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The Blue Lagoon: the retro cocktail that's back in a big way this summer!
Jul 1, 2022
One of the major trends in the world of cocktails right now is the return of the retro drink!
Yes, those fabulously kitsch cocktails of the ‘70s and ‘80s, full of electric colours, sticky-sweet fruit garnishes and ‘fun’ umbrellas are back in a big way - but this time, the drinks world is taking them a little more seriously.
After all, underneath all the glitz and silly names were some truly fantastic cocktail recipes that are definitely worth revisiting - just perhaps minus the paper umbrella… (although who are we to judge?!).
One such cocktail is the Blue Lagoon!
Ever wondered exactly what is in a Blue Lagoon cocktail? Well, don’t be alarmed by the colour! The answer is simply a natural food dye that’s added to Curaçao, an orange liqueur similar to Triple Sec.
The good news is that it’s pretty easy to make a Blue Lagoon cocktail at home. The quantities in the recipe below are for one, but to make a pitcher to share among friends, simply multiply the quanitites and add to a big jug packed with ice.
Traditionally, the recipe doesn’t include gin, but we think it works beautifully with the added flavour a gin’s botanicals bring, along with the clean vodka kick, the citrus notes from the blue curacao. A squeeze of bright lime and a little sweetness from simple syrup turn this into a beautifully balanced, refreshing summer cocktail.
So, time to dive into the turquoise-blue liquid of this delicious summer drink! Now all you need is to dig out that ‘80s summer playlist…
Blue Lagoon
25ml dry gin
25ml vodka
50ml blue curaçao*
10 ml lime juice, freshly squeezed
10ml simple syrup (available on the Craft Gin Club shop)
Maraschino cherry and a wedge of pineapple or slice of orange, to garnish (optional)
In a blender, blitz all of the ingredients. Pour drink into a chilled glass with a large scoop of crushed ice and garnish with a wedge of pineapple, an orange twist or maraschino cherry. Serve!
*What is Curaçao?
Curaçao is an orange liqueur infused with the peel of the citrus fruit called the laraha, which is grown on the Dutch island of the same name. It has a very slightly bitter, slightly sweet flavour and is similar to other orange liqueurs such as Triple Sec or Cointreau. The blue colour comes from added dye and doesn’t (or shouldn’t) have any impact on the flavour!
