5 Easy Kaffir Lime Cocktail Recipes for the Weekend

Many classic cocktails contain lemon in some form—whether it’s a dash of juice, a pinch of zest, a lemonade top-up, or rind as garnish. