22 Bizarre Alcohol Combinations That Actually Taste Amazing
Why stick to the same boring blends of booze when you could go off-piste and discover something delicious in the most unexpected of combos? Here are a few of the top mash-ups to try if you are feeling adventurous.
1. Frangelico & Absolut Citron
This marriage between hazelnut and lemon flavours might not be the most obvious of alcohol combinations, but it works incredibly well and does a great job of emulating the flavour of a birthday cake.
2. Smirnoff Green Apple Vodka & Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew is gaining traction as a soft drink in the UK, so why not cement its status with the best alcohol mixed drinks by adding a shot or two of Smirnoff's own green apple-infused vodka? Its equal parts refreshing and sweet, with the flavours of each inclusion naturally complimenting the other.
3. Malibu & Cream Soda
The warming tropical tang of Malibu's signature white rum is commonly combined with Coke. However, if you want to push the boat out and pair it with a traditional soft drink, cream soda is an excellent choice.
4. Cider & Champagne
It might feel like sacrilege to try this but if you want to be amazed, add champagne to a good quality apple cider and you will see how well these to get on with one another. It's a little like a hardcore version of Bucks Fizz, with the fruitiness of the cider counteracting the dryness of the champagne.
5. Coca-Cola & Lager
Lager and lemonade is one of the all time classic alcohol combinations, so it makes sense that other soft drinks will work well with the nation's favourite beer variety. Coke can be poured into a lighter lager to create something that is sweeter and more tongue-tingling than a standalone pint, although be prepared to get weird looks if you ask for this at the pub.
6. Jagermeister & Ginger Beer
The herbal hit of this hugely popular liqueur might be overpowering in some alcohol combinations, yet because of this it makes a natural companion for good old fashioned ginger beer. The fiery varieties of ginger beer are obviously better able to hold their own against Jagermeister, so select your soft drinks accordingly.
7. Red Wine & Coca-Cola
Red wine is seen as a refined drink and it is not advisable to pour any mixers into a hugely expensive bottle of the stuff. However, if you have a cheap and cheerful Merlot to hand, you could spice it up by adding a good slug of Coke.
8. Malibu & Chocolate Milk
Whether you make your own chocolate milk using a powdered mix or buy it pre-made from the shop, you will be jazzed to hear that it works wonderfully well when Malibu is added to the mix. The chocolate and the coconut are brilliant bedfellows and it can be made chilled or warm, according to the season.
9. Tequila & Chamomile Tea
You might not normally consider tequila as your spirit of choice but give it a chance when poured into chamomile tea and you will be greeted with one of the great unsung alcohol combinations of our time.
10. Cinnamon Liqueur & Cider
When you hear about the best alcohol mixed drinks like this, such a combination will sound obvious. Cinnamon and apple go so well together in other dishes, so it makes sense that a cinnamon liqueur will establish a delicious partnership with our old friend apple cider.
11. Baileys & Hot Chocolate
Drinking Baileys liqueur over ice is a popular choice for many drinks fans and it is also a key ingredient in Irish coffee. However, if you have a sweet tooth then it can be the icing on the cake of a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter's evening.
12. Red Wine & Sprite
Continuing the theme of teaming red wine with a sweet soft drink, this unlikely duo includes the lemon and lime stylings of Sprite for good measure. If you are looking to limit the calories of each glass, switch to Sprite Zero.
13. Fireball Whisky Liqueur & Ice Tea
Fireball is a world renowned whisky liqueur which has the overriding flavour of cinnamon, so it makes a regular appearance in combination with a multitude of mixers. Adding it to an ice tea, preferably one which has been flavoured with peach, will set your taste buds into overdrive, in a good way.
14. Fireball Whisky Liqueur & Ice Cream
The second in our brief series of outlandish yet excellent alcohol combinations involving Fireball, this time you have the option of adding a shot as a topping for the ice cream of your choice. It works well with vanilla, for obvious reasons. It can also be devilishly good in partnership with chocolate ice cream.
15. Fireball Whisky Liqueur & Dr Pepper
The third and final entry in our best alcohol mixed drinks to feature Fireball, many fans of this liqueur recommend that it is added to Dr Pepper. Of course Dr Pepper is a soft drink that divides audiences in the first place, so this is a combination that could prove challenging to some people but will still be worth trying.
16. Vodka & Grapefruit Pop
Whichever vodka you prefer, giving it ago with a fizzy grapefruit-flavoured soft drink will unlock new levels of enjoyment. Even the simple act of avoiding standard vodka mixers will surely put a smile on your face with your first sip.
17. Cider & Smirnoff Caramel Vodka
Returning to the festive alcohol combinations theme, this drink lets you lift the taste of apple cider with the hard note of vodka and the sweet softness of caramel. It is also an excuse to use up some of the more obscure liqueurs you might have collected over the years.
18. Absolut Vodka & Gatorade
The energy-infusing properties of Gatorade make it the drink of choice for many athletes and active people, which means that it is not an obvious mixer for spirits. Thankfully it pairs perfectly with Absolut's perfectly pure flagship vodka, adding a bit of colour and excitement to proceedings.
19. Red Wine Float
If you are intrigued by the idea of adding Coke to a glass of red wine that we mentioned earlier, why not take this one step further by topping it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and conjuring up an adult version of the classic Coke float?
20. Malibu & Sprite
Another of the best alcohol mixed drinks which pays testament to the versatility of white rum, this pairing sees the addition of Sprite allowing for a bit more of its tropical potential to be unleashed. Whichever way you choose to use Malibu, remember that it is the fizziness of the mixer which often gives it that extra special boost.
21. Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka & Pineapple Juice
Vanilla vodka liqueur might seem like it lends itself to a simpler pairing, yet with the sharp acidity of pineapple juice it is actually a top combination for the smoothness and subtlety that it brings to the table. Add a shot of grenadine syrup if you are feeling especially adventurous.
22. Fireball Whisky Liqueur & Cream Soda
Bringing back Fireball for one last hurrah, it is worth noting that this liqueur's cinnamon sumptuousness is accentuated further when cream soda is mixed in and enjoyed over a healthy handful of ice cubes. What more could you want from wild alcohol combinations?
So there you have it; a whistle-stop tour of the best alcohol mixed drinks that you might not have thought to put together yourself, or might have shied away from without a little bit of prompting. We are not saying that these alcohol combinations will be for everyone, but there should be something in the list that gets you interested and unless you try them out, you will never know whether or not you are missing out on an amazing taste experience. Get a few spirits and mixers together, let your imagination take over and see what crazy combos you can concoct yourself!