Mother's Day Special: Which Classic Cocktail Matches Your Mom Best?
SHE HAS ALWAYS had your back. She has been with you, through the highs and the lows. She has been your biggest cheerleader, and sometimes, your sharpest critic. She has been your best friend and your teacher. She has been your home, your lighthouse through stormy nights, and your anchor through all of life's upheavals. So it's only fitting that on Mother's Day you mix her a drink that encompasses just what she means to you. Three classics that are just perfect for the occasion — and the twist here is how you match the drink to your mom's personality — include Irish Coffee, the Cosmopolitan, and the Dry Martini Cocktail.
But... how do you decide which one to mix for her?
1. A Heartwarming Match
If your mom's warmth and affection are the aspects of her persona that stand out the most, then an Irish Coffee it is. Try out this truly easy under-five-minutes recipe that even the most amateur mixologist can whip up in a jiffy.
You'll need:
½ tablespoon of brown sugar
1½ cups of hot coffee (freshly brewed)
1 shot of Irish whisky
½ shot of Baileys Original Irish Cream
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)
Cocoa powder for garnishing (optional)
Separately, for the topping, also gather 100 ml of cream and 2 teaspoons of Baileys.
To make Baileys Irish Coffee:
First, whip the cream until soft peaks are formed. Stir the 2 teaspoons of Baileys liqueur through the cream, and set aside.
Next, fill your mom's favourite mug up to 3/4th level with coffee and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the whisky, Baileys a vanilla extract (if using) then stir once more.
Gently spoon a generous helping of the whipped cream until the mug is full. Add a garnish of cocoa dust on top for a fancy touch.
For a non-alcoholic version of this Irish coffee, simply leave out the whisky and Baileys from the recipe.
Place the Irish coffee on a pretty tray with a small note that declares what she means to you. Serve mom with love!
2. Same Vibes
From her sense of style to her interactions with other people and her approach to life itself, "bold" and "vibrant" are the adjectives that describe your mom best. Those same descriptors are pretty apt for eternal global favourite, the Cosmopolitan. Mix a Cosmo for your full-of-life mom, and experience the satisfaction of seeing her savour her signature spirit.
You'll need:
60 ml of a quality vodka, like Cîroc or Ketel One
30 ml Cointreau
30 ml cranberry juice
30 ml fresh lime juice
Ice as needed
How to mix a Cosmopolitan:
Pour the vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and lime juice into a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until the contents are well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Pick up a fragrant long-stemmed rose to bring a smile to your mom's face before she even tastes the Cosmo.
3. Dancing Chic To Chic
Your friends can never stop raving about how refined and elegant your mom is. Indeed, you can't think of anyone who has quite her air of timelessness, or an aesthetic that's so as classic as it is classy. Look no further than the Dry Martini Cocktail when considering a Mother's Day drink for your First Lady.
First, the ingredients. You will need:
60 ml of a quality London Dry gin, preferably Tanqueray or Gordon's
15 ml of dry vermouth
A dash of orange bitters
A lemon twist for the garnish
To bring it all together:
Add ice to a mixing glass, along with the gin, vermouth and orange bitters. Stir using a bar spoon, until the contents feel very well-chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and present with a lovely, patterned silk scarf (or discreet little pearl earrings) to mom.
Beyond these classic cocktails, you could also present a beautifully wrapped bottle of a premium quality spirit to your mom. Johnnie Walker Blonde, Tanqueray No. 10 gin, Cîroc Vodka and Baileys Original Irish Cream are all spirits you can never go wrong with. The bonus? Witnessing the pleasure your mom takes in mixing drinks for her guests the next time she hosts one of her fabulous sit-down dinners!
Have a wonderful Mother's Day with your mom! As always, do enjoy these drinks in moderation.
