From small wins to monumental milestones, there’s always an occasion to enjoy a drink. Whether savoring your favorite spirit or sipping on something sans alcohol, the evolution of cocktail culture has paved the way beyond the beloved happy hour. Embraced by mixologists, cocktail enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike, World Cocktail Day is celebrated each year on May 13 to highlight the rich history, artistry and creativity behind crafting cocktails.
From Caribe Hilton in Puerto Rico, where a Hilton bartender invented the piña colada in 1954, to Waldorf Astoria Bangkok in Thailand, which features an industry-leading cocktail ice program, Hilton has always been at the forefront of cocktail innovation and trends. In fact, Hilton’s 2024 Trends Report found that Gen Z and Millennials are most interested in immersing themselves in the local bar scene, with approximately three-quarters interested in experiencing local, unique hotel bars – and, in turn, beverage experiences – during their 2024 travels.
Most recently, with the increased interest in non-alcoholic cocktails, Hilton introduced an innovative beverage program for Tempo by Hilton as a brand standard, to offer guests an uncompromised experience regardless of routines or regimens. The program features an equal number of “Spirited” and “Free-Spirited” cocktails on the menu that mirror each other in every way, with the “Free-Spirited” selections made without alcohol.
This year, Hilton invites you to mix it up with five standout libations from properties across the globe… cheers!
Sonic Synthesis
Hilton Singapore Orchard
At Hilton Singapore Orchard, Ginger.Lily, the hotel’s botanical-inspired bar and lounge, presents “Synaesthesia,” a multi-sensorial cocktail adventure that explores the intersection between nature, technology and the five senses. Using unconventional elements such as edible perfume sprays, colored eyeglasses and house-made distillates encourages guests to uncover new perspectives and utilize their senses in new ways.
One of Synaesthesia’s exceptional drinks is the Sonic Synthesis. This gin-based cocktail features fresh-pressed juices, house-made cucumber cordial, nori flakes and a burnt marshmallow garnish. The cocktail experience is elevated with a wireless neckband speaker and a curated playlist. Guests are invited to venture into the lush depths of a serene forest through the immersive sounds of nature playing from the speaker, all while sipping on their refreshing, botanical-forward tipple.
Sonic Synthesis – Hilton Singapore Orchard
Makes one drink
Ingredients
- 30 ml Big Kahuna Gin
- 60 ml Green Apple Freshly-Pressed Juice
- 60 ml Pineapple Freshly-Pressed Juice
- 30 ml Arugula Freshly-Pressed Juice
- 15 ml House-Made Cucumber Cordial
- Fresh Pressed Cucumber Juice for House-Made Cucumber Cordial
- Sugar Syrup for House-Made Cucumber Cordial
- Citric Acid for House-Made Cucumber Cordial
- Burnt Marshmallow & Nori Flakes Garnish
Directions
- Juice your green apples, pineapple and arugula in a cold-press.
- Prepare the Cucumber Cordial separately using cucumber juice, sugar syrup and citric acid.
- Add your freshly pressed juices, Cucumber Cordial and Big Kahuna Gin into a shaker, then shake vigorously to mix.
- Strain your cocktail into a tall glass with a Collins Spear ice block.
- To garnish, sprinkle nori flakes over the cocktail and flame torch your marshmallow until one side is beautifully caramelized.
- Serve with a wireless neck speaker and direct guests to enjoy Ginger.Lily’s curated nature playlist, ‘Symphony of Senses,’ as they indulge in their cocktail.
Gabagool Martini
Signia by Hilton Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center
The table-side martini cart at Capolinea, a fine-dining restaurant in Signia by Hilton Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center, offers an interactive and personal cocktail experience as the trolley floats from table to table to make cocktails in front of guests, becoming the star of the show. Capolinea boasts the coldest martinis in Atlanta, using liquid nitrogen to chill and garnish the glass to negative 350 degrees to ensure a frosty cocktail every time.
