r/cocktails • u/weeklytiki • 8h ago
r/cocktails • u/LoganJFisher • 23d ago
đ¸ Monthly Competition Original Cocktail Competition - October 2026 - Basil & Fruit Schnapps
This month's ingredients: Basil & Fruit Schnapps Clarification: Define schnapps as high-proof (typically above 40% ABV) clear spirits fermented or distilled entirely from fruit mashes. That is, using the European definition, not the American definition, which is way too broad.
Next month's ingredients: Wine & tonic
Clarification: Grape wines only. Products derived grape wines (e.g. vermouth) are also permitted.
RULES
Hello mixologists and liquor enthusiasts. Welcome to the monthly original cocktail competition.
For those looking to participate, here are the rules and guidelines. Any violations of these rules will result in disqualification from this month's competition.
You must use both of the listed ingredients, but you can use them in absolutely any way or form (e.g. a liqueur, infusion, syrup, ice, smoke, etc.) you want and in whatever quantities you want. You do not have to make ingredients from scratch. You may also use any other ingredients you want.
Your entry must be an original cocktail. Alterations of established cocktails are permitted within reason.
You are limited to one entry per account.
Your entry must be made in the form of a post to r/Cocktails with the "Competition Entry" post flair (it's purple). Then copy a link to that post and the text body of that post in a comment here. Example Post & Example Comment.
Your entry must include a name for your cocktail, a photograph of the cocktail, a description of the scent, flavors, and mouthfeel of the cocktail, and most importantly a list of ingredients with measurements and directions as needed for someone else to faithfully recreate your cocktail. You may optionally include other information such as ABV, sugar content, calories, a backstory, etc.
All recipes must have been invented after the announcement of the required ingredients.
No AI-generated recipes or images are allowed. This is a competition of human creativity.
As the only reward for winning is subreddit flair, there is no reason to cheat. Please participate with honor to keep it fun for everyone.
COMMENTS
Please only make top-level comments if you are making an entry. Doing otherwise would possibly result in flooding the comments section. To accommodate the need for a comments section unrelated to any specific entry, I have made a single top-level comment that you can reply to for general discussion. You may, of course, reply to any existing comment.
VOTING
Do not downvote entries
How you upvote is entirely up to you. You are absolutely encouraged to recreate the shared drinks, but this may not always be possible or viable and so should not be considered as a requirement. You can vote based on the list of ingredients and how the drink is described, the photograph, or anything else you like.
Winners will be final at the end of the month and will be recorded with links to their entries in this post. You may continue voting after that, but the results will not change. The ranking of each entry is determined by the sum of the votes on the entry comment with the post it is linked to. There are 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place positions. 2nd place and 3rd place may receive ties, but in the event of a 1st place tie, I will act as a tie-breaker. I will otherwise withhold from voting. Should there be a tie for 2nd place, there will be no 3rd place. Winners are awarded flair that appears next to their username on this subreddit.
Last Month's Competition
Last Month's Winner
r/cocktails • u/JazzHatter357 • 8h ago
I made this Industry Sour
An equal parts cocktail created in 2011 by bartender Ted Kilgore at Taste bar in St. Louis, Missouri. Bold and complex thanks to the intense herbal spirits but also very refreshing. Donât know why I never made this sooner. Last Word template put to good use. Warm and woody thanks to Fernet Pianta - I like that it does not overpower the Chartreuse. I suspect the OG with Fernet Branca is a bit more bitter and aggressive on the menthol. A great drink. Cheers!
Ingredients:
1 oz Fernet-Branca (I subbed Fernet Pianta)
1 oz Green Chartreuse
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz simple syrup (1:1)
Preparation:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake until well chilled.
Double strain into a chilled coupe or Nick and Nora glass.
Not traditionally garnished but a lime wheel would work well too.
r/cocktails • u/swainer52 • 11h ago
I made this Toasted Marshmallow Espresso Martini
This was a drink I created and ran for a Halloween special last year at the bar I run, Danu Social House in Toronto Canada. While weâre not doing a Halloween menu this year, we have some really great fall seasonals I also had a hand in creating. Come say hi if yâall are in the area.
