Author: Matthew Arkin

Famed New York publican Danny McDonald owns and runs some of Manhattan’s most popular and successful bars. While throwing back pints of Guinness with him at his bar, Swift Hibernian Lounge, we heard him ask his lead bartender to try an experimental cocktail with Batch 22. He asked for a Collins glass with ice and two simple ingredients: Batch 22 and fresh-pressed green apple juice. When he ran the idea past us, we were skeptical, but when we tasted it, we were floored. This simple combination turns out to be one of the best aquavit cocktails we’ve ever had. Hats off to our friend Danny for this one.

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Batch 22
• 4-6 oz. Fresh-pressed green apple juice (a macerating juicer works best)

In a Collins glass with ice, combine Batch 22 and apple juice. Stir to chill.

Garnish with an apple peel twist. 

Nordic 75

The French 75 is a classic gin drink that’s been a cocktail staple for decades. It combines the elegance of champagne (or sparkling wine) with the crispness of gin and the sourness of lemon to create a truly light and delicious sipper. Our version of this classic substitutes aquavit for the gin and adds a special herbal note by using a bit of sage-infused simple syrup. 

Ingredients

2 oz. Batch 22

1 oz. Lemon

1 oz. Sage agave simple syrup 

Sparkling wine for finishing

Combine ingredients (except sparkling wine) in a shaker with ice. Shake well to chill. Strain into a chilled flute and top with sparkling wine of your choice. Garnish with a lemon twist. 

When we met the Los Angeles rep for San Pellegrino in a Studio City bar, we became fast friends (Amica means “friend” in Italian). And what do friends in the beverage industry do best? They collaborate! Here’s a great cocktail that showcases the luscious flavors of San Pellegrino’s Arancia Rosso (Blood Orange soda). 

In a rocks glass mix

• 2 oz. Batch
• 1 oz. Amaro
• 4 oz. San Pellegrino Arancia Rosso
• 3 dashes orange bitters

Add ice and stir to chill well. Garnish with an orange peel or orange section. 

This cocktail, inspired by a strawberry-infused drink called Mother’s Blush, pays homage to all the moms out there who love over-sharing information about their children to anyone who will listen. This trait, though well-meaning, is often most unbearable when the child (or children) are present and are being referred to in the third person. While this cocktail was created to honor the mother, a few of them in quick succession will work wonders for the children as well. 

• 1 oz. Batch 22
• 2 oz. Lillet Rose
• 1 oz. Sparkling wine
• 2 Fresh strawberries

In a tall glass, muddle the strawberries with the Batch 22. Add the Lillet and ice and mix. Top with sparkling wine, stir gently, and garnish with an orange twist.

We’ve spent the last couple of years telling people that we don’t like the traditional aquavit flavors of fennel and anise, but in some cases, those flavors are actually a positive addition for us. For coffee cocktails in particular, an anise component combines beautifully with the coffee and the aquavit base to create a wonderfully rich and luxurious dessert elixir.

Ingredients

In a shaker with ice combine:

• 2 oz. Batch 22
• .5 oz. Sambuca
• .75 oz. First Light Coffee Whiskey
• 1.5 oz. espresso, freshly brewed
• 3 dashes orange bitters
• 2 dashes chocolate bitters

Shake until well-chilled and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with coffee beans.

Here’s a great coffee cocktail that packs a punch and works as well after dinner as it does as an eye-opener in the morning. The cocktail was inspired by a recipe that originally used cognac, but we wanted it to be a bit less heavy, sweet, and boozy, so we used Batch 22 instead. Fantastico.

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz. Batch 22 
• 1/2 oz. Mario’s Hard Espresso
• 1/2 oz. Averna amaro
• 1/2 oz. Xila liqueur (like a spicy mezcal)
• 1/2 oz. cold-brew coffee*
• 2 dashes chocolate bitters
• Mint leaf for garnish

Add the Batch 22, Mario’s coffee liqueur, amaro, Xila liqueur, cold-brew coffee, and chocolate bitters into a shaker with ice and shake briefly to chill. Strain into a double rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with a large fresh mint leaf.

*Use your favorite bottled cold-brew coffee or make it yourself by soaking 140 grams ground coffee beans in a coffee filter with 32 oz. water for 12 hours. After steeping, remove the grounds from the coffee filter.

Most coffee cocktails incorporate cream or egg whites in some form. Very few combine coffee with soda, which creates an entirely different experience. This recipe is a wonderful and unique mélange of tropical notes, smoke, and herbaceousness that is simultaneously lux but refreshing. 

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Batch 22
• 1 oz. Drambuie
• 2 oz. Cold brew concentrate  
• 1 oz. Pineapple juice
• 1-2 dashes smoke bitters (start with 1, add more if desired)
• Club soda (to top)
• Garnish: 3 fresh basil leaves

Combine all the ingredients, except the club soda, in a shaker with ice and shake. Double-strain over fresh ice in a Collins glass, and top with club soda. Garnish with 3 fresh basil leaves.

This riff on the classic gin & tonic showcases perfectly just how much Batch 22 elevates a drink when subbed for vodka or gin. The addition of rosemary syrup and bitters, and the use of elderflower tonic, provides an extra-special alchemy of refreshing herbaceousness to this wonderful cocktail.

Instructions:Mix in a rocks glass with ice

• 2 oz. Batch 22 Classic Gold aquavit
• .25 oz. Rosemary syrup
• 2-3 Dashes Rosemary bitters
• Top with elderflower tonic
• Garnish with rosemary sprig

Serves: 1

Here’s another cocktail we created by marrying Batch 22 with our favorite local bourbon from Fierce & Kind. This one’s a riff on the recently developed classic Paper Plane, and it works beautifully with the addition of a dash of St. Germain or other elderflower liqueur.

Instruction

• In a shaker with ice combine:
  • 1.5 oz. Batch 22
  • 1 oz. Fierce & Kind straight bourbon
  • .5 oz. Amaro
  • .5 oz. Aperol
  • 1 oz. Lemon juice (fresh)
  • 1 tsp. St. Germain
• Shake vigorously and strain into a double rocks glass with one large cube. Garnish with lemon peel.

“Sex and the City” made the Cosmo famous, but Batch 22 makes it sexy! Why use tasteless vodka when you can add great aquavit flavor with Batch?

Instructions

• Shake over ice:
  • 2oz. Batch 22 Classic Gold aquavit
  • 1 oz. Pomegranate juice
  • .5 oz. Triple Sec
  • Splash Rose’s lime
• Strain into martini glass
• Garnish with orange or lemon wheel

Serves 1