml of pomegranate liqueur
- Freshly sliced pineapple, to garnish
Method
Combine the coconut rum with the pineapple mango juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake well. Prepare a glass by pouring in the pomegranate liquor first, and then finely strain the shaken mixture on top. Finish with a garnish of freshly sliced pineapple to serve.
10. Redhead
Want a Moscow Mule with more of a kick? Try a Redhead, instead!
Ingredients
- 75ml of copper crafted vodka
- 50 ml of carrot juice
- 25 ml of lemon juice
- 25 ml of honey
- 2 sprigs of coriander
- Ginger beer, to top
- Carrot slices, garnish
Method
Shake all of the ingredients with cubed ice, and then strain over crushed ice in a copper mule cup. Top with ginger beer, more ice, and garnish with carrot slices.
11. Monkey Gland
With a drink named after an interesting ‘rejuvenation’ treatment in the prohibition era, a Monkey Gland is sure to get you dancing on the tables!
Ingredients
- 35 ml of gin
- 35 ml of fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon of grenadine
- 1 teaspoon of absinthe
Method
Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Shake well for 10 seconds and then finely strain the drink into a chilled cocktail glass to serve.
12. Beach Blossom
Bored of your usual Pina Colada? Try something a little more fruity with a Beach Blossom, instead!
Ingredients
- 50 ml of white rum
- 35 ml lemon juice
- 15 ml of cream of coconut
- 10 ml of guava syrup
- 10 ml of pineapple juice
- 2 dashes of orange flower water
- Sliced coconut, to garnish
- Mint, to garnish
Method
Add all of your ingredients to a cocktail shaker, filled three-quarters the way with ice, and shake well. Then, strain the cocktail into a glass filled with more ice and garnish with coconut and mint, for a tropical flair!
13. Roku Negroni
Negronis blew up online last year, but we have a new version – the Roku Negroni!
Ingredients
- 35 ml of Roku Gin
- 15 ml of ice wine
- 10 ml of Luxardo Bitter Bianco
- 5 ml of rice wine vinegar
- Grapefruit peel
- Pinch of salt
Method
Measure all of the ingredients and pour them into a mixing glass – including grapefruit peel. Add ice and stir until diluted. Strain the cocktail and pour it into an up glass. Express the grapefruit peel and use it as a garnish.
14. Pink Lady
Not one for wanting to say silly names when ordering a drink? Well, the Pink Lady could definitely be one for you!
Ingredients
- 35 ml of dry gin
- 10 ml of apple brandy
- Juice of half a lemon
- 4 dashes of grenadine
- 1 large egg white (will suffice for two drinks)
- Cherry, for garnish
Method
Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake very hard, without ice, for at least 10 seconds. This will help to emulsify the egg white. Then, fill the shaker with ice and shake again for at least 10 seconds, before straining the drink into a chilled cocktail glass. Finally, garnish with a cherry to serve.
15. Honey Paloma
If you’re a tequila fan, then you’re sure to love a Paloma. But why not take it a step further, and try a succulent Honey Paloma next time you’re at the bar?
Ingredients
- 50 ml of fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons of honey syrup
- 50 ml of club soda
- 50 ml of tequila
- Grapefruit wedges, to garnish
- Grapefruit salt rim
Method
Start by rimming the glass in a grapefruit salt mixture. Then, fill the glass half full of ice and pour in all of your ingredients. Stir well to combine, add more ice, and garnish the finished cocktail with a grapefruit wedge.
16. Dill Pickle Martini
You hate pickles or you love them. If you’re the latter, why not switch it up and try a Dill Pickle Martini?
Ingredients
- 50ml of vodka
- 10 ml to 25 ml of kosher pickle brine
- Dry vermouth, as rinse
- 10 mustard seeds
- Kosher dill pickle, to garnish
- Sprig of dill, to garnish
Method
Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake the cocktail, strain it into an up glass, and garnish with a dill pickle and sprig of dill.
17. White Lady
If you’re not a fan of gin but looking for something a little different next time you head to the bar, why not try ordering a White Lady?
Ingredients
- 50 ml of dry gin
- 10 ml of Cointreau
- 10 ml of fresh lemon juice
Method
Add all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well for 10 seconds, before finely straining the drink into a cocktail glass to serve.
18. Lavender Collins
Tom Collins called – he’s bored of his own cocktail, and you are too! Switch it up next time you’re out and ask for a Lavender Collins, instead.
Ingredients
- Lavender in ice cubes
- 150 ml of Collins mix
- 50 ml of gin
- 2 maraschino cherries, to garnish
- Lavender sprigs, to garnish
Method
Start by filling a glass with your lavender ice cubes. Pour the Collins mix and gin over the ice, and stir well. Finish by garnishing the glass with a sprig of lavender and 2 maraschino cherries, to serve.
19. Diamondback
Looking for something different than your usual Manhattan? Explore the power of the Diamondback!
Ingredients
- 35 ml of rye whiskey
- 15 ml of apple brandy
- 15 ml of Green Chartreuse
- Brandied cherry, to garnish
Method
Combine all of your ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir the cocktail, and then finely strain it into a martini glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.
20. Unannshotd Day Tripper
Searching for a go-to cocktail that’s both flavoursome and refreshing? Try the Unannshotd Day Tripper!
Ingredients
- 35 ml of Hendrick’s Gin
- 10 ml of 100% organic powdered turmeric
- 15 ml of lemon juice
- 15 ml of agave syrup
- Top with premium ginger beer
- Cayenne pepper, to garnish
- Cucumber slice, to garnish
Method
Fill a highball glass with cubed ice. Combine all of the ingredients and give the cocktail a gentle stir. Sprinkle a small pinch of cayenne pepper on top of a cucumber slice and place on top, to garnish.
Still looking for something new on your next night out? With sites across major cities from Brighton to Manchester, convince your boss to have your next corporate event venue at your local Alcotraz prison cocktail bar. Bring your own booze and our word-class mixologists will make one of these unique concoction cocktails for you!