Taste the Tropics with a stylish Air Mail cocktail
Not that I would need an excuse to pull out my cocktail shaker and mix up a delicious pre-dinner cocktail. But since today is National Florida Day and I desperately need an escape from the cold, rainy and dark winter days even if it’s only virtually, I thought a delicious tropical Air Mail cocktail would be in order today.
A classic Air Mail sits somewhere between a Daiquiri and a French 75, but with a super delicious tropical twist.
The drink became popular in the 1940s, but in recent years it hardly showed up on any bar menu around the world. Thus, when it comes to this year’s drink trends predictions, the Air Mail ticks the box for retro cocktails.
There are a couple claims who first launched this tropical champagne cocktail. It might well have been Bacardi, originally founded in Cuba, considering early recipes of the cocktail call for Cuban rum and the brand mentioned the cocktail already in the 1930s, before it become more widely published in the 1949 edition of Esquire’s Handbook for Hosts.
This easy-to-make cocktail requires only four ingredients, rum, lime juice, honey syrup and champagne.
While the original recipe asks for Cuban rum, any good quality rum will do.
If like me, you need a burst of sunshine to brighten up the grey winter days, why not step back in time and shake up this super delicious, glamourous Air Mail cocktail.
How to make the Air Mail cocktail
Serves 1 glass
45 ml dark rum
20 ml lime juice
20 ml honey syrup
champagne / sparkling wine to top up
To make the honey syrup, add 100 ml honey and 100 ml water to a small saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat while stirring until the honey is dissolved. Let cool, transfer to an airtight can and refrigerate. The syrup will keep fresh in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Add rum, lime juice and honey syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until well chilled.
Strain into a chilled champagne flute or if looking for a refreshing summer cocktail into a highball glass filld with ice. Top with champagne or a sparkling wine of your choice.
Do you have a favourite tropical cocktail? Let me know which one in the comments below.
Carrots and Tigers 