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What happens when you start with the same cocktail and change just one ingredient?
The conversation around cocktails is changing. We’re becoming more curious about what makes a drink work, and increasingly confident about exploring those flavours at home.
So, what happens when you take one winter-inspired batch and change just one thing?
The result is three distinct expressions of the same drink, warm and spiced, bright and citrus-led, or rich and indulgent.
It’s less about finding the “right” one and more about discovering which flavour speaks to you. Better still, it gives guests something to taste, compare and talk about around the table.
The Base Batch
Makes 8–10 serves
- 500 ml good quality-aged or golden Rum
- 400 ml cloudy apple juice
- 200 ml fresh orange juice
- 100 ml fresh lemon juice
- 100 ml honey syrup
- 300 ml chilled soda water
- Orange and apple slices, to garnish
- Ice, to serve
Method: Combine the rum, apple juice, orange juice, lemon juice and honey syrup in a large jug. Stir well and chill. Divide evenly between three smaller jugs. Add 100 ml soda water to each just before serving.
Then let the bitters do the talking.
AROMATIC
Warm • Spiced • Complex
Add 4–5 dashes ANGOSTURA® Aromatic Bitters.
Garnish with an orange slice and fresh apple.
The flavour shift: The fruit and citrus become warmer and more aromatic, bringing a gently spiced depth to the batch.
ORANGE
Bright • Citrusy • Fresh
Add 4–5 dashes ANGOSTURA® Orange Bitters.
Garnish with an orange wheel and fresh orange zest.
The flavour shift: Citrus moves to the foreground, giving the drink a brighter, fresher expression.
03 COCOA
Rich • Deep • Indulgent
Add 4–5 dashes ANGOSTURA® Cocoa Bitters.
Garnish with orange peel and a little grated dark chocolate.
The flavour shift: The rum and fruit take on a richer, deeper character, showing how cocoa can transform the same foundation into something more indulgent.
Now Taste, Compare & Decide
Serve all three alongside one another and ask guests:
Which one would you make again?
There is no right answer. That’s the fun of it.
One batch. Three bitters. Three different expressions and a very easy way to turn making cocktails into part of the conversation.
For more cocktail recipes and seasonal inspiration, follow Angostura South Africa on Instagram @AngosturaZA or visit www.angosturabitters.com.