Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On!

Celebrating the winter holidays by receiving gifts? Or would you like to create a special moment, a festive flavor, an unforgettable party by adding the expertise of cocktail masters? We have many secrets, from sophisticated to quite light, shared by mixologists from Ukrainian bars located both within the country and throughout Europe. Try unique recipes, and perhaps a new home hobby may begin.

In European bar culture, Ukrainian experts have become an undeniable trend for obvious reasons. Perhaps the most obvious reason is the increased number of Ukrainian citizens in European Union countries. Bars with yellow-blue flags and entrances have become noticeable social spots. But through refined craftsmanship, bartender competitions and contests, and even the annual world festival, Ukrainian bar culture has firmly found its footing and travels beyond borders. Join in and make something special with Ukrainian bar innovations, and if that's not enough, pay attention to the first part of our review by The Gaze.

Gypsy Negroni

Dom Maisternia (Kyiv)

Source: Provided by the author

By the Dom Maisternia family and Daniel Bonal

Recipe:

• Calvados 35 ml

• Cinzano Rosso 25 ml

• Gamondi Bitter 25 ml

• Lemon zest

Author's Note:

Our twist on the classic Negroni, where instead of gin, you'll enjoy Carpathian calvados. Even though we're not a bar but a place where we live and work, Dom "Maisternia," we serve our guests this signature drink.

Raspberry Cosmo

Bar Sova (Dnipro)

Source: Provided by the author

Recipe:

• Raspberry gin 50 ml

• Cranberry puree 40 ml

• Orange liqueur 15 ml

• Sugar syrup 10 ml

• Fresh lemon juice 30 ml

Author's Note:

Make cranberry puree or use ready-made; adjust sweetness or acidity with sugar syrup or fresh lemon juice according to preference. The preparation process is simple: mix all ingredients in a shaker, add ice, shake well, and strain into a pre-chilled glass. Garnish with eucalyptus leaf, cranberry, and powdered sugar. This cocktail is our twist on the classic Cosmopolitan, using raspberry gin instead of vodka and cranberry puree for a richer taste.

Truffled Negroni

Xram (Kyiv)

Source: Provided by the author

Prepare for a group of friends.

Recipe:

Pour into a jar/bottle:

• Whitley Neill Gin 250 ml

• Carpano Ross Vermouth 200 ml

• Negroni Old 1919 Bitter 200 ml

• 25 ml - Creme de Cacao DK

• 25 ml - Sugar syrup (1:1)

• 10 dashes - Cacao Angostura

• 3g (by weight) - Truffle oil

Author's Note:

Infuse at room temperature for 36 hours. Place in the freezer for 2-3 hours for the truffle oil to solidify. Strain through coffee filters. Serve over 90 ml of the prepared batch on a large ice cube, stir for 20 seconds, and garnish with truffle or grapefruit zest.

Red Queen

Zelda Bar (Odesa)

Source: Provided by the author

Author: Sofia Stashenko

Recipe:

• Kapriol Sloe Gin 45 ml

• Cherry Herring 10 ml

• Porto 25 ml

• Orange bitter 1 ml

• Liquor de Noyaux 10 ml

• Rose water 2 ml

• Sauvignon Blanc 30 ml

Author's Note:

Chill the glass, mix all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice and cool the cocktail. Pour the finished cocktail into the chilled glass. Garnish the cocktail with a sugar paper card. Take the first sip and start dancing lightly; after all, we are at the Queen's ball. The Red Queen is a cocktail that transports us to the atmosphere of a winter ball. The combination of sweet cherry and spicy orange with the bitter kiss of sloe gin and rose water - this Queen will not leave anyone indifferent. The preparation time for the Red Queen cocktail is 3 minutes. The cocktail is in the Any Time Drinks category. So, no reservations, the cocktail is suitable for everyone and at any time.

Mandarina Gimlet

The Benedict Daily Bar (Kharkiv)

Source: Provided by the author

Author: Ruslan Brytavskyi

Recipe:

• Hayman’s London Dry Gin 60ml

• Mandarin Cordial 30ml

Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao Liqueur 10ml

• Garnish: Scorched caramel

To prepare the cordial, we need mandarin fresh, lemon fresh, mandarin zest, and sugar.