Inspired by the infamous “Dirty Martini,” the Gabagool Martini champions the savory flavors of Italian-American cured meats and umami and sports a savory, spirit-forward profile. The drink is garnished with a sun-dried tomato and ricotta cheese stuffed olive connecting Italian tradition with Italian-American flair.
Gabagool Martini – Signia by Hilton Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center
Makes one drink
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Ketel One Vodka
- 1 oz Capicola and Spicy Salami-Infused Ketel One Vodka
- .25 oz Lustau Fino Sherry
- .25 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth
- .25 oz Dolin Blanc Vermouth
- .5 oz Water
Directions
- A cured meat fat-washed vodka, sherry and vermouth are stirred and poured into an extra chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with a sun-dried tomato, ricotta-stuffed olives and a pearl onion.
Bramble Bee
Conrad London St. James
Backed by the expertise of Michelin-starred consultant chef Sally Abé, The Hedgerow at Conrad London St. James is home to a cocktail bar that offers a taste of the countryside. The menu is thoughtfully infused with British botanicals and fruits for an intriguing collection of cocktails, coffee and other hand-crafted drinks. From signature cocktails to vintage spirits, selections are brimming with rosehip, ginger and fresh fruit, providing crisp flavors with every sip.
A unique take on the classic Bramble cocktail, Bramble Bee features crystallized honey positioned at the glass's base. The honey undergoes a natural process where its sugars interact with the fruit's natural sugars, resulting in the production of lactic acid. Acting as a natural preservative, lactic acid combats harmful bacteria and effectively maintains the flavor, texture and nutritional integrity of the ingredients. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant hues of bumblebees, the colors of this cocktail reflect their lively palette.
Bramble Bee – Conrad London St. James
Makes one drink
Ingredients
- 40 ml Salcombe Gin
- 15 ml Honey Syrup
- 15 ml Lacto Blackberry Fermented
- 25 ml Lemon Juice
Directions
- Shake and strain ingredients over a rock class with one big block of ice.
Golden Glow Cocktail
Hilton Saigon
The Me Linh Lounge and The Strand at newly-opened Hilton Saigon both serve the Golden Glow cocktail, which blends Asian culture with the taste of purity from Absolut Vodka. With its fiery yellow color and ingredients from the tropics, the cocktail is full of Vietnamese indigenous characteristics. Passion Fruit symbolizes the heat of the hot summer in Saigon, and the Elderflower represents the essence of nature, all blended together in harmony, giving diners the feeling of being immersed in the art of mixology.
Golden Glow Cocktail – Hilton Saigon
Makes one drink
Ingredients
- 50 ml Vodka
- 40 ml Passion Juice
- 15 ml Lemon Juice
- 20 ml Sugar Syrup
- 10 ml Elderflower Syrup
Directions
- Add all cocktail ingredients to the shaker, fill with ice and seal.
- Pick up the shaker and turn it sideways, a full 90 degrees. Shake vigorously for 12 to 15 seconds, then open and strain the drink into a glass.
U.S.A. Greenest Margarita
Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
BLDG at Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is a restaurant that combines sustainability with signature hospitality, and Executive Chef Megan Gill is passionate about utilizing the finest scratch-kitchen materials and farm-to-table ingredients sourced within 250 miles of the property.
The beverage program includes a collection from regional distilleries and breweries and a selection of sustainable, organic and biodynamic wines, and the U.S.A. Greenest Margarita is a new item on the cocktail menu. A play on the hotel’s LEED certification, the recipe includes organic tequila and house-made turmeric spirulina syrup and lime juice, garnished with a pineapple leaf that would otherwise be tossed in the compost bin.
U.S.A. Greenest Margarita – Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Makes one drink
Ingredients
- 1.25 oz Tres Agave Blanco Tequila
- 1.25 oz Agave Turmeric Spirulina Syrup
- 1.5 oz Lime Juice
- 2 Dashes of Fee Foam (for the extra froth on top)
Directions
- Shake and strain over fresh ice in a green retro glass.
- Garnish with pineapple leaf and/or lime wedge.
