Bluebirds are a symbol of happiness all around the world, and who couldn't do with a little more joy? But when it's the dead of winter, and there aren't any bluebirds to be found, don't worry. You can make your own happiness in glass with our delish boozy bluebird cocktail.
How to Make a Bluebird Cocktail
A little sweet, a little tart, and a lot of blue. That's what makes a bluebird cocktail. Here's how to make your own joy in a glass.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- ¾ ounce blue curaçao
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1-2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, blue curaçao, lemon juice, and bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lemon ribbon.
Bluebird Cocktail Variations and Substitutions
Play around with available ingredients or experiment with different styles of gin to customize your bluebird cocktail perfectly.
- Skip the herbaceous and pungent bitters in favor of orgeat for a sweeter almond flavoring.
- Explore different styles of gin, such as Old Tom, Plymouth, London dry, or genever, to see which profile you like best in your bluebird cocktail.
- Decrease the amount of blue curaçao to cut down on the sweetness, or add an extra splash of lemon juice to give a little more tart flavoring.
- If you want to keep the bitters but are looking for a different flavor, try cherry, lemon, or peach bitters.
Garnishes for the Bluebird
Get crafty with your cocktail garnish, or keep it simple using any of these options.
- A lemon peel, twist, or coin also makes for an excellent lemon garnish.
- Highlight the orange flavors by using an orange wheel or slice. Likewise, you can use an orange ribbon, peel, or twist.
- Carefully cut a wing design into a large citrus peel.
- Give your drink a little more color by dropping in a cocktail or maraschino cherry.
Take Flight With a Bluebird Cocktail
Take to the skies with a botanical bluebird cocktail. For gin drinkers and those new to gin alike, this cocktail offers a complex drink that's both sweet and tart with an incredible balance. Spread your wings and enjoy this cocktail and other blue curacao drinks.
