Cocktail Recipes for National Cocktail Day

Let's explore some fun cocktail recipes for National Cocktail Day!

Most people think I'm a wine geek, but fermented grapes are not my only area of so-called beverage expertise. I also write a number of cocktail columns for various publications.

I'm constantly getting emails with recipes, new spirits, and new combinations to try. I combed through my inbox this morning to pull out a few cocktail recipes for National Cocktail Day.

Since papaya trees are still producing fruit, here is one using fresh resources that some of you have in your own backyard. It's courtesy of the mixologists at Ron Barcelo, a premium Dominican Rum.

Papaya Pa Ya

2 oz Ron Barceló Gran Añejo

1 slice of muddled papaya

1 oz lemon juice

.75 oz all spice infusion sugar (simple syrup cooked with all spice blend)

Mint and papaya for garnish

Muddle papaya fruit with lime juice. Add Barceló Añejo Rum and All-Spice infusion sugar and shake well. Strain over crushed ice.

Garnish with a slice of papaya and mint leaves optional

I'm pretty picky about my margaritas. I don't like them to be too acidic or too sweet. I have not tried this one but I love how it sounds. A splash of St-Germain in cocktails is always fun.

It was a collaboration between tequila giant PATRON, and artist and floral visionary, Maurice Harris., for National Margarita Day on February 22nd. Fitting to include Harris since every bottle of ST~GERMAIN has up to 1,000 fresh, handpicked elderflower blossoms.

PATRON St-Rita

1 oz St~Germain

1 ½ oz PATRÓN Silver Tequila

¾ oz fresh lime juice

Optional salt rim

Add all ingredients into a shaker and shake

Pour over ice in a rocks glass

OK, one more rum cocktail. I feel like most coconut flavored rums and spirits remind me of suntan oil. This one doesn't Koloa Rum from Hawaii has a range of flavored rums that taste better than most. This recipe looks so refreshing and easy.

Coconut Ginger Lemonade Fizz

2 oz Koloa Kauai Coconut Rum

3 oz lemonade

2-3 oz ginger beer

Thinly sliced lemon wheels for garnish

In a cocktail shaker, combine the coconut rum and lemonade, then shake well with ice.

Fill a tall, narrow glass with ice weaving thinly sliced lemon wheel throughout the ice.

Fill to the top of the glass with ginger beer.

I've done several virtual cocktail classes with the folks from Mozart Chocolate Liqueur where I learned how to make one of the best chocolate martini's I've ever had. Ingredients are everything. I love the Austrian brand's chocolate elixirs. Check out this video for an espresso martini.

Cheers to National Cocktail Day!