The Dan’s Cocktail Book is here, so call your mates and let’s get shaking.
Good food, good drink, good friends – at its essence, a party is a timeless combination of elements brought to life by the individual touch that hosts and guests contribute to the occasion. To help you pull off your best and most fun-filled gathering yet, our Dan’s Daily Blueprints tell you everything you need to host whatever event is next on your hit list.
You might have heard that we’ve released a cocktail bible. The Dan’s Cocktail Book is jam-packed with 68 outstanding recipes that don’t require a bartending degree (if you’re a friend, you already know what you’re getting for Christmas). We’ve included classics (obviously!) like the Old Fashioned, Margarita and Cosmo, and there’s riffs on the classics – Cold Brew Negroni, anyone? In a pinch for time? We’ve got you covered with two-ingredient drinks like the Godfather, Classic Martini and Black Velvet, and three-ingredient dreams from the Batanga through to the Americano.
Hosting a group? Flip to ‘Drinks for a crowd’. Having a dry month? See ‘Satisfying non-alcs’. We’ve dedicated a section to dessert drinks because you know we’re sweet tooths. And for those looking to test their bartending chops, you can head to ‘Advanced, but you got this’. There truly is a cocktail for everyone. Now, this shiny green, hardcover book is an absolute steal by the way – My Dan’s members, you can snap up this baby for $30 (non-members $35). Like we said, Christmas gifting is sorted.
The inspiration for The Dan’s Cocktail Book? Cocktails, made easy. Whether you’re hosting cocktail night (read on) or pre-batching for drinks in the park, cocktailing at home doesn’t have to be hard (our clever cookies AKA expert bartenders and team have made sure of it). So, grab your copy, flag your faves, call your mates and let’s get shaking (or stirring). Here’s our guide to hosting a cocktail night at home.
Nail the classics: Cosmopolitan
You can’t host girls’ night without a true classic, the Cosmo. It’s very ’90s and very Sex and the City, but, FYI, Cosmos aren’t just for the girls. Vodka – we’re using Mishka – combines with triple sec, cranberry juice and lime juice to make everyone's favourite pink drink. Pop all your ingredients into your shaker, chuck in your ice and shake until frosty before straining into a coupe. We reckon this is the perfect arrival drink, and props to you if you’re screening episodes of SATC, too.
Perfect Margaritas: Pineapple and Coconut Margarita
Okay, we back this Marg riff as a certified crowd-pleaser (as if there’s a Marg that isn’t), but our Pineapple and Coconut Margarita combines two absolute classics – the Marg (duh) and the Piña Colada. This tropical holiday in a glass belongs on your shortlist for cocktail night because not only will everyone love it, but it’s also a cinch to make – we promise. All you need to do is grab your shaker, add your blanco tequila (we love Don Julio), along with lime juice, agave syrup, coconut milk and pineapple juice, add ice and shake. Dealer’s choice for the rim – salt? Coconut? We say both.
Two-ingredient drinks: Godfather
We’re going to make you an offer you can’t refuse. The offer? The Godfather (cocktail, that is). It's just two ingredients, Scotch whisky and amaretto liqueur like Luxardo with ice, stirred and strained into an old fashioned glass. Like many two-ingredient cocktails, there’s nowhere to hide in the Godfather, so it calls for high-quality spirits. When are we sipping this one? It's perfect as an after-dinner digestivo. Cin cin.
Drinks for a crowd: Freezer Door Martini
If your cocktail night is a full-blown dinner party, then we have three words for you: Freezer Door Martini. Why? Not only is it a killer recipe that serves eight, but you can also make it ahead of time (it’ll last for almost eternity). When the hosting stress starts to set in, you know it’s time to pour. So, what do you need? Gin, it’s Roku for us, dry vermouth and water, which delivers the perfect dilution – just be sure to prep your Freezer Door ‘tini at least eight hours before you’re ready to impress your guests.
The dessert menu: Lemon Meringue Pie'tini
Drink or dessert? Our Lemon Meringue Pie'tini can do both (and it takes less time than baking a cake). From your bar cart you'll need limoncello and sugar syrup, then lemon juice, cream and a dash of vanilla essence. And don’t forget crushed biscuits for the rim. Now, a key feature of the Lemon Meringue Pie'tini is the cream and vanilla essence layer. Matt Linklater – one of the geniuses behind our cocktails – has put together a guide to perfecting floats, so you can master the art at home (and show off to your mates). Going OTT? We’d double down with this ’tini alongside a big slice of lemon meringue pie.
Satisfying non-alcs: Tropical Non-Alc Sgroppino
Okay, you know we’d never forget a non-alc option and, trust us, this one tastes as good as the vodka- and fizz-spiked original. Head to your favourite ice cream parlour because we need passionfruit sorbet (feel free to swap in your preferred fruity flavour). Pop your sorbet in the blender with grapefruit juice, lime juice, sugar and salt and then blitz. Pour into a coupe and top with non-alc beer, before a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. Heads up: get ready to blitz one for everyone because it’s that good.
