Pantone has recently announced that its 2020 Color of the Year is Classic Blue. Going into the new decade, Pantone felt that the color highlighted dependability, trustworthiness, credibility, and constancy, all traits that are valued in the fast-paced, high-stress situations of the current world. Pantone describes the color as a timeless and enduring blue hue, suggestive of the sky at dusk.
Classic Blue brings a sense of peace and tranquility. The hue aides in concentration and bringing laser like clarity. Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking, challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective and open the flow of communication.
Wherever you may be around the globe, we have compiled a list of cocktails that celebrate the 2020 Pantone of the year with a glass of serenity, tranquility, and reflection which are all qualities represented with Classic Blue.
Mar Caribe at Serenata, Washington DC
At Serenata in Washington DC, Beverage director Andra “AJ” Johnson and co-owner Juan Coronado have come up a cocktail inspired by the Dutch Island of Curaçao, with the Mar Caribe, a take on a pina colada arriving in a shell-shaped bowl big enough for two people.
Mar Caribe
1.5 oz White Rum
0.5 oz Blue Curaçao
1 oz Sparkling Wine
1 oz Orange Juice
1 oz Pineapple Juice
0.75 oz Horchata
0.75 oz Lemon Juice
2 dashes vanilla
Served in a shell-shaped punch bowl over cubed ice and topped with pink salt air and garnished with edible flowers.
1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Gun Metal Blue at Porchlight, NYC
PHOTO CREDIT: Andrew Kist
Beverage Director, Nicolas Bennett was researching popular New Orleans cocktails for the opening of Porchlight, and The Gun Metal Blue is their take on the famous Grenade. The cocktail utilizes the citrus and cinnamon flavor notes, and Blue Curacao completes the beloved Grenade appeal. While the original Grenade tends to lean on the sweet side, they use and to keep it from being what everyone expected Bennett uses a smoky mezcal and a bitter cinnamon syrup.
Gun Metal Blue
1.5 oz Mezcal Vida
0.5 oz Blue Curacao
0.25 oz Peach Brandy
0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
0.25 oz Bitter Cinnamon Simple Syrup
Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin, shake vigorously and double strain into a chilled coupe, and garnish with a flamed orange coin.
271 11th Ave, New York, NY 10001
Corpse Reviver Number Blue at Dante, NYC
PHOTO CREDIT: Steve Freihon
Bacardi brand ambassador Jacob Briars created this version of the classic cocktail for World’s Best Bar, Dante. Naren Young, Dante Creative Director, describes this cocktail as “a cheeky, kitsch twist on the classic Corpse Reviver, which was first mentioned in The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930). Don’t let the color fool you; this is not a sweet ‘disco’ drink at all. It is dry, tart and very citrusy while the absinthe adds some further complexity.”
Corpse Reviver Number Blue
0.25 oz. Bombay Sapphire
0.25 oz. Lillet Blanc
0.5 oz. Combier Triple Sec
0.75 oz. lemon juice
0.75 oz. blue Curacao
Dash simple syrup
Dash of absinthe
Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin, shake vigorously and double strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass.
79-81 Macdougal St, New York, NY 10012
The Classic Blue at American Whiskey, NYC
At American Whiskey, Tracey Eden created the Classic Blue cocktail where she uses Empress Gin 1908 for its combination of exquisite taste, delicate aroma, soft texture, and remarkable presentation provide the perfect base for a new aesthetic of cocktail creation and enjoyment.
The Classic Blue
1.75 oz Empress 1908 Gin
0.33 oz Giffard Pamplemousse
0.33 oz Dry Vermouth
0.33 oz Color of the Year Tea (from Tea Leaves Co)
Stir ingredients on ice, strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass, express lemon peel and garnish with a grapefruit peel (or blueberries for an extra pop of Classic Blue!).
247 W 30th St, New York, NY 10001
Matsuda at Le Sirenuse, Miami
PHOTO CREDIT: Valentino Longo
At Le Sirenuse in the Four Season at The Surf Club, Valentino Longo, head bartender and notably one of Miami’s best bartenders, created the Matsuda cocktail to celebrate 50 years of the brand which is famous for looking to the past for inspiration, while staying current, yet timeless.
Matsuda
1.5 oz Kinobi Gin
0.5 oz Violet Ume Cordial
0.75 oz Yuzu Sour blend
1.5 oz Shansho Pepper Soda Water
Stir ingredients on ice with a bar spoon, strain into a highball glass over cubed ice.
