BT's Best is our mission to find the best of everything in Queensland. This week, it's been thirsty work to find the best signature cocktails, and importantly for at-home chefs, we reveal what's in them.
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North Queensland seems to have some of the best mixologists in the state, but we've managed to come up with a list which not only celebrates our wonderful state, but stretches far and wide.
Remember, please drink responsibly.
Number 1
The cocktail: Fairy Floss Windmills
What's in it: Vanilla vodka, elderflower liqueur, cranberry and apple juice, twist of lemon and topped with strawberry fairy floss
Where you can get it: Shaw and Co, Townsville
Sounds sweet, right? But the lemon gives it a zesty kick, and the cranberry and apple juice a tropical flavour which sits beautifully with its north Queensland home. For originality and flavour, it was hard to go past as the top signature cocktail in the state. Is it worth the trip to Townsville? That's your call.
Number 2
The cocktail: Klimax
What's in it: Muddled strawberries, strawberry liquor, Chambord, Praiso, lemonade and finished with a garnish of, yes you guessed it, strawberries
Where you can get it: Cube Hotel, Toowoomba
This shows that cocktails don't have to be overly complex, and that they can take advantage of an abundance of fresh local produce – in this case, strawberries.
Number 3
The cocktail: Coast's cold-smoked miracle cure
What's in it: House cold-smoked Maker's Mark bourbon shaken with Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, English marmalade and cherry bitters.
Where you can get it: Coast Restaurant and Bar, Hervey Bay
Okay, so there's not much in this one which says "Queensland", but it does the trick. Word has it that there's a medicinal element, "prescribed straight up for immediate consumption".
Number 4
The cocktail: The Cane Toad
What's in it: Banana, lime juice, Disaronno Amaretto, dark rum, pineapple juice, lychee juice, banana wheel as garnish
Where you can get it: Sling Lounge, West End, Brisbane
It's regarded as a pest, but it's become celebrated as the mascot of our state rugby league team, and now in a glass. Welcome to "The Cane Toad".
Number 5
The cocktail: The socialite
What's in it: Spiced rum, pear liqueur, ginger liqueur with fresh pear and crystalised ginger
Where you can get it: New Inchcolm and Suites, Wickham Tce, Brisbane
It's one of the oldest hotels in the city, but a refurbishment late last year makes it one of the newest menus. The cocktail is a simple recipe with a powerful punch (forgive the pun).
Number 6
The cocktail: Aussie Gun Powder
What's in it: Bullet rye whiskey, Oloroso sherry, beetroot chunks, Peycheaud's bitters and egg whites
Where you can get it: Mr and Mrs G, Eagle Street Pier
It's certainly one of the more unusual mixtures in the list. Give it a try. The flavours might just blend better than you'd think.
Number 7
The cocktail: Mile High
What's in it: Alize gold and mandarin vodka shaken with passionfruit pulp, finished with grapefruit juice.
Where you can get it: Seventy7 Café and Bar, Sky Point, Surfers Paradise
Sometimes it's as much about the venue as it is about the cocktail, but in this case it's the best of both worlds – some of the best views in Queensland with one of the fruitiest beverages.
Number 8
The cocktail: Whitsunday Mojito
What's in it: Havana Club, local cane sugar, limes, mint, crushed ice and soda water
Where you can get it: Fish D'vine, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays
On the surface it's like any other mojito, but what makes it a signature cocktail are the local ingredients – locally-sourced lime and cane sugar, with Proserpine mint. Mark's Rum Bar has been quoted Australia's largest of its type with 450 types of rum.
Number 9
The cocktail: The Cane Cutter
What's in it: Havana Club Anejo 3 Anos, lime, crème de gingembre, vanilla, mint, sparkling
Where you can get it: Laruche Bar, Fortitude Valley
Have three and then try to say the names of what's in it. This one's for all the lovers of sparkling wine, with a fresh twist.
Number 10
The cocktail: Kaffir and coconut caprioska
What's in it: Malibu, Smirnoff vodka, kaffir leaves, brown sugar, lime wedges, soda and kaffir pearls
Where you can get it: Pullman Reef Casino Hotel, Cairns
The freshness of soda and kaffir with sweetness of Malibu and brown sugar make it a year-round taste sensation, and a nice way to round out the top 10 from Far North Queensland.
OTHERS TO CONSIDER:
The Donna Bionda: Vanilla vodka, lemoncello, lemongrass, mint and fresh pineapple. Found at Donna Bionda, City Lane, Townsville.
The Twig and Berry: Hayman's gin, Campari, black pepper, topped with orange, raspberries and house red wine vinegar shrub. Found at the Twig and berry, Newstead.
The Bitter Sweet Symphony: Belvedere vodka, aperol, paval liqueur, lime, fresh strawberries and orange bitters shaken and strained over ice. Garnished with mint and strawberries. Found at Soleil Pool Bar, Southbank.
The Chivalrous Gentleman: Malt whisky, warming cinnamon, rosemary syrup and a hint of orange. Found at Vintaged Bar and Grill, Hilton Hotel, Brisbane.
Public Nuisance 19: Fresh strawberries combined with fragrant cucumber and elderflower, fortified with Beefeater gin and charged with sparkling wine. Found at Public, Brisbane city.
Mango Cooler: Vodka, Cointreau, mango orange, lemon and Demerara sugar. Found at The Rooftop, Limes Hotel, Fortitude Valley.
Marriott Sunset: Smirnoff vodka, peach schnapps, Cointreau, cranberry juice and orange juice. Found at Motion bar and grill, Marriott Hotel, Brisbane.
Up on Constance: Tanqueray gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup and raspberries. Found at The Clover on Constance, TRYP Hotel, Fortitude Valley.
Choc Orange Martini: Mozart dark chocolate Cointreau and vodka. Found at Cuvee Bar, Sofitel Brisbane Central.
The Gresham Whiz-Bang Boilermaker: Whisky, peated whisky, lemon, ginger, honey, bitters and Pale Ale. Found at The Gresham Bar, Brisbane City.
The End Spring Punch: Fresh watermelon, mint, Stolichnaya raspberry vodka, cloudy apple juice topped off with organic elderflower cordial. The End, Woolloongabba.
Chilli Rum Smash 17: Havana Club, Massanez Gingembre, lime, sugar and lemonade. Found at Stokehouse, Southbank.
Signature Espresso Martini: Double shot of freshly ground espresso, Ketel One vodka and Black Coffee Lyrics house liquor made from blend coffee and distilled at Mt Tamborine. Found at Black Coffee Lyrics, Gold Coast.
Lychee Heaven: Vodka, Rubis, Mohala, apple and lychees. Found at 1two3, Broadbeach.
Surfers Sling: Citrus vodka, blue curacao, fresh citrus and homemade lemonade finished with colourful garnishes. Found at Fix Bar, Hilton Surfers Paradise.
Novelty cocktails:
The Lamington: Malibu, Disaronno, salted caramel, chocolate sauce and grated chocolate. Found at Communal Bar and Eat House, Brisbane Square.
The Lemon Meringue: Stolichnaya Vanilla, Lemoncello, salted caramel, a touch of egg white and finished with a caramel swirl: Found at Fifth Element Bar, Southbank.
Pavlova martini: Gin, passionfruit, lemon juice, vanilla sugar and egg whites. Found at Riverbar and Kitchen, Eagle Street.
The Australian Mary: Mount Tamborine pepper vodka, a dash of beetroot juice, Murray River pink sea salt and muddled bush cherry tomatoes. Found at The Emporium Hotel, Fortitude Valley.
