Green cocktails Charli XCX herself would approve of.
Charli XCX’s Brat has well and truly taken over the cultural conversation. From our social feeds to the US presidential election, Brat – and its acid-green aesthetic – has become so ubiquitous it’s hard to imagine a time when we weren’t learning the Apple dance on TikTok. There’s no doubt Brat leans heavily into Charli XCX’s underground rave roots (she’s been hosting pop-up Boiler Room sets in a new city almost every week and yes, we want tickets), but it’s more than just an album filled with club classics. It’s a tale of embracing life as a party girl in your 30s – who’s a little messy and says dumb things sometimes – while navigating the anxieties that often accompany that stage of life.
Here at Dan’s Daily, we can’t get enough of it. Heck, even our branding is Brat. So, in honour of Charli XCX’s sixth album taking over the world (and giving us the ‘okay’ to stay out until 4am), we’ve pulled together a list of our best Brat-themed cocktails. So, whether you want to dance with George or you’re everywhere, so Julia, these bright-green drinks will go down a treat at your Brat-themed dinner party/pre-drinks/DIY living room Boiler set. We ride for you Charli (and we think you’d love these).
There’s nothing rotten about this apple cocktail. In fact, it’s anything but. This neon green drink is bubbly, sweet and vibrant. It marries Midori, blanco tequila and cloudy apple juice with a twist of lemon, a touch of sugar syrup and soda to top it up. If you need more of a flavour kick while you listen to those club classics, swap the soda for a sweet and spicy ginger ale, or ginger beer. You’ll score extra Brat points if you can shake this cocktail while doing the Apple dance. Challenge accepted.
Even though the northern hemisphere is living out their Brat summer fantasies, we don’t see a problem with pretending it’s summer here with this next cocktail. It’s light, not too sweet and refreshing, making it a great pre-dinner (or pre-club?) cocktail. It’s damn easy to make, too – just find yourself a good gin and a cucumber, and you’re basically ready to go. The secret to nailing this is using a tea strainer because tiny chunks of cucumber and mint floating in your cocktail aren’t very Brat. Now, go grab a mate you don’t have much in common with and work it out on the remix (read: over cocktails).
Now this is a club classic. In fact, the Appletini is one of the most, if not the most, famous club drinks to come out of the 1990s. Back then, it screamed platform shoes and halterneck tops – and in celebration of all things Brat, we think wearing a sheer white dress and last night's make-up is the best way to enjoy this neon green drink. Its hero ingredients include vodka, cloudy apple juice and apple liqueur – and thanks to the minimal steps involved in making an Appletini, you can sling plenty of these at your upcoming Brat-themed house party. Serving suggestion: split the apple garnish down symmetrical lines.
A bright green, Melbourne-made, melon-flavoured drink that could convince Charli to play a pop-up Boiler set in Australia next week. We can dream. Just like Brat, this cocktail – conceived in the ’80s – is unapologetic and perfectly embodies the busy neon nightlife we’re all chasing in our Brat era. Equal parts Midori, triple sec and fresh lemon juice (emphasis on fresh), this cocktail is Melbourne’s answer to Manhattan’s Cosmo – and a very Brat beverage if ever we saw one.
This one's for all the break-your-boyfriend's-heart girls. Well, actually, it’s for anyone who’s looking for a potent and flavoursome twist on the classic Gimlet. 'Mujer Verde' translates to 'green lady' in Spanish and gets its vibrant – very on-brand – hue courtesy of green and yellow Chartreuse, which infuses the gin with complex, layered botanical notes, while the sugar syrup adds a bump of sweetness balanced by a tangy edge of sour lime juice. In a way, Charli XCX is like the real-life version of a green lady; she basically owns the rights to the colour green at this point. Oh, and if you can’t find Chartreuse, we’ve got a list of the best substitutes here.
It’s so confusing sometimes to be a girl (girl, girl, girl, girl), but swapping your morning matcha latte for an afternoon cocktail always makes sense. This fizzy little number looks as good as it tastes, and thanks to the addition of blanco tequila and soju, it has an unexpected earthy, aromatic depth. At the same time, the matcha brings its own grassy, nutty goodness. We suggest getting a little Fancy (a nod to pre-Brat Charli there for those playing along at home) by sprinkling matcha and icing sugar on top of this drink; use a stencil to really impress your party guests.
A Mojito may look easy, but nailing it takes some serious dedication (and very fresh mint), according to Caretaker’s Cottage bartender Matt Stirling, who shared his perfect recipe with Dan’s Daily. "It’s really about respecting the process and the systematic order of doing things.” Given Caretaker’s Cottage is synonymous with award-winning cocktails and a brilliantly curated record collection, we think a lime green Brat vinyl spinning in the corner of this dimly-lit institution would be so Julia. Be your own Brat bartender.
A drinkable after-dinner mint? That’s our favourite reference. Made from green creme de menthe, white creme de cacao and cream, a Grasshopper is slightly sweet, easy to drink and pours a soft pastel green. Sure, it’s not neon green, but it still gets our Brat-themed cocktail tick of approval. Garnish your Grasshopper with some dark chocolate and you’re essentially sipping an Aero bar – and who doesn’t want to do that between Apple dance takes?
In honour of Charli XCX being a young girl from Essex, we couldn’t go past an Elderflower Martini. Elderflower has long been used in British bevs – like traditional elderflower cordial, for example, which is made from the flowers of the elderberry plant. Here we’re using St Germain Elderflower Liqueur, a bar staple whose cultural heritage has helped maintain its popularity on drinks menus around the world – and we love how it gives this classic Dry Martini a floral twist.
Get the Elderflower Martini recipe
Let’s be honest, Midori is always in its Brat era. And it goes down an absolute treat in a Midori Illusion. Think of it as a Japanese Slipper and it’s the same but there’s more ingredients so it’s not. One obvious difference is the addition of pineapple juice. The Midori Illusion gained popularity during the 1980s, especially in nightclubs and bars. Fast-forward to 2024 and we think the underground club scene that Charli XCX personifies is the perfect setting for sipping one of these.
