Cocktail
These Classic Cola Cocktails Are Getting a Fresh Look for Summer
Fact: Cola loves whiskey and rum.
We’ve teamed up with Fever-Tree to share season-ready drink recipes starring their top-notch cocktail mixers—like the brand-new Distillers Cola. Here, Shelley Worrell, the founder and chief curator of caribBEING, shares her riffs on two classic cola cocktails, perfect for entertaining.
Summer isn’t over just yet, and with a few more weeks left to soak up the season, it’s time to break out the fancy cocktails, according to Shelley Worrell—the founder and CEO of caribBEING, a multidisciplinary venture that celebrates and amplifies Caribbean culture, community, and businesses in New York City and beyond.
“I think that you want to have your friends over not for a basic cocktail, but for something that’s fun and also unexpected,” Shelley says, whether you’re planning a backyard dinner party or a low-key night in.
Her go-to sips for the season are twists on classic cola cocktails you probably know well: one with rum, the other with whiskey.
“Rum and Cola is a standard in the Caribbean,” she explains (add lime juice and you’ve got a Cuba Libre). Inspired by her Caribbean background and heritage, this riff calls for aromatic Angostura bitters made in Trinidad and Tobago—a must-have for professional mixologists and home bartenders alike. It also includes amaro for an earthy, herbal element and Champagne for crisp acidity (plus a little extra flare).
In addition to good-quality dark rum, the key to this drink is the cola. Shelley’s pick? Fever-Tree’s new Distillers Cola. “It has just the right amount of sweetness and carbonation,” she says, with a “sophisticated and elegant finish.” Made with Caribbean kola nuts, Tahitian limes, and distilled botanicals and spices, it’s a mixer that makes you feel like you’re sipping something familiar yet special enough for company. To complete the drink, serve it in a chilled coupe glass with a lemon twist.
| 2 | ounces dark rum |
| 2 | ounces amaro |
| 3 | ounces Fever-Tree Distillers Cola |
| 3 | ounces Champagne |
| 2 | dashes Angostura bitters |
| Lemon twist, for garnish |
| 2 | ounces dark rum |
| 2 | ounces amaro |
| 3 | ounces Fever-Tree Distillers Cola |
| 3 | ounces Champagne |
| 2 | dashes Angostura bitters |
| Lemon twist, for garnish |
Another one of cola’s favorite spirits is, of course, whiskey. In Shelley’s take, the standard pairing gets a little upgrade with some bright, fresh flavors. “I love mint and orange together, especially in the summertime,” she says; they show up in the cocktail via orange bitters and a fragrant mint sprig garnish. Again, the quality of the cola is important here, especially considering that it makes up more than half of the volume of the drink.
“This is a really nice, refreshing take on whiskey and cola,” says Shelley. The best part: It comes together in less than a minute and calls for just a few simple ingredients, ideal for when you’re whipping up a couple of drinks at once for a cocktail party—or “what I would call a soiree or event,” she adds. And with fall just around the corner, that’s exactly how we want to be sipping through the end of summer.
| 2 | ounces whiskey |
| 4 to 6 | ounces Fever-Tree Distillers Cola |
| 1 | lime wedge |
| 2 to 3 | dashes Angostura orange bitters |
| 1 | sprig fresh mint, for garnish |
| Orange twist, for garnish (optional) |
| 2 | ounces whiskey |
| 4 to 6 | ounces Fever-Tree Distillers Cola |
| 1 | lime wedge |
| 2 to 3 | dashes Angostura orange bitters |
| 1 | sprig fresh mint, for garnish |
| Orange twist, for garnish (optional) |
Whether you’re a master mixologist or budding home bartender, Fever-Tree makes the very best mixers for all sorts of sips—from an elegant twist on rum and cola to an upgraded whiskey and cola. Ready to shake up these cocktails at home? Be sure to stock your bar cart with Fever-Tree’s Distillers Cola—it’s made with Caribbean kola nuts, Tahitian limes, and a selection of distilled botanicals and spices that enhance the flavors of your favorite spirits.
Written by: Erin Alexander
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