The tastiest cocktail recipes, from various Rotterdam bartenders, especially for you. Because even though the bars are closed and we can’t go out for a drink, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t enjoy our times.
It is precisely in these times that our creativity is running at full speed! With these tasty cocktail recipes by, among others, the bartenders of Rumah, Botanero and Dr., you’ll have the night of your life!
Looking for more recipes to make at home? Read our article with tasty recipes by Rotterdammers here!
1. Mix the Malibu Cola of Williams Canteen
For some a go to drink when clubbing, and for others a guilty pleasure; Niels van Wouwe of Williams Canteen shares how to create the best Malibu Cola in no time.
Ingredients
- 30 ml Malibu
- 40 ml Bacardi Ocho Años
- 10 ml clarified lime juice
- 20 ml homemade cola syrup
- top with London Essence soda water
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitter
Directions
Very simple: pour all ingredients over the ice and mix it gently. Easy peasy!
2. Shake a Margarita like Botanero
Botanero’s David Trampe knows how to put together a delicious Mexican drink. Take a sip, close your eyes, and it’s as if you’re stretched out on the beach, far away! But, before you get the Tequila out, David shares some useful tips below:
- Buying cheap alcohol equals a hangover. Buy from the Gall & Gall and go for the Arette Tequila or Nuestra Soledad Mezcal.
- Drink plenty of water in between and don’t forget to eat. Food does not only make things more fun, it also ensures that the next day you are less affected by a hangover.
- To save yourself some work, you can simply make a basic mix of 200 ml lime juice and 100 ml sugar syrup in advance. That way you don’t have to go through the whole process again if you want to pour yourself a new drink!
Ingredients
- 50 ml good quality Tequila or Mezcal (Mezcal is also a great option!)
- 25 ml freshly squeezed lime juice
- 12.5 ml sugar syrup
- pinch of salt
Directions
- For the sugar syrup, add 200 grams of sugar and 100 ml of water to a pan. Then heat it gently while stirring. Once the sugar has dissolved, the syrup is ready!
- Toss all ingredients in a shaker, add ice cubes and … shake!
- Pour the mixture including ice into a large whiskey glass and you’re done.
3. The Dry Martini of Rumah made with Rum
Owner Daryl Liew-On named his business Rumah for two reasons: firstly because Rumah means ‘house’ in Indonesian and secondly because it contains the word ‘Rum’, something he loves to incorporate in his cocktails. A recipe from Daryl must therefore have Rum in the leading role! Below he shares the classic Dry Martini, based on a beautiful Rum.
Ingredients
- 50 ml Paranubes Rum
- 10 ml Noilly Prat dry Vermouth
Directions
- Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass and add ice cubes.
- Then pour this into a chilled Martini glass or coupe (without ice) and your Rum Dry Martini is ready.
4. Shake a Daiquiri like they do at Calaboose
Chi-Ho is the creator of the cocktails for both Dr. and Calaboose. While at Dr. you’ll find more classic and complex cocktails on the menu, Calaboose is the place for cocktails with an Indonesian twist. To keep it fresh and fruity, he shares the recipe for the perfect Daiquiri.
A refreshing classic cocktail, simple but delicious when it is balanced with a nice rum. Chi-Ho works in milliliters. Do you prefer to work in parts? Then keep 4: 2: 1; four parts rum, two parts lime and one part sugar syrup. Use a nice white rum for this, or play with your favorite rum. He prefers Don Q or Banks 5.
- 50 ml rum
- 25 ml freshly squeezed lime juice
- 15 ml sugar syrup (homemade: 2 parts sugar to 1 part water, heat and dissolve. Or take two bar / teaspoons of sugar and stir with the lime juice first)
Directions
- Shake all ingredients in a shaker full of ice.
- Strain it into a martini glass or coupe.
- Garnish with a wedge of lime if desired.
5. A Negroni with a twist: a recipe by the Dr.
A bittersweet cocktail that is easy to make. But what’s even more fun to do is give it a twist. For example, try it with Jenever, Bourbon, Mezcal or Tequila! Below, Chi-Ho shares his own twist!
Ingredients
- 30 ml Rutte Paradijswijn
- 25 ml Kamm & Sons
- 15 ml Mandarine Napoleon
Directions
- Stir all ingredients including some ice in a mixing glass.
- Pour the mixture over ice cubes in a tumbler.
- Garnish the drink with, for example, the peel of a grapefruit as a finishing touch.
6. Create the perfect Gin & Tonic
Simple, yet so delicious. To make this the proper way, Chi-Ho explains what makes a G&T a success.
A lot of ice is important for a cold and fresh drink, which also stays cold for as long as possible and will dilute slowly. Choose your favorite gin or flavor profile. “We have a preference for Bombay Sapphire, Rutte, Hendricks, Nolet’s, Bobby’s or Loopuyt. These are all beautiful gins, with a range of different flavor profiles. In addition, we of course like to work a lot with local distilleries!”, Says Chi-Ho.
For tonic, they recommend a premium version, such as Fever-Tree. For the right ratio, aim for 1 part spirit on 3 parts mixer.
The garnish depends on the gin. Check out what the Gin brand recommends for the perfect serve, or look at the botanicals and flavors in the gin, then try to accent or complement them.
Ingredients
- Gin (Bombay Sapphire, Rutte, Hendrick’s, Nolet’s, Bobby’s of Loopuyt)
- Tonic (Fever-Tree)
Directions
- Take a long drink or balloon glass and fill it well with ice cubes.
- Pour in 50 ml gin (or more or less is also possible).
- Top it off with about 150 ml of premium tonic (in the right proportion).
- Top it off with a suitable garnish.
7. The simple yet tasty cocktail of Amehoela
A cocktail that is very tasty and easy to make: a dangerous combination! Aline of Amehoela explains how to recreate her cocktail.
Ingredients
- 50 ml Cognac
- 25 ml Disaronno
- 25 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
Directions
- Toss all ingredients in a glass, then fill the glass three-quarters with crushed ice.
- Take a spoon and coarsely scoop the cocktail for 15 seconds.
- Fill the glass with more of the crushed ice and garnish with a piece of orange peel. Add a tropical straw for a nice Amehoela effect!
And, which recipe are you going to try? Our tip is not to try them all in one evening… just to make sure you wake up nice and fresh the next morning ;). So, drink in moderation; after all (especially now) your health comes first!