5 Cocktails Fit for a Royal Engagement

What could be a better excuse to create some new cocktails than the announcement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement? Several mixologists around the country have whipped up some royal libations to celebrate the occasion with special ingredients ranging from chamomile honey syrup to Creme de Violette. Here are the top five contenders.

H.M. WINDSOR

Created by head bartender Melissa Carroll at South Water Kitchen in Chicago, the H.M. Windsor is a unique mixture of High West Double Rye Whiskey with small doses of Falernum (a sweet tropical syrup), Earl Grey syrup, fresh lemon juice and a few dashes of lemon bitters. For the presentation, it is served in a punch glass, topped with steeped Earl Grey tea and garnished with a lemon wedge.

Build in punch glass, top with steeped Earl Grey tea and stir. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

DIAMOND HEART

Benny Hernandez, the lead bartender at LILT Lounge on Miami’s waterfront, was inspired by Prince Harry’s dazzling engagement ring to Meghan Markle and crafted an original whiskey cocktail he calls the Diamond Heart. In a shaker with ice, he adds Jameson Irish Whiskey, fresh pineapple and lemon juice, Creme de Violette, simple syrup and a dash or two of Burlesque Bitters. 

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice; shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Double strain into a purple teacup. Garnish with activated charcoal and micro flowers. The activated charcoal is sprinkled on top of the flowers to help give the garnish an extra regal touch.

HARRY MATRIMONY

Inspired by the English tradition of afternoon tea, mixologist Mirek Strunlaski at the Stratus Lounge in Philadelphia has invented Harry Matrimony, a refreshing blend of gin and fresh fruits. 

Add honey, lemon juice, and berries to shaker tin, muddle. Add gin, shake with ice, double strain into glass. Add expressed mint leaves, top with rocks and soda to fill glass, and garnish with lemon wheel.

Bring water to a boil. Remove from heat, add tea and steep for 4 minutes. Remove tea bags, add honey, and stir until dissolved. Cool.

WHEN HARRY MET MEGHAN

The Brits love their gin and their tea, especially Earl Grey, so head bartender Sarah Ruiz at Dirty Habit in Washington, D.C. decided to combine them together in her original cocktail, When Harry Met Meghan. 

Preheat glass with hot water; build ingredients in glass excluding the tea; after ingredients are mixed, add 5 ounces hot Earl Grey tea; stir. Garnish with dehydrated pear.

Add chamomile to hot water on stove and whisk in honey until fully incorporated. Strain and let cool.

THE PRINCESS AND THE TEA

Created at Outlier restaurant near Seattle’s waterfront, The Princess and the Tea is another British tea-inspired cocktail that combines Absolute Vodka, Creme de Violette, chamomile syrup, fresh lemon juice and Bitter Truth Lemon bitters. The final result is a royal treat.

Shake, Double Strain into a teacup and saucer – garnish with loose chamomile tea.

Bring sugar and water to boil and then cover and simmer with chamomile for 20 minutes. Strain out everything and refrigerate.