Skip to main content
Recipes

D.I.Y. Drinks Bar

By Douglas RodriguezPhotography by Pornchai Mittongtare
Image may contain Plant Fruit Food Human Person Produce Glass Pomegranate Drink Beer Alcohol Beverage and Bowl

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Servings

Ingredients

Citrus Spice Syrup

2

cups water

2

cups sugar

peel from 2 oranges

peel from 1 lemon (removed in strips with a vegetable peeler)

6

whole cloves

2

cinnamon sticks

Ginger Spice Syrup

2

cups water

2

cups sugar

3

tablespoons grated peeled fresh ginger

3

cinnamon sticks

3

whole star anise

Pinch of ground nutmeg

fruit (like diced pineapple, mango, watermelon, kiwi, lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit; raspberries, blueberries, and diced strawberries)

herbs (like mint and basil)

sparkling water

crushed ice

vodka, gin, rum, and tequila

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring each set of syrup ingredients to boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat; cover and let steep 1 hour. Strain syrup into small pitcher; discard solids in strainer. Cover and refrigerate syrup until cold, about 3 hours. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 week ahead. Keep chilled.

  2. The Set Up

    Step 2

    In bowls, put out diced pineapple, mango, watermelon, kiwi, lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit; raspberries, blueberries, and diced strawberries; mint and basil. Arrange spiced syrups (Citrus Spice Syrup, Ginger Spice Syrup), sparkling water, crushed ice, measuring spoons, muddlers, vodka, gin, rum, and tequila on the table.

  3. The Technique

    Step 3

    Place 2 tablespoons diced fruit, 1 tablespoon citrus fruit, and some herb leaves in a glass.

    Step 4

    Crust with a spoon or muddler.

    Step 5

    Add 2 tablespoons syrup, or to taste.

    Step 6

    Fill glass with crushed ice.

    Step 7

    Mix in spirits.

    Step 8

    Top with sparkling water or club soda.

  4. The Best Combos

    Step 9

    Pineapple, lemon, mint, citrus syrup, vodka

    Step 10

    Mango, lime, ginger syrup, gin

    Step 11

    Watermelon, orange, rum

    Step 12

    Kiwi, grapefruit, tequila

Explore Bon AppétitCocktailGingerOrangeCitrusFruitCinnamonDrinks