Toasted Marshmallow Espresso Martini
2 oz Powers Irish Whiskey
½ oz Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
1 oz Coffee Cold Brew Concentrate
1 oz Toasted Marshmallow Syrup
Shaken and Double Strained into a Coupe glass
Garnish with two skewered toasted marshmallows
House made ingredients:
(These ingredients are made to be high quality for a cocktail bar. I am not suggesting you follow these recipes to a T. Any cold brew will substitute and any 1:1 marshmallow syrup will be close enough.)
Coffee Cold Brew Concentrate
- Combine 1 part coffee (ground for french press) and 6 parts room temperature water in a container.
- Let it steep for about 24 hours in a fridge.
- Strain out the grounds using filters or milk bags.
Toasted Marshmallow Syrup
100g Toasted Marshmallow
180g Honey
250g water
150g white sugar
Âź barspoon vanilla bean paste
- Use a torch to toast the outside of a marshmallow and then peel off âToasted skinâ of marshmallow and add to a pot. Continue this process until the entire marshmallow is toasted. Repeat until 100g.
- Add water and honey to pot, cook on low until mostly dissolved. Skim the foam that forms off the top and discard it.
- Add sugar and vanilla. Cool on low until all the sugar is dissolved.
- Strain through fine mesh to catch any charred bits.
r/cocktails • u/username_less_taken • 7h ago
I made this Remy and Cherry
A bar I quite like currently has a highball cocktail named 'Henny and Cherry', using cognac and cherry liqueur. This is my take on a similar drink, but closer to a Manhattan:
60ml Cognac (Remy Martin 1738)
30ml Morello Cherry Liqueur (Somerset Cider Brandy Company)
15ml Spanish Vermouth (Vermut Del Masroig)
7ml 2:1 Simple Syrup
(Optional) 2 barspoons Morello Cherry Eau De Vie (Rochelt)
Stir with ice, strain into rocks glass, express orange peel.
r/cocktails • u/roi_des_myrmidons • 8h ago
I made this Belleville (French-accented Manhattan var.)
r/cocktails • u/ForrestGotGumption • 3h ago
I made this Old Fashioned
Using the specs from Cocktail Codex (book by Death & Co.)
2 oz Elijah Craig Small Batch
1 tsp Demerara Gum Syrup
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
1 dash Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters
Orange and Lemon Peels
Luxardo Cherry
Stir and then strain over ice.
I'm usually more of a Martini guy but when I make old fashions, this is my preferred way. I'm sure some people will criticize that the ice is too big, and I agree it should've been shaped better so that the liquid came higher in the glass, but I like big ice with sharp edges
r/cocktails • u/Silbergecko • 15h ago
I made this Frankenstien's Monster
I found this recipe from The Educated Barfly on YouTube while looking for some interesting Halloween cocktails.
It is a cross between a jungle bird and a zombie, and that had my attention immediately.
Both on their own are great cocktails, which I like a lot. So I was very curious how a cross would be.
Spoiler alert, it is delicious. I highly suggest everyone who is into a jungle bird give this a try!
I would say it is not a Halloween cocktail per se; I will make it for sure again!
I rate this with a solid 8/10.
Â
The original recipe was for double the amount and 2 people; I just cut the amounts in half.
4 oz of rum is a bit too much just for 1 person, I would say. đ
Â
Thank you, @Leandro, for sharing this awesome recipe:
Â
1 ½ oz Jamaican Rum (45 ml)âI used Appleton 8
ž oz Campari (22,5 ml)
½ oz Demerara 151 Rum (15 ml)âI used Pusserâs Select Aged 151
Âź oz Maraschino Liquer (7,5 ml)
Âź oz Allspice Dram (7.5 ml)
1 oz pineapple juice (30 ml)
½ oz grapefruit juice (15 ml)
½ oz lime juice (15 ml)
½ oz Cinnamon Syrup (15 ml)
Â
Shake everything with crushed ice and dump it in a glass or mug. Fill the glass to the top with fresh crushed ice and garnish with your favorite tiki garnishes.
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The swizzle stick and tiki light are self-made. If you are curious, check out my Etsy shop. The link is in my bio.
r/cocktails • u/Geosmh_06 • 9h ago
I made this Martinez
Saw this posted the other day and immediately went shopping for Tom Cat. This is the best one Iâve had yet
1½ oz Old Tom gin (Bar Hill Tom Cat)
1 1/2 oz Carpano Antica Formula vermouth
1 tsp Luxardo maraschino liqueur
2 dashes Orange Bitters (Reganâs)
1 lemon twist
Stir all the ingredients over ice, then strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass.
