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This summer, hosting just got easier. Woolworths’ new mixology range is designed for effortless entertaining, featuring cordials and concentrates inspired by your favourite cocktails, including the negroni, peach paloma and espresso martini. Whether you’re shaking, stirring or simply pouring over ice, these mixers make it easy to create bar-worthy drinks at home.

They contain no added preservatives or non-nutritive sweeteners and are deliciously versatile: top with soda for a refreshing spritz, or spike with your favourite spirit for a signature serve. And if you’re new to mixing drinks, consider this your cheat sheet to cocktail styles and how to use the new mixology range to master each one.

Martini

A martini is a crisp, spirit-forward cocktail traditionally made with gin and vermouth and served chilled in a stemmed glass. The key to a proper martini is chilling the glass first, and coating it lightly with vermouth before adding your spirit – this adds subtle aromatics without overpowering the drink. Martinis can be stirred or shaken, depending on the texture you want: stirred keeps it silky and clear, shaken makes it light and frothy with a slightly more diluted balance.

Try it with: espresso martini mocktail concentrate. This concentrate provides the rich coffee flavour, balanced with the syrupy sweetness needed to make an espresso martini-style drink. Add vodka or gin, or a splash of vermouth if you prefer. Shake or stir over ice, and garnish with coffee beans.

Gin espresso martini recipe

Highball

Highballs are all about letting your spirit shine. Basically, a tall glass of your favourite booze topped with a lighter mixer over ice.

Try it with: lime-and-lemongrass cordial. The crisp citrus-forward cordial pairs perfectly with gin or vodka, topped with soda or tonic water for an easy drink. It’s a blank canvas; add different herbs, fruit, or sparkling water to create different highball-style drinks.

Spritz

A spritz is a light, refreshing cocktail usually built with a bitter aperitif, soda water, and sometimes a splash of wine. Its defining feature is effervescence – the bubbles carry the flavour, making it a low-alcohol, easy-to-sip drink that’s perfect for warm weather.

Try it with: peach paloma mocktail concentrate. This concentrate brings the citrusy, slightly bitter, fruity backbone that makes a spritz so appealing. Top with soda or sparkling wine for the classic fizz, and garnish with a slice of fresh peach or grapefruit.

Get peach paloma spritz recipe

Negroni

A Negroni is a bitter-sweet cocktail made of equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and bitter liqueur such as Campari. It's stirred, not shaken, over a large ice cube.

Try it with: negroni mocktail concentrate. This base replicates the classic bittersweet flavour profile, ready to spike with gin or vodka for a low-effort Negroni. It’s perfect for experimenting with twists on the classic: try cherry or citrus garnishes, or even a splash of soda water to lighten it.

Tiki

Tiki drinks are tropical, colourful, and a little over the top in the best way. Multiple rums, fruit juices and syrups are combined to create the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and sometimes smoky, served over crushed ice.

Try it with: passion fruit and yuzu mocktail cordial. This vibrant, tart cordial gives you the tropical punch that forms the foundation of a tiki drink. Mix with rum or mezcal for a smoky twist, and add a touch of fresh lime juice to brighten it.

smoky mezcal passionfruit-yuzu tiki recipe

Flip

Flips are rich, creamy cocktails that include a spirit, sugar and a whole egg, shaken or stirred to create a silky, frothy texture. Traditionally served in a coupe, flips can be sweet, spiced, or citrusy depending on the base.

Try it with: cola and vanilla mocktail cordial. This flavour works beautifully with rum or bourbon for a smooth, rounded flip, adding subtle caramel and vanilla notes. Shake vigorously to emulsify the egg and create that characteristic frothy crown.

Sour

A sour is defined by a spirit, citrus and a sweetener, usually shaken over ice to create a balanced drink that’s both tart and smooth. The classic Amaretto or whisky sour is a good template: the key is balancing the alcohol and citrus with just enough sweetness.

Try it with: ClemenGold® mocktail concentrate. Its bright, zesty citrus notes make it an ideal starting point for a sour. Combine with Amaretto or whisky, shake over ice and garnish with a twist of orange or a cherry. This concentrate provides the citrus lift without being overpowering, making it easy to tweak with other spirits.

Get ClemenGold®️ Amaretto sour recipe

These concentrates and cordials are basically ready-made bases, so once you understand the structure of each cocktail, you can swap flavours, add spirits, or experiment with soda water to make endless variations.

Photography and videography: Sadiqah Assur-Ismail
Production and recipes: Bianca Jones

more cocktail recipes

Whether you’re shaking, stirring or topping with soda, Woolworths' mixology range is your shortcut to bar-quality drinks at home. Learn the basics, then start experimenting – the range is made to mix and match, so you can discover your perfect pour every time.

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