Skip to main content

Pancake cocktails are a thing now, apparently

Preparing baked crepes pancakes with ham and tomatoes
Getty Images

Today is worth celebrating for several reasons — not only is it Mardi Gras, but it’s also Pancake Day. To my mind it’s frankly tragic that the tradition of Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday isn’t better known outside of Britain, as I think everyone deserves a day to enjoy this beloved dessert.

There’s a new trend hitting the British cocktail scene too, and it involves turning the iconic flavors of pancakes with lemon and sugar into a cocktail. Madness? Perhaps, but delicious all the same. Mixologist Patrick Pistolesi from NIO Cocktails has created two drinks to celebrate this auspicious day, so get the frying pan heated and the batter ready, because it’s pancake time.

Recommended Videos

Lemon & Sugar Pancake Cocktail

Lemon Sugar Pancake Cocktail
NIO Cocktails

“I’ve created a cocktail that captures the classic flavour of lemon and sugar pancakes. It’s a bright, zingy drink that’s perfect with fluffy pancakes or on its own to unwind midweek,” Pistolesi said. “First, you want to make the honey syrup. Just mix equal parts honey and warm water. About two tablespoons for one glass. Then, stir until it’s dissolved. Next, rim a cocktail glass with sugar by rubbing the edge with lemon juice and dipping it into the sugar.

“Fill a shaker with ice and pour 50ml of gin, juice from half a lemon, all of the honey syrup you’ve just made, a teaspoon of vanilla syrup and a splash of sparkling water. Shake well and double strain into the glass. Finish it with a lemon slice, and enjoy with a freshly made pancake!”

Maple Pancake Gimlet

Maple Pancake Gimlet
NIO Cocktails

“Making the perfect Maple Pancake Gimlet this Shrove Tuesday is actually easier than it sounds,” Pistolesi said. “Simply begin by pouring 50ml gin, 20ml fresh lime juice, and 15ml of maple syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake.

“For those with a sweet tooth, add 5ml vanilla syrup (or more to taste), for that extra ‘pancake’ sweetness. Strain the cocktail into a coupe glass and finish with a dash of orange bitters or candied peel.”

Georgina Torbet
Georgina Torbet is a cocktail enthusiast based in Berlin, with an ever-growing gin collection and a love for trying out new…
Death & Co.’s Naked and Famous is the cocktail you’ll crave all summer
How to make a modern classic
Naked and Famous cocktail.

What makes the grade as a best summer cocktail contender? We have a few favorites, sure, but to predict this summer's runaway drink, we asked the pros at Death & Co. Unsurprisingly, they offered a tantalizing recipe.

Meet the Naked and Famous, a cocktail that's gone on to become a modern classic since it was first drawn up more than a dozen years ago. It pulls on all the right strings, from agave spirits to spritz culture and the traditionalism of Chartreuse. It's going to be your go-to this summer.

Read more
These strawberry cocktails will be your go-to drinks all summer
Sweet, creamy, and perfect for any summer day
Strawberry cream margarita

As we head into the season of long, hot summer days, it's never a bad idea to have a go-to summer, fruity cocktail that you can whip up in under five minutes. While there's nothing wrong with the classic summer cocktails that have never failed us, like a frozen margarita, strawberry cocktails are a new trend you won't want to miss. These three strawberry cocktails, which utilize Mozart's strawberry chocolate liqueur, require minimal skill and time to prepare, yet deliver bar-worthy flavor.
Once you try one of these fun strawberry cocktails, you'll be hooked all summer long. From a light strawberry cream margarita to a strawberry cold foam iced coffee dessert cocktail, here's how to make three strawberry cocktails, perfect for warm-weather entertaining.

Strawberry cream margarita
 

Read more
Excelsa coffee is hard to find—but it might be the next big thing
Why Excelsa coffee could be the future of sustainable brewing
Excelsa Coffee

Coffee beans come in four main types: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. Yet most of us have only tried Arabica or Robusta coffee beans, which make up the majority of coffee beans available on the commercial market. Excelsa coffee offers a unique flavor experience for coffee drinkers, yet it makes up only a minuscule portion of the world's coffee production. What makes Excelsa coffee so different than other types of coffee beans, and why isn't it consumed more often? In this guide, we'll explore everything you've wondered about Excelsa coffee, from what it is to why it's challenging to cultivate.

What is Excelsa coffee?

Read more