While cocktails are typically served before dinner, I find some are better at the end of the evening. Here’s my version of some classic sweet cocktails that are perfect after, or instead of, dessert.
Make your own simple sugar syrup by combining equal quantities of water and sugar or have fun with the exciting range of flavoured syrups from The Simple Syrup Co. and add a little more or less depending on how sweet you like things. All my dessert cocktail recipes serve 1 except for the daiquiri. Paul Carmichael’s Caribbean bakes are the perfect snack with any of these dessert cocktails (see video below).
Espresso Martini
My version of this relatively new cocktail is heavy on the coffee and light on the vodka and sugar. Shake 1 nip vodka, 1 nip Mr Black Coffee Amaro, ½ nip simple sugar syrup and a strong espresso with plenty of ice; garnish with a coffee bean or 3.
Brandy Alexander
The height of 1970s sophistication, or so I thought, the origins of this sweet, creamy concoction are obscure though it’s obviously based on an earlier gin-based classic simply called Alexander. Shake 1½ nips Hine Cognac, ½ nip crème de cacao and 1½ nips single cream with ice; garnish with grated nutmeg.
Poorman’s Sunrise
My riff on California’s tequila sunrise celebrates Australia’s own poormans orange. Chill everything well then pour 2 nips Archie Rose Poorman’s Orange Gin and 200ml freshly squeezed orange juice (poormans if available) into a highball glass, add 1 nip grenadine syrup, which will sink. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Piña Colada
Perhaps invented by a cocktail-loving pirate, piña colada (‘strained pineapple’ in Spanish) originated in Puerto Rico, where it’s now the national drink. Blend 2 nips Flor de Caña white rum, 1 nip coconut milk, ½ cup fresh pineapple juice and a good squeeze of lime juice with crushed ice; cocktail umbrella optional.
Dark Berry Daiquiri
While the only fruit in a classic Cuban daiquiri is lime, I also like a berry version made with dark rum. For 2 delicious adult slushies, blitz 1 cup sliced strawberries, ½ cup raspberries, 2 nips Dos Maderas PX rum, ½ nip lime juice and ½ nip raspberry syrup with shaved ice.
Perhaps invented by a cocktail-loving pirate, piña colada originated in Puerto Rico, where it’s now the national drink.
Piña colada means ‘strained pineapple’ in Spanish.
The daiquiri cocktail was created in Cuba, near the beach of Daiquiri.
The classic Cuban daiquiri cocktail originally contained just white rum, lime juice and sugar. Since then the category has expanded to include various fruits, often strawberries.
Sweet cocktails often contain fruit, such as pineapple piña colada or frozen fruit daiquiris. Tequila sunrise (and variations on it) are made with orange juice and grenadine syrup. Some sweet cocktails, like espresso martini, are based on coffee, while others, such as brandy alexander, have a creamy chocolate base.