Express the lemon twist over the drink, then set it on the edge of the glass.
r/cocktails • u/Dr_Horrible_PhD • 5h ago
I made this Misty Mountain Hop
2 oz green tea-infused vodka*
3/4 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz crème de cassis
1/2 oz bergamot liqueur (Italicus)
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass.
*for the vodka, itâs about 5g of green tea (I used Lu Shan Yun Wu) per 4 oz vodka. If itâs whole leaf tea, crush it up a bit. Combine the tea and vodka in a small container, letting it steep for around 20-25 min, smelling/tasting/shaking it every 5 min or so. Youâre looking to get some of the fruity rhum agricole-like notes from the tea (so use a tea that has those). Itâll be a nice light green color. Strain through a tea strainer + coffee filter. Press on the leaves to get whatever theyâre still holding.
This is inspired by the perfume Silver Mountain Water by Creed, with major notes of green tea, blackcurrant, bergamot, and lemon. Tried it in a sidecar template and am pretty happy with the result
The name, in addition to continuing a recent 60s-70s music themeâsee [Parliament Funkadelic](https://www.reddit.com/r/cocktails/s/GjrneH2sLT) and [Earth, Wind & Fire](https://www.reddit.com/r/cocktails/s/0FrfV0RWnD)âis a reference to both Silver Mountain Water and the Lu Shan Yun Wu tea, which roughly translates to âLu Mountain cloud and mistâ
r/cocktails • u/Dr_Horrible_PhD • 5h ago
Question Cocktail photo tips?
Any tips on getting good cocktail photos? I sometimes look at pictures on here and it seems like the cocktails are ready for a burgeoning modeling career. Is it a real camera vs phone camera thing? Phone camera vs better phone camera? Lighting? Composition? How do you make these look good?
r/cocktails • u/HauntingBumblebee643 • 16h ago
I made this 19th Century (Pegu Club)
19th Century
By Brian Miller
Following the classic 20th Century and its modern update, the 21st Century, we now continue with the prequel:
The 19th Century!
A cocktail created by Brian Miller at the Pegu Club.
Miller took the familiar structure and replaced the lighthearted vibe of its older siblings with a full-bodied, rich, and deep profile.
So, for the recipe:
45 ml (1.5 oz) Bourbon
22.5 ml (0.75 oz) Crème de cacao (15 ml / 0.5 oz if using Tempus Fugit)
22.5 ml (0.75 oz) Lillet Rouge
22.5 ml (0.75 oz) Lemon juice
Shake with ice.
I Garnished with a dried lime wheel.
r/cocktails • u/No-Present3269 • 14h ago
I made this Fredagsdrinken
#fredagsdrinken nr.347 â1910â
2.25 cl Mezcal
2.25 cl Cognac
1.5 cl Luxardo Maraschino
3 cl Punt E Mes
2 stänk Peychaud's bitters
RĂśr allt med is och sila upp i ett coupeglas, garnera med apelsinzest.
SkĂĽl đš đ¸đˇ đĽ
#cocktail
#cocktails
#drink
#drinks
r/cocktails • u/bethanweston • 1d ago
I made this Mushroom & Parmesan Risotto Martini đâđŤđ§đ¸
This one is truffle and Parmesan butter-washed vodka, toasted risotto rice vermouth and a really savoury mushroom + Parmesan broth.
For a 700ml freezer batch:
đâđŤ Mushroom + Parmesan broth
Mixed dried mushrooms
Parmesan rind
Boiling water
Cover the mushrooms and Parmesan rind with boiling water, leave for 1 hour, then strain and chill. Youâll need 100ml total for the batch. (I saved the rest for a soup the next day!)
đ§ Truffle + Parmesan butter-washed vodka
450ml Absolut vodka
M&S Truffle & Parmesan Butter
Fresh sage
Melt the butter with a few sage leaves, add to the vodka and leave for around 1 hour. Freeze until the butter is completely solid, then strain through a coffee filter until clear.
đ Toasted rice vermouth
150ml dry vermouth
Risotto rice
Toast the rice in a dry pan, add it to the vermouth and leave for a few hours before straining.
