A look inside… Oskar Kinberg’s Cocktail Cookbook

Reflecting the trend for mixologists taking more of a culinary approach to cocktails, co-owner of Dabbous, Oskar Kinberg, has released a Cocktail Cookbook that groups recipes via a single ingredient.

Oskar Kinberg

From apples and cucumbers to pine, pea shoots, honey and coconut, the tome has the look and feel of a cookbook, highlighting how far the lines have blurred between food and drink and how heavily the two now borrow from one another.

While some of the cocktails feature complex ingredients, from nettle cordial to olive oil infused gin, Kinberg’s 75 recipes are easy to follow, making it possible for cocktail lovers to make bar-grade drinks at home.

Many of the cocktail names will please pun lovers – we particularly like the sound of the Basil Fawlty, Better Safe than Sorrel, Tequila Mockingbird, Currant Affairs, Shiso Fine and the Grape Gatsby.

“With a little care and sourcing in the kitchen you can make your house party a memorable one. These cocktails are not technically difficult to make.

“Each has a personal memory associated with it and hopefully the reader can attach their own to them too,” says Kinberg who runs Oscar’s Bar in the basement of the Michelin-starred Dabbous in Fitzrovia.

Click through for our top 8 recipes from Oskar’s Cocktail Cookbook, which goes on sale in hardback on 6 October priced at £20.

Peas & Mint

Keen for us to give peas a chance, Kinberg’s vivid green drink plays on the classic pea and mint combo. Recipe: 35ml gin, 15ml Cocchi Americano, 15ml lemon juice, 15ml sugar syrup, 1 mint leaf, a handful of pea shoots

Beer Grills

Named after the British adventurer and served in a beer half pint dimple mug the cocktails plays on the divine combination of bananas and beer. Recipe: 25ml white rum, 35ml banana liqueur, 15ml fresh lime juice, 1 tbsp honey syrup, top with wheat beer

Fizzy Rascal

One of the most popular cocktails at Oskar’s Bar, the potato and sage give the refreshing tipple a long finish. Recipe: 50ml potato vodka, 15ml fresh lemon juice, 15ml elderflower cordial, 25ml apple juice, handful of sage leaves, 1 slice of cucumber, top up with Prosecco

Rice Rice Baby

This Asian-inspired drink weaves ingredients around a coconut water infused with rice base, giving it a fluffy texture and rich sweetness and a cereal finish. Recipe: 50ml Pisco, 75ml coconut water infused with rice, 1 shiso leaf, egg white

 Norwegian Wood

The pale green exterior hides a punchy heart, with the grapes adding body rather than bags of flavour. Recipe: 50ml gin, 20ml fresh lemon juice, 25ml pine syrup, egg white, six white grapes, 1 lovage sprig, top with soda water

The Grape Gatsby 

Named after F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age novel, The invigorating and fragrant Grape Gatsby is one of Kinberg’s all-time favourite drinks. Recipe: 50ml gin, 20ml sugar syrup, 20ml fresh lemon juice, egg white, three marjoram sprigs, six white grapes, top with soda

Pooh Sours

Winnie the Pooh would go wild for this sweet treat served in an adorable honey pot. Recipe: 35ml Bourbon, 15ml Cocchi Americano, 15ml fresh lemon juice, 15ml honey, 25ml lemon verbena tea, egg white

Flower Power

Taking honey as a base ingredient, this floral cocktail shines a light on how well plum and honey pair together. Recipe: 35ml cachaça, 15ml umeshu or plum saké, 20ml fresh lime juice, 10ml honey, syrup, 3 lavender sprigs, egg white