Sangria, margaritas, mojitos, oh my! Ballet Arizona’s company dancers are sharing some cocktail & mocktail recipes, inspired by their favorite ballets. Feeling inspired yourself? Make sure to comment below with your ballet drink.
Inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream’s mischievous and beloved sprite, Puck’s Mojito is the perfect summer drink with refreshing mint and lovely citrus flavor.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 cup club soda
- 1/2 of a lime, quarterd
- 10 mint leaves
- 1 oz white rum
- 1/2 oz blue curaçao
- 1/2 cup ice
Directions:
Muddle the brown sugar, mint leaves, and lime. Next, add the ice and pour remaining ingredients into the glass. Mix together, top it off with some edible flowers, an ode to Puck’s woodland life, and enjoy!
As one of their favorite ballets to perform together, Jillian Barrell and Nayon Iovino, give George Balanchine’s iconic Rubies a new twist! Their Ruby Red Sangria will keep you refreshed all summer long.
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle red wine
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1/2 cup triple sec
- 1/2 fresh squeezed orange juice
- 2 tbsp agave nectar (optional)
- Chopped Fruit (they used apples, blueberries and peaches from their tree)
- 2 cups sparkling water
Directions:
Add wine, brandy, triple sec, orange juice, and agave nectar to a large pitcher. Stir until combined. Add chopped fruit and stir again. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours. Add sparkling water before serving, if desired.
A European delight! Alberto Morales Perez’s Napoli cocktail is just as fresh and bright as Auguste Bournonville’s ballet but with a splash of gin.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz of Hendrick’s Gin
- 1.5 oz of Aperol
- 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
- 1/2 lemon
- 1.5 oz simple syrup
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, shake and do a little dance! Strain into martini glass. Flame a piece of orange peel over drink and use as garnish.
Inspired by the comedic ballet La Fille mal gardée, Eastlyn’s mocktail is looks like the sunrise as the curtain goes up on stage!
Ingredients:
- 4 oz orange juice
- 1/2 oz grenadine
- orange slice
Directions:
First, pour your orange juice over ice. Next, slowly pour grenadine over the juice. The grenadine will sink to the bottom and slowly rise to the top as you drink! Last garnish with an orange slice and enjoy.
Kate’s love for The Nutcracker’s Arabian Coffee from the Kingdom of Sweets turns into a delicious cocktail dessert!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups homemade hot chocolate or instant mix
- 1 oz Kahlúa
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Mini marshmellows
- Caramel sauce
Directions:
Get a big mug for your hot chocolate, add the Kahlúa, sprinkle in your cinnamon to taste and mix. Next, add some mini marshmallows and top it off with a generous drizzle of caramel sauce.
Inspired by George Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante, Alison’s grapefruit cocktail will help you cool down in this Arizona heat!
Ingredients:
- 3.5 oz fresh grapefruit juice
- 1/3 oz lemon juice
- 1/2 oz orange liqueur
- 2 oz vodka
- Grapefruit peel twist
Directions:
Add grapefruit juice, lemon juice, orange liqueur, and vodka to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake until your hands hurt! About 20 seconds, it’s worth it! Pour in a chilled glass and add a grapefruit twist like our costumes!
Inspired by George Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante, Alison’s grapefruit cocktail will help you cool down in this Arizona heat!
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey
- 1 oz triple sec
- 4 oz ginger ale
- Cinnamon sugar
- Lemon slice
Directions:
Pour whiskey, triple sec, and ginger ale over ice and mix. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top and garnish with a lemon slice.
Like the Canary Fairy, this drink is yellow, sweet, and great for summer! Enjoy it inside, outside, or while stretching!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups frozen mango
- 1 orange sliced
- 2.5 cups orange juice
- 1 bottle white wine
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 2 cups lemon flavored soda water
Directions:
Combine fresh-squeezed orange juice, white wine, soda water, and vodka in a big glass and stir. Then, add in the frozen mango and sliced oranges for a garnish! Enjoy!
The Odette, is every bit as luxurious as seeing Swan Lake on stage. This cocktail is as sweet as the princess herself!
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 1/2 oz white creme de cacao
- 1/2 oz half and half
- 1 white chocolate kiss
Directions:
Pour vodka, white creme de cacao, and half and half over ice and stir. Top it off with a white chocolate kiss and sip away!
The Odette, is every bit as luxurious as seeing Swan Lake on stage. This cocktail is as sweet as the princess herself!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup hot chocolate
- 1.5 oz crème de menthe
- Whipped cream
- Mint leaves
Directions:
Make a cup of homemade hot chocolate or instant mix, whatever you choose! Add the crème de menthe and stir. To finish add a dollop of whipped cream and mint leaves.
A cheers to all of our Cuban dancers at Ballet Arizona, Erick’s Cuba Libre is a classic that will not disappoint!
Ingredients:
- 2 oz dark rum
- 4 oz Coca-Cola
- 1 lime
Directions:
Squeeze lime juice into glass and muddle 1/2 of the lime. Add ice and pour in your rum. Top is with Coca-cola and do a quick stir.
Inspired by Flames of Paris, Adrian’s French Revolution is a refreshing combination of muddled lime, Domaine de Canton, Perrier and fresh mint
Ingredients:
- 1 lime
- 1 ¾ oz Domaine de Canton (French ginger liqueur)
- Perrier (well chilled)
- Fresh mint
Directions:
Cut the lime in half lengthwise, then cut each half into 3 wedges. In a rocks glass, muddle 3 wedges gently until juicy. Avoid over-muddling as this will create a bitter taste. Add Domaine de Canton and top with ice. Fill the remaining space in the glass with Perrier. Slap a sprig or two of mint to release the flavor and add to the glass. Stir gently and garnish with another sprig of mint. Enjoy!
The costumes from Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15 were the inspiration for Sasha’s delicious citrus spritzer and just like the ballet, it does not disappoint!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 bottle of Chardonnay
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 12 oz lemonade
- Club Soda
- Lemon slices
- Blueberries
Directions:
Combine chardonnay, vodka, and lemonade in a pitcher and stir. Then, add in club soda and mix in lemon slices and fresh blueberries. Serve over ice and enjoy!
In honor of the desert we all call home, here is Ethan’s Topia Margarita. Just like Ib Andersen’s ballet, this cocktail gives you the color and taste of Arizona!
Ingredients:
- 2 oz tequila
- 2 oz sweet and sour mix
- 1 oz triple sec
- 1 oz prickly pear syrup
- 1 oz lime juice
Directions:
Prepare your margarita glass by wetting the rim and dipping into the salt to coat the rim. Fill a shaker with ice along with your tequila, sweet and sour, triple sec, prickly pear syrup and lime juice. Shake and pour into your glass. Enjoy!
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