8 Cocktails You Should Make While in Abu Dhabi

May 14 2024

Abu Dhabi has several well-known must-try local beverages. These include gahwa (Arabic coffee), sulaimani (mint and lemon tea), laban and jallab.

But aside from sampling these local beverages, give yourself a treat and indulge in some delightfully refreshing cocktails while you’re in Abu Dhabi.

Cocktails tantalize your taste buds, offering a symphony of flavors and a touch of sophistication. Whether you need to unwind, socialize, or savor life's moments, these special concoctions can elevate your experience.

It is also easy to create your own cocktails since you can get all the ingredients from the nearest supermarkets and convenience and liquor stores in Abu Dhabi. Because of this, you can indulge in these beverages anytime you want a refreshing, relaxing treat.

Best Cocktails to Make at Home

Below are some of the best cocktails worth adding to your drinking repertoire:

1. Watermelon Tequila Cocktail
If you want a refreshing fruity beverage that lets you blend juicy watermelons with tequila, it’s time to make this drink that’s both sweet and sour.
First, make the sugar syrup by following these steps:
● Warm up 1/4 cup of water over moderate heat.
● Add a cup of sugar once the water simmers.
● Mix for about a minute then turn the flame off.
● Leave the syrup to cool.

To make the cocktail:
● Puree a pound of seedless watermelon chunks in a blender.
● Strain the resulting liquid through a sieve.
● Combine the pureed mix with the sugar syrup.
● Add 1/4 cup of lime juice, 1 3/4 cup of blueberries, and 3/4 cup of fresh mint
leaves.
● Chill the drink in a refrigerator for two hours.
● Add sprigs to garnish your drinks.

2. The Salty Bird
The salty bird is a tropical-style beverage you’ll love sipping when enjoying Abu Dhabi’s
cool night air and beautiful evening skies.
To make this cocktail, you need the following:
● .75 ounce of Campari (an Italian alcoholic liqueur)
● 1.5 ounces of aged rum
● 1.5 ounces of fresh pineapple juice
● Half an ounce of fresh lime juice
● Half an ounce of simple syrup
Put all ingredients in a cocktail shaker then jiggle it well. Once done, pour the drink onto
a glass filled with ice and garnish the rim with salt and some dehydrated pineapples.

3. Frozen Grape Sangria

It’s always a good time to enjoy a sangria, so whip up a batch or two of this easy-to- make drink for yourself or to enjoy with your friends.
Follow these steps to create this drink:

● Place about 3/4 pound of seedless green grapes in your freezer for
approximately two hours.
● In a large pitcher, combine the following:
○ 3/4 pound of green grapes
○ 1 sliced green apple
○ 1 sliced lemon
○ 1/4 cup of fine sugar
○ 1 cup grape juice
○ 1/2 cup of vodka
○ 2 bottles of medium-bodied red wine
● Stir the mix until the sugar becomes dissolved.
● Refrigerate for about 20 minutes.
Pour the drink into a glass with the frozen grapes and ice. This recipe is good for six to eight servings.

4. Cranberry Basil Spritzer

Spice up your weekend with this tangy cranberry-basil cocktail. To create the spritzer, start by following the steps for making the sugar syrup mentioned earlier.

However, add 1/2 cup of basil leaves to the syrup in this recipe and cool for about 20 minutes. Afterward, strain the sugary concoction and let it cool again for another hour.

After an hour, transfer the syrup to a large pitcher and add the following ingredients:
● 2 cups of unsweetened cranberry juice
● 1/4 cup of fresh lime juice
● 1 liter of chilled club soda
● 1 cup of fresh cranberries

Mix the ingredients to balance the taste. Once done, serve the cocktail in glasses filled with ice. Add more club soda if needed and garnish with basil.

5. Strawberry Basil Bourbon Lemonade

A glass or two of this cocktail is sure to quench your thirst while you’re in Abu Dhabi, or anywhere warm. To whip up a batch of this fantastic drink:
● Puree a pound of strawberries with 1/4 cup of water.
● Transfer the puree to a pan and add 1 and 3/4 cups of water. Bring it to a boil
and simmer it for five to 10 minutes.
● Add 2 cups of sugar.
● Stir the mixture until the sugar is dissolved.
● Remove the pan from the fire and let the beverage cool for half an hour.
● Strain the mixture, then refrigerate it for an hour.
● Mix the strawberry syrup with a cup of bourbon, a cup of water, 1/2 cup of
lemon juice, and an ounce of bitters in a large pitcher.
● Stir for a minute then strain again.
● Pour the cocktail in a glass with ice then garnish it with a basil sprig.
This recipe is good for eight servings.

6. Pisco Sour

The pisco sour cocktail combines citrus flavors and the sweet and bitter taste of pisco brandy.
The ingredients for this drink include:
● 2 ounces of pisco brandy
● 1 ounce of simple syrup

● 3/4 ounce of lime juice or key lime juice
● 1 large egg white
● Ice
● 2 to 3 dashes of aromatic bitters, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, fresh ginger or
cloves
To make the cocktail, combine all the ingredients except the aromatic bitters in a
cocktail shaker. Shake it vigorously to blend the flavors.
Strain the cocktail in a glass and sprinkle the bitters on top to enjoy this drink.

7. Margarita
If you want a truly refreshing drink to sip while relaxing, you won’t go wrong with a classic margarita.
To make this all-time favorite cocktail, you need:
● Ice
● 2 ounces of tequila
● 1 ounce of lime juice
● 1 ounce of triple sec
● Lime slice
● Salt
Pour all ingredients except the salt and lime slice inside the cocktail shaker and shake it. You can also use a blender to combine them and make the drink.

Prepare the glass by adding salt and a lime slice to the rim and pour the beverage.

8. Irish Coffee

If you love coffee and want to spice up your cuppa joe, treat yourself to a glass or two
of Irish coffee. It is one of the easiest and tastiest cocktails you can whip up in minutes.
This Irish coffee cocktail requires the following ingredients:
● 1 ounce of Irish whiskey
● 3/4 ounces of simple syrup
● 3 1/4 ounces of brewed coffee
● Whipped cream for garnish
To make the drink:
● Pour the whiskey, coffee and syrup into a tall glass.
● Use a spoon to stir the ingredients together.
● Top off the cocktail with whipped cream and nutmeg or cinnamon.

You can also add ice to the concoction if you like iced coffee.

With these recipes and the right liquor from your favorite store in Abu Dhabi, you don’t need to spend a fortune at a bar to indulge in great cocktails and have a good time.

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