Cocktails for a Creative Drinking Experience

Distinct Cocktails

Cocktails don’t always have to rely on the usual classics. Indeed, beyond the familiar Negroni or Margarita lies a world of more unexpected recipes: drinks that play with texture, floral notes, and subtle twists on tradition. The following five cocktails offer something slightly different, while still remaining accessible enough to recreate at home, provided you have the right ingredients on hand.

Green New York Sour

A refined twist on a well-known classic, the Green New York Sour introduces herbal depth into an otherwise structured and bold drink. While it keeps the richness of bourbon whisky, it also softens it with fresher, greener notes, thereby creating a more layered and contemporary profile.

Ingredients: 

• 6 cl bourbon
• 3 cl fresh lemon juice
• 1.5 cl honey syrup
• 1 dash bitters (a blend of herbs and spices aromas)
• 1 egg white
• 1.5 cl cucumber & basil juice

Recipe: To begin, add all ingredients (except bitters) into a shaker. Start with a dry shake (without ice) to emulsify the egg white. Then, add ice and shake again until well chilled. Once ready, fine strain into a glass. To finish, add a dash of bitters on top.

Ramos Gin Fizz

Unlike the Green New York Sour, The Ramos Gin Fizz is less about flavor intensity and more about texture. In fact, its signature lies in its airy, almost creamy consistency, making it feel closer to a cloud than a traditional cocktail.

Ingredients: 

• 6 cl gin
• 1.5 cl fresh lemon juice
• 1.5 cl fresh lime juice
• 2.25 cl honey syrup infused with chili
• 1 cl cucumber water
• 1 egg white
• 2.25 cl single cream
• 3 drops of vanilla extract

Recipe: First, combine all ingredients in a shaker. Begin with a dry shake to build the foam. Then, incorporate ice and shake again until the texture becomes smooth and creamy. In the end, strain into a glass and allow the foam to settle before serving.

Passion de Basil

Bright and aromatic, this cocktail is built on contrast. On one hand, the sharp acidity of passion fruit brings intensity, while on the other, the fresh, green character of basil adds balance, resulting in something both vibrant and slightly unexpected.

Ingredients: 

• 5 cl gin
• 2.5 cl fresh lime juice
• 2 cl yuzu syrup
• 1/2 passion fruit
• 6–8 basil leaves

Recipe: Start by adding all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake thoroughly to release the basil aromas. Afterwards, fine strain into a glass. As a final touch, garnish with fresh basil, and optionally add basil leaves and passion fruit on top for extra flavor and texture.

Almond Fizz Cocktail

Besides its soft and slightly gourmand taste, the Almond Fizz also plays with subtle sweetness without becoming heavy. At the same time, the almond notes bring warmth and roundness, while citrus, however, keeps the drink light and balanced.

Ingredients: 

• 2 cl amaretto
• 4 cl spicy dark rum
• 2 cl fresh lemon juice
• 1.5 cl white cacao liqueur
• 0.5 cl sugar syrup

Recipe: Begin by adding all ingredients into a shaker. Carry out a dry shake first, then add ice and shake again until well combined. Once done, strain into a glass. You can add poppy seeds on top as a decorative finish.

Bubble Berry (Mocktail)

Lastly, Bubble Berry is a softer alternative to more bitter spritz variations. Moreover, its light purple hue and subtle aroma give it an almost nostalgic, dreamlike quality, offering a gentle, alcohol-free take on the classic spritz with a more delicate and floral profile.

Ingredients: 

• 3 blackberries
• 1.5 cl fresh lemon juice
• 1.5 cl rose water
• 3 mint leaves
• 8 cl sparkling water

Recipe: Firstly, gently muddle the blackberries and mint leaves in a shaker. Then, add the lemon juice and rose water, along with ice, and shake well. Finally, strain into a glass filled with ice and top with sparkling water. You can either stir gently before serving or leave it unstirred, whether you prefer a blended taste or a layered gradient effect.

A Different Way to Drink

Overall, these cocktails shift the focus from intensity to nuance, whether through texture, florals, or herbal complexity. They remain simple enough to make at home, yet, at the same time, different enough to change the rhythm of a usual evening drink. Sometimes, indeed, a small variation is all it takes to rediscover what a cocktail can be.

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Finally, special thanks to Benjamin Musseri for the creation and making of these cocktails.

Photographer: Alice Bouju