Cheers to the 60th Annual Grammy Awards — literally. Whether you’re hosting a viewing party or relaxing on the couch, we’ve got the cocktails ready for you to mix up in celebration. No matter what surprises the show has in store, you’ll be prepared with delicious libations that will really make the evening sing. Tonight’s beverages honor the nominees, make appearances at their parties, and — in some cases — are even collaborations with them.
So raise a glass and get ready to dance!
The Sidecar — Cointreau
Start your night out right with a classic. The Sidecar has been beloved by the stars of stage and screen since the 1920s, and as such, it’s a perfect addition to your bartending repertoire. A simple but sophisticated cocktail served up, it requires only three ingredients to make, and they’re three ingredients that should be staples in your home bar.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 oz Cointreau
- 1 1/2 oz Rémy Martin VSOP cognac
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Wet rim with lemon and press into sugar. Shake vigorously with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
The Stroke of Midnight — Cointreau
Magic happens at the stroke of midnight, and this drink is exactly that; a pretty-in-pink potion that will have your guests feeling fine. Rosy-hued and glittering, it’s a lovely riff on the champagne cocktail. Be certain to use a high quality grenadine in this recipe (one without high fructose corn syrup), allowing all of the ingredients to really shine. BG Reynolds Lush Grenadine and Small Hand Foods Grenadine are two excellent options.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Cointreau
- 1/4 oz grenadine
- 4 oz. Champagne
Directions:
Pour Cointreau and grenadine into a champagne flute and top with champagne. Garnish with an orange twist.
Spiced Cointreau Royale — Cointreau
Toasting to music royalty is done right with a refreshing cocktail of bitters, champagne, and classic orange liqueur. For the bitters, you can’t go wrong with Angostura or Peychaud’s.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Cointreau
- 6 drops of aromatic bitters
- 3-4 oz champagne
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a flute. Top with champagne. Garnish with orange twist.
Absolut Limelight — Absolut Vodka
Meet the signature GRAMMY Awards cocktail, the Absolut Limelight. Your viewing party will have you drinking like the stars, with this bright and bubbly beverage. Worried about missing the action? Don’t be! This cocktail is simple to prepare at home, and won’t have you stuck behind the bar all night.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Absolut Lime
- 2 oz soda
- 2 oz ginger ale
- 1/2 oz fresh lime
Directions:
Build in a highball over ice. Garnish with lime stirrer skewered with accordion cucumber.
Rita Blossom — by Rita Ora with Absolut Vodka
Looking to take your cocktail game to the next level? Try this collaboration between Absolut and Rita Ora, featuring Absolut Lime, elderflower liqueur, and green apple foam. Then check out their other collaboration: The Absolut Open Mic Project.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz Absolut Lime
- 3/4 oz elderflower liqueur
- 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 oz soda
- 3-5 mint leaves
- Green apple foam
- Cucumber garnish
Green Apple Foam Ingredients:
- 4 oz green apple juice
- .1% ascorbic acid
- 1 egg white
Directions:
Lightly muddle mint in a shaker tin with vodka, lime, and elderflower liqueur. Shake, fine strain over ice in a highbal. Add soda and stir. Top up with green apple foam. Garnish with cucumber wheel.
Green Apple Foam Directions:
Juice green apples. Add .1% ascorbic acid to the juice to set the color. In an ISI whipper combine egg white with 4oz green apple juice. Charge with nitrous, dispense.
The Bodak Yellow “Candi” B — by Derrick Turner for 1800 Tequila
Inspired by Cardi B’s Best Rap Performance nod, this tequila cocktail may be sweet but it’s got a bite as well! After the awards, music fans and luminaries alike will be hitting up the Grammys after-parties and ordering this specially crafted beverage. Beat them to the punch and serve them during your viewing party!
Ingredients:
- 2 oz 1800 Reposado
- 1/4 oz Italian amaro
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz agave syrup
- 3 slices of ginger root
- Top with soda
- Garnish with skewered candied ginger
Directions:
Muddle ginger root in a shaker. Add remaining ingredients and ice, and shake hard for 10 seconds.
Add roughly 1 oz of soda to the shaker. Double strain into a Collins glass.
The Big Bounce Back — by Derrick Turner for 1800 Tequila
A tribute to Big Sean in cocktail-form, silver tequila, citrus, and syrup play nicely together, and get a real kick from dragonfruit.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz 1800 Silver
- 1/2 oz grapefruit juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1/2 oz agave syrup
- 1/2 oz dragonfruit juice
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker and add ice. Shake hard for 10 seconds. Double strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a grapefruit twist.
Magic of the Year — by Derrick Turner for 1800 Tequila
Move over coconut rum, and make way for a tropical cousin in coconut tequila. 1800 Coconut is working its own kind of magic in this golden cocktail served up in honor of Bruno Mars.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz 1800 Coconut
- 3/4 oz Agavero Orange Liqueur
- 3/4 oz lemon juice
- 3/4 oz pear juice
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake hard for 10 seconds. Double strain into a coupe glass and garnish with three pear slices.
