The must-have spirits for mixing up four foolproof favourites.
Who needs a holiday? Yeah, same. But while proper vacations take plenty of planning (and, sadly, cash), those little spur-of-the-moment getaways and long weekends are usually within reach. These are the sorts of little trips designed to relax and refresh us – to get us out of the house and break up regular life for just a little bit. And that means good drinks should never be far away, either.
Here’s what we’re thinking: a few of your favourite people, a nice Airbnb or equivalent, a cheeseboard (or three) and a truckload of other snacks and dinner options. And to seal the deal? Some classic cocktails. After all the hiking, beach walks, strolling through town or whatever else you have planned, we think it’s the perfect occasion to master some iconic cocktails together. Share the costs – and the mixing – and debate who makes them the best.
The thing to keep in mind about stocking an Airbnb bar is that you don’t want to lug a dozen clinking bottles with you – these trips work best when you’re packing light. Plenty of the greatest cocktails, though, share ingredients with just a change here and there, which means you can easily get four classic cocktails out of just five ingredients (six if you include the bitters). So, plan ahead and divvy up the list of essentials between your crew to bring the costs down.
The bottles to bring:
- Gin: Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin
- Bourbon: Buffalo Trace
- Sweet vermouth: Martini Rosso
- Dry vermouth: Dolin Dry Vermouth
- Bitter red liqueur: Campari
- Bitters: Angostura bitters
These cocktails are traditionally stirred, so you don’t even need to bring a shaker. You might like some ice cube trays, though, and maybe glassware – although most Airbnbs will have wine glasses or tumblers, so this is really up to you. If you want, grab a few lemons or oranges for garnish, and you’re ready. Clothes and other things are important for a holiday, too, but you’ve probably got a handle on that already.
1. Negroni
The Negroni has become one of the world’s favourite cocktails and it’s all thanks to its balanced, bittersweet flavour profile that keeps us coming back for more. You’re getting a perfect blend of botanical gin, the pithy punch of Campari, and a little sweet complexity from vermouth. In our Airbnb version, we reckon the slightly briny touch of Four Pillars Olive Leaf works wonders with Campari and Martini Rosso, but you could use any gin here if you have a fave. Oh, and did we mention the Negroni is just equal parts of all three ingredients, stirred with ice? Talk about a DIY dream. Just make sure you stir it for a little longer than you think it needs and use quality ice.
To serve, we’d be pouring our Negroni into a rocks glass over a big cube of ice and garnishing with an orange wedge, slice or twist. And as the Negroni is a classic aperitivo cocktail (meaning it’s served pre-dinner), we reckon this is a perfect pairing with a simple, salty snack. We’re thinking taramasalata and good kettle-cooked chips would tick a lot of boxes.
2. Martini
Everyone knows the Martini by its reputation, but not enough cocktail lovers seem to realise just how easy it is to make at home. Sure, bartenders have the fancy glassware and tricks like liquid nitrogen for a bit of theatre but, at its heart, a Martini is just gin or vodka (we’re going for gin here) and dry vermouth. That’s about as basic as it gets, which is great news for your streamlined Airbnb stay.
There are a couple of things to remember with the Martini, though. First, with just two ingredients, quality matters. We really love the Four Pillars Olive Oil Gin for its savoury complexity, and Dolin Dry Vermouth for its herbaceous, slightly bitter style. You also want to make sure your ingredients are super cold and properly diluted (which means stirring well with ice). But, hey, if you want to avoid any doubt, our Freezer Door Martini recipe has you covered. Just add a little lemon twist and serve next to that cheeseboard we were talking about earlier. And make sure the olive fiend in the group is tasked with bringing the best brined ones they can find.
3. Manhattan
When it comes to classics, the Manhattan is often overlooked, and we reckon that’s due for a change. The Manhattan is definitely in the Martini world but, where Martinis are usually dry and botanical, Manhattans are a touch sweeter and richer, owing to American whiskey and sweet red vermouth, while a few drops of bitters gives the whole thing great depth of flavour. Classic Manhattans are often made with rye whiskey, but here we think the softness of Buffalo Trace Bourbon works a treat.
As with the Martini, the key here is temperature and dilution. That means stirring for at least 20 seconds with ice until everything is frosty and well married. And just like with a real marriage, food helps hold everything together. We’d take our cues from the maraschino garnish and go for some fresh, juicy cherries – and maybe a few cured meats for good measure.
4. Boulevardier
Don’t be distracted by the fancy French name – the Boulevardier is just a Negroni with bourbon whiskey instead of gin. This little sub works because while gin is usually herbaceous and dry, bourbon has a buttery, caramel-like sweetness that plays off the bitter Campari and vermouth, giving the whole thing some extra body and texture. Again, we’re big fans of Buffalo Trace here, which has a slight spiciness and plenty of those butterscotch notes that bourbon lovers rave about. But hey, use your favourite bourbon if you have one already.
Serving-wise, everything that applies to a Negroni applies here. Stir until bloody cold, serve on a big ice cube and top it off with a little orange twist. Considering the extra richness over the classic Negroni, we think the Boulevardier could just about stand up to a full meal – a good takeaway pizza on your Airbnb couch sounds just about perfect.