Take:

• Mandarin 1kg

• Lemon 0.5kg

• Sugar 300g

• Mandarin zest 60g

Make mandarin and lemon fresh, mix all ingredients, heat, bring to a boil, let it cool, and filter.

Author's Note:

When all ingredients are ready, use the preparation method: Stir. Mix all ingredients with the addition of ice, cool and dilute, filter from ice, and pour into a glass. Perfect in its minimalism and taste balance, complemented by the sweet spicy aroma of scorched caramel, which completes the composition and saturates the drink with a special Christmas mood. A cocktail with a juniper accent of gin and a bright tangerine note, created to give our guests the atmosphere of winter holidays.

Rock’n’Roll

Prawda Bar (Krakow)

Source: Provided by the author

Recipe:

• Bourbon 45 ml

• Pomegranate Juice 45 ml

• Macadamia Nut Syrup 10 ml

• Lime Juice 15 ml

Author's Note:

Add all components to a mixing glass, add ice, stir with a bar spoon or regular spoon for 30 seconds, and pour everything into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist. Sip and enjoy. Rock’n’roll is our favorite due to its pleasant intoxication felt after the first sip. It doesn't have a sharp bourbon smell or taste, but all its properties are preserved and revealed at a 5+ level. Rock’n’roll is a cocktail of Belarusian-Ukrainian friendship, as it traveled to us from Minsk with a wonderful person and connoisseur of his craft, Vladyslav.

Fluffy Flamingo

Pink Wine Point (Lisbon)

Source: Provided by the author

Author: Yuriy Struchuk

Recipe:

• Red Port Wine 50 ml

• Bourbon 40 ml

• Cointreau 20 ml

• Egg White 40 ml

• Fresh Lemon 20 ml

• Marshmallow

Author's Note:

The establishment had many soft flamingo toys. This cocktail needed a name, so when one of the guests called a soft toy "what a fluffy flamingo," we immediately understood that this would be the name of the new cocktail. It is most often ordered by cheerful girls who add some dance moves to the cocktail.

Grog Amigos

Amigos Bar (Kyiv)

Source: Provided by the author

Author: Denys Tkach

• Recipe:

• Herbal Tea 150 ml

• Rum (overproof/pineapple) 60 ml

• Pineapple Juice 30 ml

• Apple Juice 30 ml

Lemon Fresh 15 ml

Spices: clove, cardamom, cinnamon (honey to taste)

• Orange, lemon

Author's Note:

Brew tea in a separate container to separate the brew that may bother you when consuming the drink. In the serving dish, add spices, orange, and lemon. Next, pour in rum, juices, fresh. If the tea has already brewed, strain it into a cup with other ingredients. Stir and garnish with a cinnamon stick and citrus slices. Enjoy! On cold winter evenings, you want to warm up, wrapped in a warm blanket and savoring something hot... So we recommend the perfect drink for this time of year - Grog! Hot honey grog makes the mood festive, and the immune system ready to withstand colds and flu. Grog is easy to make - both portioned and for a large company. Kitchen gatherings, movie watching, reading books - Grog will add warmth to any evening!

Milk Punch

Space Meduza Bar (Berlin)

Source: Provided by the author

Author: Daniel Linker

• 200 ml Lime Juice

• 400 ml Pumpkin Spiced Syrup

• 600 ml Vanilla Vodka

• 800 ml Milk

Let it sit for over 1 hour.

Coffee filter/cheese cloth strain.

Pear Foam:

• Pear Syrup 200

• Lemon Juice 200

• Egg Whites 200

• Use creamer

Build in glass, 130 mm, foam on top.

Author's Note:

The idea of this cocktail is a festive journey down the memory lane inspired by the classic egg cream soda that evokes nostalgia. The first sip with a confectionary foam brings the flavors of pear and sugar oil. After that, the milk punch gradually unfolds, enriched with the warmth of vanilla and the bitterness of pumpkin spices. The result is a velvety texture that enhances overall satisfaction. It's a simple but wonderful blend aimed at capturing the essence of Christmas through familiar flavors.