
Of all things that embody the sun-kissed tropics, the passion fruit may be the most evocative. It’s a wildly fragrant and flavorful fruit, one that can nudge you beneath some palm fronds upon first encounter.
It’s a great fruit to mix with as well. For the home bartender, passion fruit can be employed in many forms, from fresh-squeezed juice and purees to liqueurs (we suggest Chinola). The glowing orange color of the stuff gives off a sensation of warmth and the juicy flavors and bright acidity make it ideal for cocktails. Perhaps most critically, a good passion fruit cocktail brings the sun and fun when we need it most. Here are seven great recipes to try.
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Little Island Daiquiri
(By Kyle Jones, Bon Vivants, Bahamas)
A highly tropical affair, this daiquiri cocktail mixes orgeat with a specific Guatemalan dark rum hit with coconut water.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Coconut Cartel Special Rum
- 1 oz Passion Fruit Liqueur
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- .5 oz Giffard Orgeat
Method:
- In a shaker, combine all ingredients.
- Shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds.
- Strain over fresh ice and garnish with a lime wedge.
Atlantic Love
This crafty drink comes from NYC’s Atlantic Grill. It’s an elegant mix of citrus, stone fruit, whiskey, and passion fruit.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Michter’s Sour Mash Whiskey
- .5 oz St. Germain
- 1 oz passion fruit puree
- .5 oz lemon juice
- .5 oz simple syrup
- .5 oz sour cherry syrup
- 1 egg white
- liquor cherries and orange zest for garnish
Method:
- Add whiskey, lemon juice, passion fruit puree, St. Germain, simple syrup, cherry syrup, and egg white to the shaker, and dry shake it for 15-20 seconds.
- Add ice to the shaker and give it a quick shake.
- Pour over into a coupe glass, and garnish with liquor cherries and orange zest.
Fruta de Pasión
Tequila and passion fruit work excellently as a unit, especially when treated to some sweet vanilla and club soda for a little pop.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz 1800 Silver Tequila
- 3 oz club soda
- 1 oz passion fruit nectar
- .5 oz vanilla syrup
Method:
- Combine tequila, passion fruit nectar, and vanilla syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously.
- Strain over fresh ice into a Highball glass.
- Top with club soda and garnish with a lemon wheel and vanilla bean.
The Passion Project
(By Ignacio Murillo, A.O.C.)
This one is a little more complex but worth the effort, hitting fragrant passion fruit with even more aromas with the addition of gin.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Damrak Gin-infused passion fruit rind*
- 1 oz lemon juice
- .75 oz turmeric and cardamom syrup*
- .5 oz passion fruit juice
- orchid flower for garnish
Method:
- Combine all ingredients in tin and shake.
- Pour into a double Old Fashioned glass and garnish with an orchid flower.
*Gin-Infused Rind: Wash 6 passion fruits well with cold water then cut them in half. Scoop all the fruit seed juice in a container. In a different 4-quart container, place the passion fruit rinds, dump 1 bottle of gin, cover and set aside in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Strain it through a chinois and pour gin back into the gin bottle for use.
*Turmeric and Cardamom Syrup: Combine 4 cups of simple syrup, 4 ounces of freshly-peeled turmeric, and 15 pods of cardamom in blender. Blend for 1 minute and strain through a chinois, pushing the solids with the back of a ladle to extract as much flavor as possible. Discard the solids and pour the syrup into a labeled squeeze bottle. Refrigerate.
Almost Lost Lake
This cocktail is inspired by one of Lost Lake’s original cocktails, a formative drink that helped make the bar famous. The below recipe is swell but to stretch it out, you can also add a few ounces of soda water, preferably blood orange or grapefruit flavor.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz aged rum
- 1 oz passion fruit liqueur
- .25 oz Campari
- .75 oz fresh lime juice
- .5 oz mango puree
Method:
- Combine all ingredients in tin and shake.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass with a large cube of ice.
Tigre de Valle
A stunning mix of turmeric, pineapple, tequila, and passion fruit, this cocktail truly is a tiger among cats.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz blanco tequila
- 1 oz Chinola
- 1 oz pineapple juice
- .75 oz lime juice
- .5 oz turmeric honey syrup*
- 2 sage leaves
Method:
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing tin and shake well. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge and a sage leaf.
*Turmeric Honey Syrup: Juice 1/4 cup of fresh turmeric juice (about 1 cup of fresh whole turmeric). Combine with 3 cups of orange blossom or similar light honey and 1 cup of hot water. Stir until well combined and store refrigerated.
Life’s a Beach
A simple drink involving sweet passion fruit syrup and smooth, aged rum, this cocktail is laid back and wants you to be, too.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Bacardí Añejo Cuatro
- .75 oz Reál Passion Fruit-Infused Syrup
- 1.5 oz coconut water
- .75 oz lime juice
Method:
- Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously.
- Strain into a highball glass filled with cubed ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
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