by Jo Austin
There are many reasons someone might opt for a low ABV cocktail. Maybe you want to enjoy a couple of drinks without worrying about feeling groggy the next day. Perhaps you enjoy a vermouth or two! Personally, I’m just working my way out of the haze of new baby-dom and I don’t fancy a full-strength cocktail right now. Even a small glass of red wine seems kind of heavy most of the time!
I certainly have a new appreciation for ‘mock-tails’ (although I hate the term!) and the most delicious thing I’ve tasted recently has got to be a Cocchi Rosa Americano and soda. So refreshing when it’s hot hot hot in Cayman.
This is a trend you’re likely to see coming to Cayman. You can find low ABV cocktails and also non-alcoholic cocktails on the menu in Silver Palm Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman (and, in fact, all their bars). Cory at Agua Restaurant offers a few alcohol-free cocktails for those of us taking it easy.
I wanted to take this opportunity to share some delightful cocktail recipes. We’re pretty lucky to find a few great vermouths and liqueurs in Cayman now and here are some ideas on what to do with them:
Cocchi Rosa Americano and soda with lemon on ice – or if you’re fancy:
Goldfinch
- 1 oz. Cocchi Rosa Americano
- 1 oz. fino sherry
- ¾ oz. fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz. simple syrup (1:1)
- Top with club soda
Campari and soda – sooooo Italian
Chinola passionfruit liqueur and soda!
Something new in the Jacques Scott portfolio – Chinola – is a liqueur made from real passionfruit grown in the Dominican Republic. Created by our friend and ex-Zacapa rum ambassador Robert Pallone, we were excited to welcome this spirit to the team this year.
Americano:
- 1 1⁄2 oz Campari
- 1 1⁄2 oz Cinzano Sweet vermouth
- 1 splash Club soda
Silver Palm Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman feature cocktails:
Cynar Julep – Cynar, Grapefruit, Lemon, Mint – very cool and I LOVED it.
Cynar is one of these crazy sounding things you think you won’t like but actually, it’s amazing. An artichoke based bittersweet liqueur definitely sounds weird, but you’ll thank me after you try it.
