Crafting signature cocktails with artisan Cornish drinks
Cornwall is making huge waves in the world of spirits with its impressive craft beverage scene and has some of the leading artisan distilleries in the UK – all producing exceptional gins, rums, brandies, and other premium spirits. Many of these makers are inspired by the Cornish landscape and the essence of the land and sea is said to contribute to the unique characteristics of their spirits.
To showcase our Cornish spirit makers, we bring you a selection of cocktails that are enhanced by the distinctive flavours of Cornwall’s hand-crafted drinks. From the earthy botanicals of Cornish gin to the rich notes of rum and brandy, you might like to try these spirits in cocktail form or as enjoyable stand-alone beverages.
Rosemullion Distillery Gold Rum
Hand-produced by a small, family-run distillery, Rosemullion Gold Rum is a World Rum Awards gold medal winner. Naturally golden in colour and gold in calibre, this 100% single pot distilled rum is made using locally sourced ingredients and carefully oak aged to become a perfect sipping rum. (It’s also equally pleasing in a cocktail!)
Cornish Beachcomber Cocktail
Ingredients
1.5 oz Rosemullion Distillery Gold Rum (43% ABV)
0.5 oz Coconut cream
0.5 oz Coffee liqueur
1 oz Pineapple juice
Pineapple wedge and a cherry to garnish
Method
Shake the gold rum, coconut cream, coffee liqueur, and pineapple juice with ice in a shaker.
Strain into a glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a cherry.
Cornish Seahorse Orange Kuda Gin
Named after the Orange Kuda seahorse that is found in the Indo-Pacific, Cornish Seahorse Orange Kuda Gin is a fantastic Cornish gin that was a Taste of the West Gold Award winner in 2022 and contains 13 botanicals including local honey and manuka. Crafted by a husband-and-wife team in North Cornwall, it has a delightful orange kick and a pleasantly smooth finish.
Seahorse Sling Cocktail
Ingredients
50 ml Cornish Seahorse Orange Kuda Gin (42% ABV)
20 ml Lemon juice
15 ml Sugar syrup
2 Dashes of Angostura bitters
Ice
Soda water to taste
Rosemary sprig and lemon wedge to garnish
Method
Put the gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and bitters into a cocktail shaker and add a large handful of ice.
Shake to combine and strain into a tall glass filled with more ice.
Top up with equal parts tonic and soda water, or pine soda.
Garnish with a rosemary sprig and lemon wedge.
Moorland Distillery Cornish Apple Brandy
Made on the edge of Bodmin Moor by a small batch distillery, Moorland Distillery Cornish Apple Brandy is an outstanding Cornish brandy that contains quality natural ingredients and acquires a wonderful flavour from the time it’s left to mature in oak barrels. The maker also believes the Cornish climate plays a significant part in giving this brandy its unique taste.
Cornish Apple Smash Cocktail
Ingredients
2 oz Moorland Distillery Apple Brandy (40% ABV)
0.5 oz simple syrup
4 apple slices
Soda water
Mint sprig to garnish
Method
In a glass, muddle the mint leaves, simple syrup, and apple slices.
Add the Cornish apple brandy and fill the glass with ice.
Top with soda water and gently stir.
Garnish with a mint sprig.
Cape Cornwall Spiced Rum
Cape Cornwall Spiced Rum is a delicious blend of golden, cask-aged Caribbean rum blended with Cornish spring water and spice such as nutmeg, Cornish saffron, and vanilla. It’s a must for every drink cabinet and can be enjoyed straight – as a warming tipple, with a simple mixer, or creatively in a delicious cocktail.
Spiced Mojito Cocktail
Ingredients
50 ml Cape Cornwall Spiced Rum (40% ABV)
1 Cubed lime
20ml Sugar syrup
1 tsp Demerera sugar
1 Mint sprig
Crushed ice
1 Can soda water
Method
Add a handful of cubed lime and 1 heaped teaspoon of demerara sugar.
Crush the sugar into the lime with the end of a bar spoon.
Add 20 ml of sugar syrup and muddle with the lime and sugar.
Slap a handful of mint leaves and stir in.
Add the crushed ice and 50 ml of spiced rum.
Top up with ice-cold soda water, stir well, and decorate with a lime wedge and mint leaves.
Mainbrace Cornish Dry Gin
Mainbrace Cornish Dry Gin is a fresh, citrusy gin that is a modern take on classic London Dry Gin. Infused with hand-selected Cornish botanicals such as seaweed, lemon verbena, lemon peel, and juniper, it has a subtle lemony flavour that is a joy to drink. We chose this cocktail as it uses the seasonal blackberries that crop up each autumn in our hedgerows!
Cornish Bramble Cocktail
Ingredients
2 oz Mainbrace Cornish Dry Gin (40% ABV)
1 oz Fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz Simple syrup
0.5 oz Blackberry liqueur
Fresh Blackberries and lemon slice to garnish
Method
Shake the Cornish Dry Gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice in a shaker.
Strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice.
Drizzle the blackberry liqueur over the top.
Garnish with fresh blackberries and a lemon slice.
St Ives Liquor Co. Limoncello
If you like Italian limoncello, you’ll appreciate this wonderfully zesty Cornish version that is made using the whole lemon fruit for maximum taste. Typically poured straight and ice cold, as an after-dinner digestif, St Ives Liquor Co. has created a liqueur that is every bit as magnificent as that from Southern Italy – and we love that this has a Cornish edge. For something a little different, why not try St Ives Liquor Co’s Limoncello in a cocktail?
Limoncello Sparkler Cocktail
Ingredients
1.5 oz St Ives Liquor Co. Limoncello (22% ABV)
3 oz Champagne or Prosecco
Splash of elderflower liqueur (optional)
Lemon zest to garnish
Method
Pour limoncello and elderflower liqueur (if using) into a champagne flute.
Top with Champagne or Prosecco.
Garnish with a twist of lemon zest.
Copperfish Butterscotch Moonshine
This butterscotch-flavoured spirit is a warming sweet treat, made by Cornish craft drink maker Copperfish Distillery in Looe. Sip straight, add to a hot chocolate on a cold autumn day, or whip up a coffee cocktail with Butterscotch Moonshine taking centre stage!
Butterscotch Coffee Cocktail
Ingredients
1.5 oz Copperfish Butterscotch Moonshine (25% ABV)
1 oz Coffee liqueur
Hot coffee
Whipped cream (optional)
Caramel sauce (optional)
Method
In a mug, combine the Butterscotch Moonshine and coffee liqueur.
Fill with hot coffee and stir.
Top with whipped cream (if using) and drizzle with caramel sauce if desired.
The Falmouth Distilling Co. Kissing Gate Gin
This gin uses natural ingredients found in Cornwall’s woods, fields, and coastlines, and even takes its name from the quaint kissing gates dotted around the Cornish countryside. Versatile and extremely pleasant to drink, Kissing Gate Gin is superb served in a G&T and also works very well in a fruity cocktail or punch!
Cornish Sunset Punch
Ingredients
4 oz Kissing Gate Gin (40% ABV)
2 oz Blood orange juice
1 oz Cranberry juice
0.5 oz Fresh lime juice
0.5 oz Grenadine
Orange and lime slices to garnish
Method
Mix all the ingredients in a pitcher.
Fill glasses with ice and pour the mixture over.
Garnish with orange and lime slices.
Find all the Cornish drinks featured in this blog at Shop Cornish and prepare for some Cornish mixology!