Ring in the New Year with Unique Bush Tucker Cocktails

As we gear up to bid farewell to 2023, what better way to celebrate than with some uniquely Australian bush tucker cocktails? These recipes are a toast to the vibrant flavours of the land down under. So, grab your shakers and let's dive into these exciting concoctions perfect for your New Year's Eve bash!

Blackwood’s Native Lady

This elegant cocktail is a nod to the classic Martini with a modern bush tucker twist. It's a simple mix but packs a punch with its unique blend of flavours.

Ingredients:

• 45ml Tanqueray gin
• 15ml orange liqueur
• 45ml pineapple juice
• 20ml native currant syrup
• 6 lilly pillies

Method: Muddle the lilly pillies in a mixing glass to release their flavours. Add the gin, orange liqueur, pineapple juice, and native currant syrup. Shake it up with ice and strain into a chilled Martini glass. For that extra touch, garnish with dried lilly pillies and native currants. This recipe, courtesy of Broadsheet, is a stylish way to start your evening.

A Native Kick Cocktail

Created by Matthew Bull of NoBull Cocktails, this drink is a bushfood-infused twist on the classic Bee’s Knees. It's a celebration of Australian botanicals, featuring the Queen of Lemon Herbs, Lemon Myrtle.

Ingredients:

• 45ml Native Citrus Gin (Blood Lime, Lemon Myrtle, and Pepperberry)
• 15ml Pepperberry Infused Vodka
• 22.5ml Finger Lime Honey Syrup
• 22.5ml Lemon Juice

Method: Pour all the ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Give it a good shake and double strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a slapped Lemon Myrtle Leaf (to release its aroma) and a few Pepperberry pods. This cocktail is a vibrant tribute to the Australian bush.

Wattleseed Espresso Martini

For the coffee lovers, this one's a treat. This recipe by Claire Bucklow (Polka Dot Wedding) infuses the classic espresso martini with the rich, nutty flavor of native Australian wattleseed.

Ingredients:

• 15ml vodka
• 30ml kahlua
• 30ml Wattleseed sugar infusion
• 30ml espresso

Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with lots of ice. Shake vigorously and strain into martini glasses. Garnish with a single coffee bean for that classic look. The Wattleseed sugar infusion adds a unique Australian twist to this beloved cocktail.

Wattleseed Sugar Infusion Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 1-2 cups sugar
• 1 tbsp Wattleseed
  
  

As we raise our glasses this New Year's Eve, let's celebrate the diversity and richness of our Indigenous Australian culture. These Bush Tucker cocktails are a tribute to our land and its bountiful gifts. So, here's to a fantastic year ahead, filled with joy, prosperity, and lots of delicious cocktails.

Cheers, BW Tribal family!

Sources:
Broadsheet, 'Bush Tucker Cocktails'
Tucker Bush, '7 Classic Cocktails with a bush food twist'
Matthew Bull, No Bull Cocktails
Polka Dot Wedding, 'Wattleseed Espresso Martini'

Images:
Daniel Purvis for Broadsheet, Tucker Bush, Cover image: Warndu