9011 Collins Ave, Surfside, FL 33154
One Last Blues at Minnow Bar, Miami
PHOTO CREDIT: Willy Estrada
Beverage Director at the Kimpton Anglers Hotel, Willy Estrada created this cocktail in memory of his grandmother in homage to her 1920’s born beauty! The flavor profiles lend a nostalgia to her pastries he grew fond of in using his grandmother’s spice blend and vanilla notes, and he uses the Blue Curacao to lend that orange balance of flavors.
One Last Blues
1.75 oz Big Cypress Magic City Gin
0.5 oz Green Chartreuse
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
2 Dashes of Grapefruit Bitters
0.75 Spices & Vanilla Blue Curaçao Syrup
0.5 Aquafaba
Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin, shake vigorously. Remove ice and dry shake for 10 to 15 seconds to create the beautiful white foam. Pour in chilled coupe glass and garnish with color edible flowers.
660 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
East India Trading Company at Sidecar, San Luis Obispo
PHOTO CREDIT: Drew Barefoot for CANA FAMILY
In San Luis Obispo, bar manager Danielle Goldenand owner Josh Christensen created the East India Trading Company, a tiki style cocktail that takes influence from Indian cuisine. Sticking to the classic Tiki flavor profiles, they use blue Curacao, pineapple gomme, but by utilizing ancho this cocktail brings a little bit of vegetal/pepper flavor while the coconut cream and curry leaf rum lean heavy on classic Indian flavors.
East India Trading Company
1.5 oz Curry leaf infused Royal Standard Rum
0.5 oz Ancho Reyes
0.25 oz Vedrenne Blue Curacao
0.25 oz Pineapple gomme syrup
0.5 oz Coconut cream
1 oz lime
Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin, shake vigorously and strain into a collins glass over crushed ice. Garnish with dried lime wheel, mint sprig, and edible flower (optional).
1127 Broad St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 & 1040 Broad St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.
Bluegrass #2 at Atwater Cocktail Club, Montreal
PHOTO CREDIT: Elisabeth Gartside / @parfumdefemme
Atwater Cocktail Club in Montreal is exceptional not just because of the delicious and creative cocktails but also for its originality, the glamorous decor and excellent menu. Inspired by the Blue Lagoon, the Bluegrass #2 offers depth & complexity all while painting your world blue!
Bluegrass #2
0.75 oz Vodka
0.75 oz Cocchi Americano
0.75 oz Marie Brizard Blue Curaçao
0.5 oz Suze
0.75 oz Lemon Juice
0.7 5oz Lady Grey tea syrup*
3 dashes Lavender bitters
*Lady Grey tea syrup:
Steep 2 Lady Grey tea bags and 2 cinnamon sticks in 1L of hot water for 15minutes. Add equal parts raw sugar.
Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin, shake vigorously and strain in a highball over crushed ice. Garnish with a colorful edible flower & dehydrated orange wheel
512 Atwater Ave, Montreal, Quebec H4C 2G5, Canada
Bon Pour Le Moral at Milky Way Cocktail Bar, Montreal
PHOTO CREDIT: Elisabeth Gartside / @parfumdefemme
Enjoy one of Milk Way Cocktail Bar’s most popular cocktails: Bon Pour Le Moral, in Montreal, Quebec. Named after one of the super joyful songs from the popular 80s French Guinean band La Compagnie Créole, this tropical cocktail is meant to spark joy all around! Creamy, fruity, crushable, and just like the song, there’s a ton going on in this 9 ingredient tiki-inspired cocktail.
Bon Pour Le Moral
0.5 oz Coconut Ciroc
0.5 oz Marie Brizard Blue Curaçao
0.5 oz St-Germain Liqueur
0.5 oz Barbancourt Pango Flavored Rum
1 oz Orange Juice
1 oz Pineapple Juice
0.75 oz Lemon Juice
0.75 oz Vanilla Syrup
2 dashes Regan’s Orange Bitters
Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin, shake vigorously and strain in a tropical oversized glass over crushed ice. Garnish with dehydrated pineapple & fronds, dehydrated orange wheel, flower. You can never have enough garnish!
