Ten of the world’s craziest cocktails
By Annie HayesCocktails infused with amputated toes, colour-changing drinks and diamond garnishes – content agency Kaizen reveals 10 of the world’s weirdest concoctions.
Bubble Bath Martini, Lounge Bohemia, LondonWhether they have eye-catching garnishes or creative flavours, clever cocktails are integral to any successful bar – and as with any industry, there are always certain individuals who are adept at taking their imagination to the next level.
In 2016, where social media is a crucial part of word-of-mouth recommendations, the most outlandish creations will undoubtaly draw the most attention.
From England to Dubai, Australia to Canada, we present 10 of the most unusual cocktails on the planet, as selected by Kaizen.
How many can you tick off the list? Let us know in the comments below.
Click through the following pages to discover some of the world’s craziest cocktails.
Diamonds Are Forever – Skyview Bar, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Price: US$1,347
L’Heraud Grand Champagne Cognac, Luxor 24k Gold Flake Champagne, The Bitter Truth Jerry Thomas Bitters
Served in a Swarovski crystalline cocktail glass featuring diamonds guests can keep
Doug Laming’s Margarita – Rabbit Hole Bar, Sydney, Australia
Price: AUD$30
Cointreau, caviar, Tequila, syrup
Creator Doug Laming uses ‘caviar spherification’ to produce ‘pearls’ of alcohol that burst in the mouth
The Sourtoe – Sourtoe Cocktail Club, Downtown Hotel, Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
Price: AUD$500 if you swallow the toe; ¢2,500 if you swallow the original toe
1oz alcohol, 1 dehydrated toe
This can consist of any cocktail, with the addition of a preserved amputated toe. The sour toe legend dates back to the prohibition era, when a frostbitten bootlegger had to cut off his big toe to prevent gangrene whilst being pursued by the police. He and his brother preserved the toe in a jar of alcohol to commemorate the moment.
Deep Sea – Nightjar, London, England
Price: £10
Bols Genever, vermouth, ocean bitters, squid ink, absinthe, seaweed wrap
Cocktail includes seaweed and squid ink
The Gunpowder Plot – Zeta Bar, Sydney, Australia
Price: AUD$30
Gin infused with ‘gunpowder flavours’, haken with Fernet Branca, egg white
The cocktail is served in a smoking cloche filled with oak-scented fog and a sizzling stick of ‘dynamite’
Double Truffle Martini – Duo, New York, US
Price: US$10
Vodka, truffle juice, truffle oil, dry vermouth
Made with liquid truffles
Bubble Bath Martini – Lounge Bohemia, London, England
Price: £14
Lychee, poppy seed, lavender-flavoured liquid with “a touch” of rose air
Served in a Martini glass foaming with bubbles, complete with miniature rubber duck
Roberta – Alabama, US
Price: Varies
Gin, vodka, brandy, absinthe, blackberry liqueur
Rarely seen on menus, this drink was created by the daughter of a slave, named Roberta, who escaped prostitution to run a speakeasy. She would serve this to customers looking to drown their sorrows; considered by many to be the most alcoholic cocktail in the world, it only contains alcohol with no mixers
The Colour Changing One – The Alchemist, Leeds, England
Price: £7.75
Reyka Vodka, apple liqueur, apple juice
This drink is served in two separate glasses: one containing blue liquid; the other one, clear. Drinkers combine the two and watch as hidden ingredients cause the combined mixture to turn pink
Above And Beyond – The Alchemist, Leeds, England
Price: £17
Crème de banane, mandarin bitters, 30-year-old Pedro Ximénez Sherry, Guatemalan Zacapa Rum, Fernet Branca
When presented, the cocktail comes with a clear balloon that is then burst to release fruity, floral aromas and a bag of Guatemalan worry dolls