Decision fatigue? Not on our watch. Especially when our plans have *finally* made it out of the group chat and into the city. Maximise your catch-up time this week with cocktails that are easy to whip up, and even easier to enjoy with your crew pre, post, and in between plans.
Along with our friends at Schweppes—the masters of simple yet elevated and delicious cocktails—we’ve curate the best tipples to shake up from your humble abode (or even on the go), no matter the day or occasion.
What’s The Vibe?
A Mid-Week Trivia Win: Powered By An Elderflower Spritz
When the term ‘creative juices' was coined, an elderflower spritz was no doubt the muse. Smooth, subtly sweet, and a fail-safe pep-up, it’s guaranteed to get your pre-pub quiz inspiration flowing.
Plus, it’s the kind of cocktail that transports you to the sunny, cobbled streets of Europe—even in the thick of winter. And if that doesn’t give you an edge in the double-points geography category, we don’t know what will.
Ingredients:
20ml Elderflower liqueur
40ml gin
Schweppes Indian Tonic Water
Lime wedge
Seasonal herb of choice to garnish
Method:
- Fill a highball with ice.
- Pour in elderflower liqueur and gin and top up with Schweppes Indian Tonic Water.
- Gently stir to combine the ingredients and garnish with a lime wedge and mint sprig.
Thursday Night Dinner With The Crew: A Palate Prepped With 0% Grapefruit Palomas
There’s a fine line between spoiling and whetting your crew's appetite when it comes to dinner party hosting. Our tip? Go liquid, and go booze-free. Shake up this slinky 0% grapefruit paloma while your group’s rolling up to your digs, safe in the knowledge that it won’t dent their ability to tackle whichever decadent pasta or Mexican feast you're whipping up. Oh, or your attendance at the company-wide morning meeting.
Ingredients:
60ml grapefruit juice
30ml fresh-squeezed lime juice
15ml maple syrup
½ teaspoon non-alcoholic tequila
Pinch of sea salt
100ml Schweppes Classic Soda Water
Salt or Tajin for rim
Method:
- Make the rim by pouring a small amount of salt or Tajin on a shallow plate. Run a lime or grapefruit wedge along the outside of the glass and dip the moistened rim into the salt or Tajin and press gently.
- Pour the grapefruit juice and lime juice into your shaker. Add the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar and a pinch of sea salt, along with 3-4 cubes of ice. Replace the lid and shake for about 15-20 seconds until the shaker is cold and the ingredients are well combined.
- Strain over fresh ice into a tumbler and top with Schweppes Classic Soda Water. Garnish and serve.
A Friday Pre-Powerstation Sesh: Sparkling Green Tea Spritz
Thrashing about with fellow fans at Powerstation requires a special hit of energy, especially on a Friday. No fret: a tea-based cocktail will keep energy and spirits high between work and play.
Our pick of the crop is a home-made green tea spritz, complete with a Schweppes tonic. It’s a lip-smacking, unique take on this trusty bev—one that playfully retains green tea’s ability to deliver antioxidants and a hit of caffeine. Better yet, you’ve probably got these ingredients in your cabinet.
Ingredients:
200ml water
2 green tea with lemon tea bags
2 tsp honey
½ a lemon
Schweppes Indian Tonic Water
Ice
Orange slices and mint to garnish
Method:
- Brew tea bags in 200ml water for 3-4 minutes, then remove the tea bags and leave to cool.
- Once cooled, juice half a lemon and stir this in with two teaspoons of honey.
- Pour the cooled tea, lemon and honey mix into two highball glasses, and stir.
- Top with Schweppes Indian Tonic Water, add ice and garnish with a lemon slice.
A Weekend Market Snoop: Followed By A Celebratory Yuzu Spritz
Slow spring Sundays don’t come better than pushing on some sunnies, a heavy coat, and rifling through one of our many fabulous markets. Actually, they do: finding some jaw-dropping glassware at said markets—that you can take home for DIY post-shopping cocktails.
It’s a choose-your-own-adventure when it comes to Auckland's weekend markets. But, no matter your loot or stacking of market visits, one post-market pairing reigns supreme: the yuzu spritz.
Punchy and uplifting, it’ll look dashing in the cut crystal coupes found at Central Flea, pair smashingly with some savoury noodles from Chow Luck Club’s food markets, and will wash down your Clevedon Market oyster haul a treat. At this rate, the yuzu spritz will even do your weekend chores.
Ingredients:
1 ½ tablespoons of yuzu juice
60ml gin
15ml simple syrup, or to taste
A dash of orange bitters
60ml Schweppes Classic Soda Water
Method:
- Add the yuzu juice directly into the cocktail shaker with the gin, simple syrup, and bitters. Top with ice and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds.
- Place fresh ice into an old-fashioned or similar glass. Strain the cocktail into the glass, top with Schweppes Classic Soda Water, gently stir and garnish to serve.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Schweppes and proudly endorsed by Urban List. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who make Urban List possible. Click here for more information on our editorial policy.
Images: Urban List.