Leap Year Cocktails
After four years since the last one, we find ourselves in another leap year! Isn’t that exciting? Although we know when it happens, it’s still something fun to look forward to. And what better way to celebrate the life we are living right now than with cocktails that will make you leap and dance all throughout the night? Here are some recipes you could follow and create with the people you cherish, as another milestone event unfolds.
1. Leap Year Cocktail
First on the list, of course, is the namesake of the day we’re celebrating. Since the 1930s, this drink has been making our leap years much more fun!
Ingredients
● 2 ounces gin
● 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
● 1/2 ounce brandy-based orange liqueur
● 1/4 ounce lemon juice
● lemon twist, for garnish
Instructions
● Gather the ingredients.
● In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the gin, sweet vermouth, orange liqueur, and
lemon juice.
● Stir well.
● Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
● Garnish with a lemon twist. Serve and enjoy.
2. 29 Palms Punch
Feeling the heat already? As we enter the leap year, we're also embracing the heat. This cocktail packs a refreshing punch to keep you cool throughout the day!
Ingredients
● 1 1/2 oz light rum
● 1/2 oz dark rum
● 1 oz orange juice
● 1 oz pineapple juice
● 1/2 oz grenadine
● Splash of lime juice Instructions
● Shake all ingredients with ice.
● Strain into a tall glass filled with ice.
3. Solar Eclipse Margarita
While we're not anticipating a solar eclipse during the leap year, this cocktail symbolizes the extraordinary event that occurs every four years, much like the one we're experiencing now!
Ingredients
For the black moon ice ball:
● 2 cups pineapple juice
● 1/3 cups lime juice
● 30 drops black food coloring
or
● 20 drops each; red, blue, yellow coloring and 5 drops green food coloring
For the cocktail:
● 2 oz. tequila
● 1/2 oz. grand marnier
● 2 oz. fresh orange juice
● 1 black moon ice ball
Instructions
For the black moon ice ball:
● Mix your black ice water then, using the funnel, carefully pour into your ice ball molds.
● Freeze for 3 to 5 hours or overnight. For the cocktail:
● Add the tequila, Grand Marnier and orange juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
● Shake until well chilled then strain into the chilled glass.
● Add the Black Moon Ice Ball, garnish and serve.
4. Blue Frog Cocktail
Did you know that the frog symbolizes the leap year? Well, this delicious cocktail will make your taste buds leap for joy with its harmonious blend of flavors!
Ingredients
● 1 orange
● 1/2 oz blue curacao
● 1/2 oz gin
● 1/2 oz vodka
● 1/2 oz rum
● 1/2 oz tequila
● 1/2 oz triple sec
● Red bull
Instructions
● Fill a tall glass with ice and pour in vodka, rum, gin, and tequila.
● Add triple sec and blue curaçao.
● Top with the energy drink.
● Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
5. Jump High Gin Cocktail
With a cocktail that tastes this good, you'll surely find yourself on your feet and jumping this leap year! It’s a delightful way to celebrate the day.
Ingredients
● 1.5 oz. gin
● 0.5 oz. Elderflower liqueur
● 1.5 oz. apple juice
● Ginger ale
● Mint
Instructions
● Use a rocks glass, or bigger, to create this Jump High drink.
● In your shaker, add your gin, Elderflower liqueur, and apple juice.
● Give it a good shake, and transfer to your rocks glass, or Collins glass, already filled with
ice.
● Top with your ginger ale.
● Garnish with mint.