Coffs Coast Cocktail recipes

The Coffs Coast is home to more than just beautiful beaches and coastal views. Across the region, local breweries, distilleries and producers are creating flavours that capture the laid-back lifestyle and rich produce the area is known for. From locally distilled spirits and craft beer to fresh blueberries, bananas and ginger, these cocktail recipes showcase some of the best local ingredients the Coffs Coast has to offer. Whether you are entertaining at home, planning a weekend getaway or looking for inspiration before exploring the region’s breweries and distilleries, these easy cocktail recipes bring a taste of the Coffs Coast to your glass.

Gingerbeer Spritz

Made with Woopi Brewing gingerbeer and blonde ale and local ginger

This is a great refresher for a hot Coffs Harbour afternoon. Serve it over LOTS of ice with chilled ginger beer and beer and slices of pungent, fresh, local ginger. 

Serves 1

Gingerbeer Spritz ingredients: 

• ½ tsp simple sugar syrup
• 1 strip lemon rind
• 150ml Woolgoolga Brewing Co. Bobby Dazzler gingerbeer
• 150ml Woolgoolga Brewing co. Between the Flags blonde ale
• Slices of fresh ginger, to garnish

Method: 

1. Fill a tall glass with ice. Add sugar syrup, squeeze the oils from the lemon rind into the glass and top with gingerbeer and beer. 
2. Give it all a gentle stir, add fresh ginger slices and serve. 

Real banana daiquiri

Made with Critters Distillery white cane spirit and local Coffs Harbour bananas 

When you have the best bananas around, why would you use banana essence? Make a real (and very easy) banana syrup with fresh bananas in lime and sugar and you have the base of summer drink that will restore your faith in daiquiris.

Serves 1

Real banana syrup ingredients:

• 1 x ripe coffs harbour banana, peeled and sliced
• 1 tablespoon caster sugar
• Juice of 1 lime

Daiquiri ingredients:

• 2 oz Critters Distillery white cane spirit (white rum)
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz real banana syrup  
• Macerated banana slices, from the syrup, to garnish
• Lime zest, to garnish

Method: 

1. First, make your real banana sugar syrup. In a glass bowl combine the sliced banana, sugar and lime juice. Mix it thoroughly, cover and leave in the fridge for at least an hour. The liquid will combine and make a delicious banana syrup.  
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add white cane spirit, fresh lime juice, your banana syrup and shake thoroughly. 
3. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a twist if lime zest and some of the macerated banana from the syrup. 

Blueberry gin fizz

Made with Emerald Island Distillery gin and local Coffs Harbour blueberries

Local blueberries turned into easy berry syrup give the colour to this perfect gin fizz for chilled evenings as the sun sets.

Serves 1 

Blueberry syrup Ingredients: 

• 1 cup fresh local Coffs Harbour blueberries
• ½  cup sugar
• ½  cup water
• 1 sprig fresh mint  

Gin fizz ingredients: 

• 1 oz blueberry simple syrup
• 1 oz  fresh lemon juice
• 2 oz Emerald Island premium dry gin
• Soda
• Mint sprigs and fresh blueberries, to garnish

Method: 

1. First, make your blueberry syrup. Add the blueberries, sugar and water to a small saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer, cooking for 5 minutes and stirring to gently break up the berries release all the colour. Add the mint, stir through and set the syrup aside to cool. 
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the blueberry syrup, lemon juice and gin and shake thoroughly. 
3. Strain into a chilled tumbler, top with soda water and garnish with fresh mint and blueberries. 

Michelada

Made with King Tide XPA or Larger and local hot sauce

A zesty way to enjoy your beer of choice and add a spicy kick. Like a bloody mary, but with your favourite brew. 

Serves 1

• 1 cup tomato juice
• Juice of 1 lime
• ½ tsp Maggi liquid seasoning  
• ½ tsp worcestershire sauce 
• 1 big dash of your favourite local hot sauce
• 1 can (375ml) King Tide Blue Groper Larger or Beached As XPA
• Fresh lime wedges, to garnish
• Chilli salt or Tajin seasoning, to garnish 

Method: 

1. In a jug mix together tomato juice, lime juice Maggi seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce with a big handful of ice. 
2. Pour in your King Tide beer of choice and give it a gentle stir. 
3. Wide the rim of a tall glass with a lime wedge and then dip the rim in your chilli salt to create a spiced rim. Add ice to the glass and then pour over the Michelada and garnish with a lime wedge and more chilli salt. 

From refreshing ginger beer spritzes to blueberry gin fizz and banana daiquiris, these cocktails are a celebration of the flavours, makers and produce found across the Coffs Coast. Many of the local breweries and distilleries featured here offer tastings, cellar doors and behind-the-scenes experiences, making them well worth adding to your next Coffs Coast itinerary. Explore the region, meet the makers and discover why the Coffs Coast is quickly becoming a destination for locally crafted food and drink experiences.