The people have spoken: less is more. It’s time for Two-Sip Martinis and Mini Manhattans.
Bigger doesn’t always mean better. Things that come in small packages are just as deserving of our love and admiration (this author’s height aside). Take, for example, plantains vs bananas or caviar vs chicken eggs – and come on, have you seen that Calvin Klein ad? Short kings are the new 6ft (DM us, Mr Jeremy Allen White). Unsurprisingly, this trend has carried on into the drinks world, heralding a new era of tiny ’tails, the micro drink. Things like the Snaquiri, the Two-Sip Martini and the Mini Manhattan are all the rage in Aussie barland at the moment, and the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
Think of it this way – if you’re having dinner at a fancy restaurant (the ones with hats or stars), you want a menu where you can try as much as possible without bursting your stomach – little plates full of flavour. That same logic applies to cocktails as well. With mini versions, you can try a suite of drinks across the menu, that are much lower in alcohol but still damn delish. And while snackable cocktails, ‘cheekies’ or ‘handshakes’ are often reserved for your harder-styled drinks like Martinis or Negronis, this doesn’t mean you can’t play around with other types – look to Dante’s famous Mini Mary, for example.
An argument can be made that this is how cocktails are supposed to be consumed – short, cold as ice, and super sharp, like they did in the “old days”. Instead of the too-big, often too-diluted fishbowls that have become the fashion today (we blame the rise of American consumerism).
The modern-day mini cocktail, though, definitely owes its popularity to the Snaquiri. As you may have guessed, the very cutely named Snaquiri is a combination of snack and Daiquiri, and it is super popular among bartenders who refer to it as the bartender’s handshake (though this nickname can mean different things depending on who you ask – for many it means a shot of Fernet). Essentially, it’s just a li’l baby Daiquiri – snackable if you will. The idea is if you come into a neighbouring bar after a hard shift, they’ll serve you up a freebie Snaquiri while your order is being prepared. Why the tiny Daiquiri? Because it’s yummy, easy and fast to make.
Want to try one made by a pro? You can find them all over the country. In Sydney, you’ve got Maybe Sammy pioneering the movement with their list of minis. Le Foote has their Two-Sip Martinis and Negronis, and Bar Topa has their half-sized cocktails. Jumping over to Melbourne, several top venues have offered them for some time, while Caretaker’s Cottage is making the mini Guinness a thing (not a cocktail, but still).
If you want to serve up a bunch of Snaquiris for guests, say, as a little amuse-bouche, having two sets of shakers going at once is a good option (our article on the science of the cocktail shake might help you out). This goes for all shakeable cocktails – (a piccolo Espresso Martini would be off the chain, tbh). Mainly because you shouldn’t batch perishable ingredients like lime or coffee.
Built and stirred-down cocktails – your Manhattans, Negronis, Old Fashioneds and Martinis – probably need to be made in bulk (batches) prior. This is especially true of the Martini and other cocktails that utilise wine, spirit and water. Getting those specs right and then freezing them makes it so much easier to just pour out super cold and super quick.
Making minis for date night? Just take one of our cocktail recipes (whichever you like, they’re all genius), mix and split. So, instead of having one full-sized cocktail, it’s spread across two glasses. It’s really as simple as that. But keep in mind the minis need to be as cold as possible, so chill your wee glasses in the freezer before pouring out your batches.
Lastly, and most importantly, you need the right glassware to serve your minis in. Something tincy, like little European wine glasses (the ones you see in old Italian homes), or even little sherry glasses – get creative and prepare to fall in love with these short kings.
