Raise your Spirits with Angostura this International Cocktail Day

World Cocktail Day conveniently falls on a Saturday (13^th May) this year and to celebrate ANGOSTURA® proposes three ways to raise your cocktail party game at home.

It’s time to re-imagine the cocktail party.

While you could go all out throwing a spectacular themed party with roaring twenties Gatsby-esque sequins and glitter, or glamorous fifties film star formality, you really don’t have to go to those lengths.

The right-now decade ushers in an era of casual (but meticulously crafted) cocktail parties infused with a dash of creativity: ideal for spontaneous get-togethers with friends.

The House of Angostura’s recent launch in South Africa of ANGOSTURA® orange bitters and ANGOSTURA® cocoa bitters (joining their original and indispensable ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters), provides the perfect way to celebrate World Cocktail Day on the 13^th of May. Experiment, stir, shake and sip, and expand your cocktail horizons… to the power of three.

Here are a few suggestions of how to spice things up with the House of Angostura’s three very individual bitters at your next gathering:

Mix up your Martinis

You don’t need to start out with a fully equipped home bar to host a cocktail party. Pick one spirit as your base and make the mixers do the work – start with riffing on your favourite Martini. With the House of Angostura’s two new bitters flavours (as well as the original ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters) you have all the inspiration you need to start playing. ANGOSTURA® orange bitters adds an irresistible allure to the Classic Martini. A Pink Gin Martini is simplicity and elegance itself with six generous dashes of ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters. And if the Espresso Martini is your go to, see how a few dashes of ANGOSTURA® cocoa bitters adds another layer of swoon-worthy complexity.

Collaborative cocktails

Put a cocktail-savvy new touch on the budget-friendly bring-a-bottle party. Each guest (or pair of guests) nominates a cocktail (keep it simple or go wild) and brings the main ingredients. Challenge each other to add a new twist to your signature cocktails by experimenting with the three ANGOSTURA® bitters flavours as you take turns shaking and stirring through the evening.

Sugar for my honey

Prep your party palette by getting all your mixers in a row: make up a batch of simple sugar syrup; gather a bowl of lemons, oranges and limes; stock up on tonic water, soda water, ginger beer, lemonade, and of course all three ANGOSTURA® bitters. Don’t forget an abundant supply of ice (top tip: make ice with filtered or bottled water unless your tap water is mountain spring pure). Then kick back, raise your spirits and play with an infinite variety of creative cocktail recipes. And don’t forget to mix up a jug or two of everyone’s ultimate refreshment, the Angostura Rock Shandy, to quench thirsts in between cocktails and keep those designated drivers happy.

Causing a stir in the kitchen

In the Caribbean, ANGOSTURA® bitters are just as an essential seasoning in the kitchen as in the bar. Add a dash or two of ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters to a marinade for steak or chicken and have some fun devising food and cocktail pairings that really sing. When it comes to dessert, ANGOSTURA® cocoa bitters and ice cream are a marriage made in heaven; and ANGOSTURA® orange bitters brings an intriguing new depth of flavour to chocolate desserts.

So, gather a few cocktail-minded friends and bring a spicy new dimension to your World Cocktail Day (and beyond) Saturday nights.

For more information on the Angostura range and delicious food and cocktail recipes please visit www.angosturabitters.com.