Birthday Cocktails: A Toast Between Friends

Have you ever had to make a cocktail for someone as a birthday gift — and then they make one for you, too? That’s exactly what happened when me and our director, Robi, realized that we share the same birthday. So for this special Cocktail Time challenge, we decided to surprise each other with birthday cocktails — and see who did a better job. But Robi being Robi, there was a little surprise at the end too.

We even got our DOP, Sašo, to pick his favorite of the day. Which one do you think it was?

Robi’s Old…Fashioned

• 60 ml (2 oz) Woodford Reserve Rye

• 7,5 ml (¼ oz) Medium dry Oloroso Sherry

• 1 bar spoon maple syrup

• 4 dashes cherry bitters

• 1 dash allspice bitters

Combine all the ingredients in a mixing glass, stir with ice, and serve over a big ice cube. Garnish with a flamed orange zest.

This twist on the classic Old Fashioned starts with Woodford Reserve Rye, a whiskey made in a pre-Prohibition style with 53% rye in the mash. That gives it spice, tobacco, and fruit notes that balance beautifully with a touch of sweetness. The Oloroso Sherry adds dried fruit depth, while maple syrup brings smooth richness — its sugar content is close to a 2:1 simple syrup, so it integrates perfectly without extra dilution. Cherry and allspice bitters round out the flavors, highlighting the spicy rye and the sherry’s subtle sweetness.

Flaming the orange zest over the glass ties it all together — a little citrus freshness to lift the spice and wood notes of the rye. The first sip is complex and layered: spice, fruit, sweetness, and smoke all in perfect balance. The finish is long and warming, a fitting toast to friendship and birthdays.

Ginger Love

• 50 ml (1 ⅔ oz) Jägermeister Scharf

• 15 ml (½ oz) Jack Daniel’s No7

• 30 ml (1 oz) lemon juice

• 22,5 ml (¾ oz) rich ginger syrup

• 1 egg white

• 8–10 mint leaves

• 1 drop 20% saline solution

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well. Discard the ice and shake again. Double strain into a coupe glass and garnish with candied ginger and mint leaves.

This was Robi’s creation — a cocktail that started with leftovers, creativity, and a love of ginger. Jägermeister Scharf brings an intense ginger heat, while a small measure of Jack Daniel’s adds just enough body without overpowering the drink. Fresh lemon juice adds brightness, an egg white gives that signature frothy texture, and rich ginger syrup ties it all together. A touch of mint adds herbal freshness, and a drop of saline brings out every flavor.

To make the rich ginger syrup and candied ginger, place 100 g sliced ginger in a pot with 100 g water and 200 g demerara sugar. Note the level, then add 150 g more water and cook down to the original level to create a 2:1 syrup with a strong ginger kick. Leave covered for an hour, strain and bottle. Dehydrate the ginger slices and coat them with powdered sugar to make candied ginger for garnish.

The result is a bright, spicy, and aromatic cocktail — creamy from the egg white, balanced between sweet and sour, with fresh mint and lemon aroma up front. It’s a drink born from improvisation and a perfect example of how beautiful things can come from what’s already on hand.

When Kevin tried it, he called it “a ginger-minty twist on the Amaretto Sour.” And he wasn’t wrong. It’s the kind of drink that makes you smile right after the first sip.

By the end of filming, the studio was filled with laughter, the smell of citrus and spice, and the warmth of two friends celebrating what they love most — making cocktails. Robi even surprised Kevin with a special birthday gift for his bar collection, which made the day even more memorable.

Two cocktails, two friends, one shared birthday — and a reminder that great drinks taste even better when shared with great people.

Cheers, and happy birthday to everyone celebrating with a cocktail in hand.

#birthday #oldfashioned #ginger