A Jasmine Cocktail has just a few ingredients and a wonderful fresh citrus taste. It's a beautiful color and perfect for sipping any time!
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Looking for a cocktail that isn't the same old same old? With fresh bursts of citrus? One that's pretty to look at and fun to drink? Enter the Jasmine Cocktail!
Replace your Cosmo with this light, refreshing, gin-based sipper! Created in the early 90s by bartender Paul Harrington, the Jasmine Cocktail was a spur of the moment concoction, named for a close friend who requested something new.
It's made with just a few simple ingredients that most home bartenders keep on hand, and freshly squeezed lemon juice puts the flavors over the top!
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A Jasmine Cocktail is light, refreshing, and made with just a few common ingredients!
- It's gin-based, so no heavy liquors weighing you down.
- Lemon juice makes a Jasmine Cocktail refreshing and bright!
- It's well-balanced between sweet and bitter flavors.
- Made with standard bar cart ingredients! You can use all of these components to make plenty of other cocktails.
- It's such a pretty color!
Ingredients you'll need
- Campari: This Italian red bitter liqueur adds bitter notes and citrus flavors, and contributes to the Jasmine's blushing pink color.
- Gin: I love a floral gin like Hendricks which will complement the citrus flavors of the cocktail.
- Sweet vermouth: Adds sweetness and smooths everything out.
- Orange liqueur: Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Triple Sec, whatever you have will work.
- Lemon juice and lemon twist: The burst of lemon juice is so refreshing! Adding the twist will reinforce the aroma to stir your senses.
Recommended tools and equipment
- Cocktail shaker: We love our Elevated Craft cocktail shaker. It includes a measuring cup inside the lid for ease of use.
- Small measuring cup: To portion out the cocktail ingredients.
- Coupe glasses: For serving.
How to make a Jasmine Cocktail
Step 1: Cut the twists and juice the lemon
Use a paring knife to cut a strip of lemon peel, being careful to avoid as much of the white pith as you can—it's bitter.
Juice the lemon and set it aside.
Step 2: Combine ingredients and shake!
Add a couple of ice cubes to a cocktail shaker, then pour in the lemon juice, gin, Campari, and orange liqueur.
Put the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously until chilled.
Step 3: Strain and serve
Strain your Jasmine Cocktail into a coupe glass and garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
Tips
- Cut the twist before you juice the lemon! You won't be able to cut a twist if the lemon has already been juiced.
- Keep your citrus at room temperature. Cold citrus does not give much juice at all! A room temperature lemon will give you a lot of juice and be easy to squeeze.
- Juice-based cocktails need to be shaken! Shaking will wake up the citrus flavor in your Jasmine Cocktail and give it some bubbly, liveliness. It will also dilute the drink a bit—which is exactly what you want—to allow the flavors to blend together better.
Jasmine Cocktail variations
- You can play around with different red bitter liqueurs in the Jasmine, swapping the Campari in the cocktail for St. George Bruto Americano, Galliano L'Aperitivo, or Luxardo Bitter.
- There are so many different brands of gin! You may find a boutique or local brand that you love, so try that.
- Sometimes a Jasmine cocktail is served without the twist, so if you don't feel like messing with it, no worries.
When to serve a Jasmine Cocktail
- Try a Jasmine cocktail to change things up from your same old Cosmopolitan order.
- It's perfect for Valentine's Day—just look at that beautiful pink color!
- The citrus makes it a great choice for a brunch cocktail.
- Everyone will love it at a bridal or baby shower!
More cocktail recipes with citrus
- A Bee's Knees Cocktail takes a very simple and delicious approach: gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup!
- Try a Blood Orange Negroni for a twist on the classic during citrus season when these gorgeous red-fleshed oranges are available.
Recipe
Jasmine Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce orange liqueur such as triple sec, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, etc.
- ¼ ounce Campari or other Italian red bitter liqueur
Instructions
- Use a paring knife to cut a strip of lemon peel, being careful to avoid as much of the white pith as you can—it's bitter. Juice the lemon and set it aside.
- Add a couple of ice cubes to a cocktail shaker, then pour in the lemon juice, gin, Campari, and orange liqueur. Put the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously until chilled.
- Strain your Jasmine Cocktail into a coupe glass and garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
Notes
- Cut the twist before you juice the lemon! You won't be able to cut a twist if the lemon has already been juiced.
- Keep your citrus at room temperature. Cold citrus does not give much juice at all! A room temperature lemon will give you a lot of juice and be easy to squeeze.
- Juice-based cocktails need to be shaken! Shaking will wake up the citrus flavor in your Jasmine Cocktail and give it some bubbly, liveliness. It will also dilute the drink a bit—which is exactly what you want—to allow the flavors to blend together better.
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