đ¸ To batch
450ml butter-washed vodka
150ml toasted rice vermouth
100ml mushroom + Parmesan broth
Combine everything and keep in the freezer or thoroughly chilled. Serve freezing cold with a few drops of sage oil and a crispy sage leaf.
Makes around five generous drinks.
Earthy, buttery, silky and VERY savoury. Honestly one of the more ridiculous ideas that ended up tasting exactly how I wanted it to đ
More weird savoury drinks here instagram.com/bethanweston
r/cocktails • u/romanoodles_ • 4h ago
Recipe Request Trying to recreate this cocktail (with the orange twist) from a restaurant in Brooklyn⌠what ratios of these ingredients (2nd pic) should I try?
r/cocktails • u/frightnightbite • 8h ago
Question What to put in a dessert pousse-cafe?
I wanted to use a pistachio cream liqueur, chocolate liqueur, and coffee liqueur, but I was wondering what other components would go well in something like that?
r/cocktails • u/Treach1erous1 • 6h ago
I made this Autumn Leaves (Modified version of Jeffrey Morganthaler cocktail)
1 oz Rittenhouse Rye 100 proof
1 oz Calvados
1/4 oz Benedictine
2 Dashes Angostura bitters
1 dash Peychauds bitters
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass over a large rock. Twist a lemon swath over the drink, rub it on the rim, and discard. The original JM cocktail has Strega and slightly less rye and calvados, leaves out the Peychauds and is garnished with an orange swath. The modifications are due to inability to find Strega. Chat GPT suggested this configuration based on substituting Benedictine in place of Strega
r/cocktails • u/gloopycarbonara • 10h ago
Question Gift set recommendations
Hi, I'm not much of a cocktail drinker myself and don't know a great deal about them, but wanted to get a gift set for Christmas for someone who is starting to get into cocktail-making.
To start with I was going to get the basic equipment (shaker, stirrer....? Like I said not into this myself but can find that easily enough on Google), perhaps a recipe book to go with that.
In my house we have some basic spirits on hand, whiskey, rum, gin etc.
So I guess what I'm looking for is some base liqueurs you'd find in cocktails quite a lot. Triple sec, and whatever else?
I was wondering if anyone knew a good little pack to begin with. I only want to buy a few liqueurs in small bottles as I don't know how much will be used. Are there any recommended liqueur gift sets specifically for cocktail-making? The other bits I can always buy separate.
Also, I'm only really wanting to spend max ÂŁ100 (including equipment and recipe books) so something smaller is ideal.
Any advice overall is appreciated, thank you:)
.
r/cocktails • u/HuckleberryFit6610 • 10h ago
Other Requests Recommendations for a good wet martini?
Hello everyone. I'd like to make some martinis at home. I like herbal/citrus profiles. Could you recommend me a gin and vermouth? I'm considering ordering Botanist and Dolin Dry.
r/cocktails • u/themorningthunder • 1d ago
I made this Did an oil painting of a Moscow Mule, made the frame as well!
r/cocktails • u/cr00kedFurr0w • 1d ago
I made this Meyer Lemon Flower Drop
1.5 oz vodka
1 oz St-Germain
1 oz Meyer lemon
0.5 oz simple syrup
Sugar on the rim of the glass
Meyer lemon twist
Shake together with ice and strain into chilled sugar-rimmed coupe or martini glass. Enjoy!
r/cocktails • u/brettyv82 • 1d ago
I made this Strawberry gin sour
I made an oleo sacchrum from some strawberries I had (equal parts sugar and cut up strawberries by weight) and figured I ought to make a cocktail with it. Followed a pretty basic gin sour recipe. Itâs good, but the strawberry flavor is less pronounced than I was hoping.
2 oz gin (I used Greenhook Ginsmithâs)
0.75 oz strawberry oleo sacchrum
0.75 oz lemon juice
1 egg white
Dry shake, shake with ice. Double strain into chilled coupe. Hit the foam with some Peychaudâs bitters and drag a cocktail pick through them to make it look nice and garnish with half of a small strawberry.
r/cocktails • u/Level-Bother-9269 • 9h ago
Question Vanilla Vodka
I know Vanilla Bean infusion is the best option. Vanilla Beans are just so f***in expensive right now and our owner is trying to move away from that.
Would you use Vanilla simple added to vodka or make a mixture vodka & vanilla extract?