Keeping on the green theme, we take a look at some classic green cocktails that were very nearly forgotten over time. If you haven't tried these before then they are worth a sip or two.
Death in the Afternoon Cocktail
Death in the Afternoon is a must-try absinthe cocktail invented by Ernest Hemingway. This easy drink is bubbly with a black liquorice finish. This iridescent green cocktail stars the combination of absinthe and sparkling wine, and the flavour is intriguing.
The name comes from Ernest Hemingway's book, Death in the Afternoon, and was first published in a cocktail book in 1935. A key feature of this cocktail is its cloudy colour. In fact, in the original recipe, Hemingway states to “add iced Champagne until it attains the proper opalescent milkiness.” This drink is sometimes called a Hemingway cocktail or Hemingway champagne.
The original Death in the Afternoon cocktail was made with just absinthe and champagne, but over the years it was customary to add some simple syrup. It was found it needed just a bit of sweetness to make it palatable.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons absinthe
1 teaspoon simple syrup
100ml Champagne or Prosecco
Method: Pour the absinthe and simple syrup into a cocktail glass. Top it off with sparkling wine.
Last Word Cocktail
The Last Word is a unique classic cocktail that’s newly en vogue. This pale green drink is beautifully balanced between sharp, sour, and sweet. This gin sour is a classic cocktail that was all but lost to history. The drink appeared on menus as early as 1916, but it wasn’t printed in a cocktail book until the 1950s. Then it went under the radar until a bartender in Seattle revived it in 2004. It caught on, then spread worldwide and has been popular ever since.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons gin
2 tablespoons green Chartreuse liqueur
2 tablespoons maraschino liqueur
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
For the garnish: Luxardo cherry or another cocktail cherry
Method: Add the gin, Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with ice and shake it until cold. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry or cocktail cherry.
Southside Cocktail
The Southside cocktail is an easy and refreshing gin drink made with mint, lemon and lime: think of it like a gin mojito. It’s minty, fresh, and botanical, made with lemon, lime, and gin. It’s sweetened just enough: crisp, cool and refreshing. It’s perfect for sipping on a cocktail night with friends, or an afternoon cocktail on the patio. The oldest known printed recipe called “Southside” was from 1917.
Ingredients:
6 mint leaves
4 tablespoons gin
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon simple syrup or maple syrup
For the garnish: Lemon twist, mint leaves
Method: Add the mint leaves to a cocktail shaker and muddle them. Add the gin, lemon juice, lime juice and syrup to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with ice and shake until cold. Strain the drink into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an additional mint leaf (smack it between your hands to release the oils) and a lemon twist.