Refresh yourself with the Sensation Cocktail recipe! Blend Gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, simple syrup and fresh mint for an ideal springtime drink.
Prep time: 1 minute minute
Mixing time: 1 minute minute
- 2 oz Gin
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz maraschino liqueur
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 8-12 mint leaves
- Ice cubes
- Maraschino cherry - for garnish
Cocktail Shaker
Measuring Jigger
Cocktail Strainer
Fine strainer
Coupe or Martini Glass
Prep Glass: Fill a Martini or Coupe glass with ice. Give it a quick stir and set it aside.
Add Mint: Drop 8 to 12 fresh mint leaves into the shaker.
Add Simple Syrup & Maraschino Liqueur: Pour ½ oz simple syrup and ½ oz maraschino liqueur into the shaker.
Add Lemon Juice: Add 1 oz fresh lemon juice.
Add Gin: Measure and pour 2 oz Gin into the shaker as well.
Shake Well: Fill the shaker with ice, close it and give it a good shake (10-15 seconds).
Strain: Take the Coupe or Martini glass and discard the ice inside. Then, using both the cocktail strainer and the fine strainer, strain the shaken drink into the chilled glass.
Garnish: Garnish with maraschino cherry and serve immediately.
Substitutes:
- Gin: If you don't have Gin, try using vodka for a cleaner taste. I've also used white rum in a pinch, which adds a different but pleasant flavor profile.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best, but bottled lemon juice works if you're in a hurry. Lime juice can also be an interesting twist.
- Maraschino Liqueur: If you can't find it, cherry brandy or a cherry-flavored syrup can work as substitutes, though they will alter the flavor slightly.
- Simple syrup: Honey or agave syrup can replace it if you prefer a natural sweetener.
Making a Pitcher of Sensation Cocktail:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 64-96 mint leaves, 16 oz of Gin, 8 oz of lemon juice, and 4 oz of maraschino liqueur and simple syrup.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the mint leaves, Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and maraschino liqueur with ice. Stir well.
- Serve: Strain the mixture into chilled coupe glasses, garnish with cherries, and serve immediately.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Gin Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic gin substitute; these are available and reasonably mimic Gin's botanicals.
- Maraschino Liqueur Substitute: Opt for cherry-flavored syrup or a non-alcoholic cherry cordial.
- Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.