What Goes Well With Sugarcane? Best Spirit Companions For Cocktails
Although adding sugarcane to a cocktail may seem like a nice organic idea, it's a little challenging. Why so? Sugarcane has a caramelised sweetness that can overpower everything if you're not careful. Its distinct, molasses-like flavour sets it apart from regular sugar syrup, which only serves to sweeten food. Once processed or juiced, it has an earthy, somewhat smoky flavour that may clash with your cocktail's fruity, light, or crisp mixers.
Spirits can be used to intervene and maintain equilibrium. The crisp botanical aromas and aged spices of these spirits break through the dense sweetness of the sugarcane. They smooth down the edges, giving the drink structure rather than a syrupy taste. Learn how to mix both and explore various sugarcane cocktails. Keep reading!
5 Spirit Companions For Sugar Cocktails To Explore
White Rum
White rum is an unaged form that adds fruit, vanilla, and sugarcane aromas without the weight of wood. It is ideal for emphasising the sweetness of fresh sugarcane juice because of its simplicity.
The Best Method For Adding Sugarcane: For a vegetal sweetness that enhances the rum's base, use freshly squeezed sugarcane juice.
Recipe To Try – Sugarcane Rum Cocktail
- 15 ml white rum
- 30 ml fresh sugarcane juice
- 10 ml lime juice
- 30 ml soda water
- Ice cubes
- Garnish: thin lime wheel and a sugarcane stick
Step By Step Guide:
- Pour ice cubes into a highball glass until it is full and then you need to 30 ml of fresh sugarcane juice and 15 ml of white rum.
- For brightness, add 10 ml of lime juice.
- For a fizzy finish, pour 10 ml of soda water over the drink.
- To combine all the flavours without destroying the bubbles, stir gently.
- For a crisp, tropical appearance, garnish with a sugarcane stick and a thin lime wheel.
Flavoured Gin
From citrus to berries to herbs, flavoured gin adds a unique twist to the botanical of gin. It is crisp, flowery, and fragrant. This makes it an excellent medium for sugarcane juice, which lends a tropical lift.
The Best Way To Add Sugarcane: To soften and enhance the herbal edge of gin, blend sugarcane juice into a shaken cocktail.
Recipe To Try – Cane Fizz Cocktail
- 15 ml flavoured gin (like citrus or berry)
- 10 ml sugarcane juice
- 15 ml lemon juice
- 15 ml tonic water
- Ice
- Garnish: rosemary sprig or edible flower
Step By Step Guide:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add 15 ml of flavouring gin, 10 ml of sugarcane juice, and 15 ml of lemon juice.
- Give it a good shake until your hands feel the chill.
- For a sophisticated presentation, strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass.
- To add sparkle, pour 15 ml of tonic water on top.
- To complement the botanical tones, garnish with an edible flower or a branch of rosemary.
Spiced Rum
Spiced rum has a rich flavour with cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, and occasionally citrus peel. It's ideal if you want your cocktail to have a somewhat more upscale taste.
The Best Way To Add Sugarcane: Add spice by combining sugarcane juice with a little zingy citrus.
Recipe To Try– Spiced Cane Cocktail
- 15 ml spiced rum
- 25 ml sugarcane juice
- 10 ml orange juice
- 10 ml sparkling water
- Ice
- Garnish: orange twist and cinnamon stick
Step By Step Guide:
- Fill a shaker with ice and add 10 ml orange juice, 25 ml sugarcane juice, and 15 ml spiced rum.
- Shake to mix and chill everything thoroughly.
- Pour the mixture through a strainer into a glass with fresh ice.
- To bring out the spices, pour 10 ml of sparkling water on top.
- To accentuate the spiced flavours, garnish with a cinnamon stick and an orange twist.
Infused Tequilla
Infusing tequila adds sweet tastes like pineapple, hibiscus, or jalapeño. It has a lot of personality and is snappy. Particularly in infused forms, any fruit used smooths the edges and balances the earthy notes of tequila.
The Best Way To Add Sugarcane: To combine subtle sweetness with infusions, use sugarcane to infuse the alcohol. Let it sit and ferment for 24 hours.
Recipe To Try– Cane Tequila Cocktail
- 15 ml infused tequila (like hibiscus or citrus)
- 10 ml sugarcane juice
- 15 ml grapefruit juice
- 10 ml honey water
- Ice
- Garnish: thin grapefruit slice
Step By Step Guide:
- In a shaker, add 15 ml of infused tequila, 10 ml of sugarcane juice, 15 ml of grapefruit juice, and 10 ml of honey water with ice.
- Give it a good shake to get everything chilled and a little foamy.
- Pour through a strainer into a large glass with crushed ice.
- To highlight the zesty tequila flavours, garnish with a small slice of grapefruit.
Bourbon
With hints of caramel, vanilla, and spice, bourbon is rich, oaky, and slightly sweet. Although it can be robust, it turns unexpectedly smooth when combined with sugarcane.
The Best Way To Add Sugarcane: To make a velvety, earthy base, reduce sugarcane juice gradually to make a syrup.
Recipe To Try– Sugarcane Bourbon Cocktail
- 15 ml bourbon
- 10 ml sugarcane syrup (reduced juice)
- 30 ml chilled water
- 2 ml of bitter
- Ice
- Garnish: lemon peel
Step By Step Guide:
- 15 ml of bourbon, 10 ml of sugarcane syrup, 30 ml of chilled water, and bitters should all be combined in a mixing glass.
- To chill and somewhat dilute, stir thoroughly with ice.
- Add a twist of lemon peel as a garnish to bring out the citrus and oak notes.
Summing Up…
There is so much more that can be done with sugarcane and mixology. But storage might be an issue, as freshness is compromised. Do not buy the pre-peeled ones, as they dry out quickly. Always leave the peel if a part of the sugar cane is not used in a ziplock bag and freeze.
Also Read: 5 Sugarcane Cocktails That You Must Definitely Try
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