1886 Centre St, Montreal, Quebec H3K 1H9, Canada
My Boy Blue at Homeboy Bar, London
Both the London weather and Hump Day blues can be certainly cured with Homeboy Bar’s “My Boy Blue” which is a happy medium between a Paloma and Lynchburg Lemonade. It is a refreshing cocktail using bold citrus notes from grapefruit soda and lime.
My Boy Blue
50 ml Jack Daniels No.7
25 ml Briottet Blue Curacao
50 ml Grapefruit Juice
25 ml Lime Juice
25 ml Sparkling Water
Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin, shake vigorously, strain and serve over ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a lemon wheel.
108 Essex Rd, Islington, London N1 8LX, United Kingdom
Winter Wonderland at 1932 Southampton, UK
At 1932 in Southampton UK, mixologist Flavian Chrispine set out to create a seeded cocktail. He took inspiration of the transition between the warmth of Summer bringing together tropical flavors to the cool breeze of winter utilizing crème de menthe to bring a wintry finish.
Winter Wonderland
25 ml Twisted Nose Watercrest Gin
25 ml Creme de Menthe
50 ml Basil Seed Beverage
50 ml Lychee Juice
25 ml Lime Juice
25 ml Gomme
Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin, shake vigorously and double strain over cubed ice. Garnish dehydrated lime and top with Elderflower foam.
194 Above Bar St, Southampton SO14 7DW, United Kingdom
Aegean Negroni at Clumsies, Greece
PHOTO CREDIT: Anthony Nader / @52Chefs for THIRSTY
The Agean Negroni was created by the genius minds of Nikos Bakoulis and Vasilis Kyritsis at Clumsies in Greece. The Aegean Negroni is the bar’s signature drink thanks to its use of the finest products and blue color that conjures the Aegean sea.
Aegean Negroni
1 oz London Dry Gin
1 oz White Vermouth
1 oz Italicus
Stir ingredients on ice with a bar spoon, strain into a rocks glass over rock ice. Garnish with a lime leaf.
Praxitelous 30, Athina 105 61, Greece
Blue Shark at Strizzi Garden, Italy
Created by bartender Daniele Ariani at Strizzi Garden in Florence, the Blue Shark aims to highlight a unique Blue Curacao by Senior & Co. This particular triple sec is handmade produced in Curaçao by using candied oranges and bitter peels of the Laraha orange, that make it a premium liqueur.
Blue Shark
45 ml Polugar n°1 Rye & Weat Vodka
15 ml The Genuine Curaçao Liqueur Blue
15 ml Lime juice
15 ml Rose syrup
5 ml Blueberry and lemongrass syrup
10 ml Lychee puree
Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin, shake vigorously and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a blue gummy shark.
Via Giovan Filippo Mariti, 5, 50127 Firenze FI, Italy
Blue Gin & Tonic at Mosto – Birra Artigianale & Distillati, Italy
At Mosto – Birra Artigianaly in Naples, they highlight the Gin & Tonic with an entire “gintonic” menu, where one selects from over 50 different gins and over 15 different tonics. Once you select the perfect pairing of gin and tonic, you then select an additional botanical and garnish to complete your perfect G&T. The Blue Gin & Tonic takes its blue color by utilizing Reves Fusion blue tonic water.
Blue Gin & Tonic
2 oz gin (your choice out of over 50)
3–4 oz tonic water
.25 oz Botanicals of your choice
Garnish of your choice
Stir in a highball glass add gin, botanicals to taste, over ice. Top with tonic water and garnish.
Vico II Alabardieri, 28, 80121 Napoli NA, Italy
Bla Bla Bla at Alchemy Bar Ballito, South Africa
Created by Theo Vermaak of Alchemy Bar Ballito in South Africa. The Bla Bla Bla takes inspiration from the classic French cocktail Bleu Bleu Bleu, adapted locally to use Ginsmith Pink Gin for it’s grapefruit and unique local ingredients such as buchu, and Alchemy’s locally grown lime juice rather than lemon. What better way to drown the Monday blues than a refreshing, popping blue cocktail with white foam, with a decent kick.
Bla Bla Bla
1.5 oz Lime Juice
1.5 oz Ginsmith Pink Gin
1.5 oz El Jimador Silver Tequila
1.5 oz Blue Curacao
Egg White
Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin, shake vigorously and strain into over ice. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit and top with Fitch & Leedes Soda Water.
398 & 445 Main Road, Ballito Unit 55A, Ballito Lifestyle Centre, Ethekwini, 4004, South Africa
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