How to use spices to create cocktails? Our 7 ideas

Have you ever added spices to your cocktail recipes? Spices are ideal for spicing up your cooking, from starters to desserts, from breakfast to dinner, but they can also be used to create original cocktails, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. For New Year’s Eve, or a simple aperitif with friends, dare to prepare spicy cocktails for a memorable evening.

How to spice cocktails?

The idea of adding spices to your cocktails may seem a little tricky, but don’t panic, we’ve got the solution. Spices aren’t just for cooking; they also have their place in the world of mixology, the art of creating cocktails. Whether it’s to add an exotic note, a subtle aroma or a touch of heat, spices offer a multitude of possibilities for enhancing your favourite drinks. Here are a few well-known examples:

• Cinnamon: This warm, aromatic spice is often used to add depth and complexity to cocktails. A famous example is the “Hot Toddy”, a warm cocktail made with whisky, honey, lemon and hot water, topped with a pinch of cinnamon.

• Star anise: With its distinctive aniseed flavour, star anise is a popular addition to cocktails. The ‘Sazerac’, a classic cocktail made with whisky, absinthe, sugar and aromatic bitters, is often garnished with a star anise to add a touch of aroma and flavour.

• Cardamom: This aromatic, slightly sweet spice adds an intriguing dimension to cocktails. One example is the “Cardamom Gin Fizz”, a refreshing cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, cardamom syrup, egg white and sparkling water, garnished with cardamom seeds to accentuate its flavour.

If you’d like to create more original cocktails and spice combinations, here are a few ideas that will surprise you:

Pair with cardamom and Bellini:

Have you heard of Cambodian cardamom? This rare variety, endemic to the Cardamom mountain region, is in fact a wild spice, harvested during the rainy season. Wild Cardamom and its cousin, Forest Cardamom, are then cold-smoked, giving them a smoky flavour that complements their camphor and menthol aromas.

Bellini is an iconic Venetian drink made with Prosecco (or champagne) and peach puree. Adding a touch of wild cardamom is sure to impress your most gourmet guests. To take them on a journey to South-East Asia, add a pinch of Wild Cardamom to the peach nectar. Pour the mixture into a flute and wait until the last moment to pour in the sparkling drink of your choice: prosecco, champagne, or even sparkling water for a non-alcoholic version.

Pair the Margarita with the Chillies:

At La Plantation, we grow a wide range of chillies, from the mildest: Cambodian paprika, to the hottest: Bird’s Eye chilli, and even a very rare variety: White chilli. Chillies are often used in simmered dishes, such as curries, but can also be used as a dessert, in chocolate mousse or meringues. And to continue the tasting experience, why not try it in a cocktail?

The Margarita: We’re big fans of this cocktail, straight from Mexico, where chilli culture dates back thousands of years. To make a spicy margarita, combine a shot of tequila with a shot of lemon juice and half a shot of cointreau. Add plenty of ice and sugar if necessary. Then prepare the glasses: soak the rims of your chosen glass in a little lemon juice, then in a spice mix, such as Smoked Blend, a subtle blend of Fleur de Sel and Kampot Pepper, with Smoked Paprika. If you’d like to try a spicier margarita, add a pinch of Red Bird Pepper, or a little Crushed Pepper Trio to finish off your cocktail – heat guaranteed!

Mulled wine and star anise:

Star anise, also known as Badiane, is a pretty spice characteristic of Asian cuisine. Its intense aniseed flavour immediately reminds us of the alcoholic drinks of the South of France, such as anisette or pastis. In Asia, however, it is used in cooking, both savoury and sweet, where it adds an authentic flavour.

Mulled wine is the essential hot winter cocktail, offering an explosion of spicy flavours. Prepare your own spiced mulled wine, following our recipe: it will seduce even the biggest mulled wine lovers, surprised by the aniseed flavours of star anise. You can find the full mulled wine recipe here.

Pair hot apple juice with the Chai blend:

Even the little ones can have their own spicy drink! Our Chai blend is very easy to use, with about one heaped teaspoon for every 4 cups of liquid of your choice, to be adjusted according to your taste. Made with cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric and ginger, it’s an ideal health ally for winter, boosting your metabolism and soothing your throat from the very first sip. It’s a soothing, comforting sensation that we love to enjoy with breakfast, as a ‘chai latte’, and works very well as a snack with apple juice.

Hot Apple Juice with Spices is a spicy cocktail that’s ideal for the little ones, and for those who want a non-alcoholic version of a winter drink. To make this spicy hot drink, add the Chai Mix and apple juice to a saucepan over a low heat for 15 minutes. A recipe to enjoy with all the family!

Now that you know all about creating spicy cocktails, don’t hesitate to add a touch of spice to your next cocktail recipe. As well as being good for the body, they add an exotic flavour that takes us on a journey, and a touch of surprise to everyday recipes. Whether it’s for a special occasion like New Year’s Eve, or simply to brighten up an ordinary evening, spiced cocktails are sure to delight the most discerning palates and leave a lasting impression. Chilli, star anise, cardamom or chai, let yourself be tempted by spicy cocktails!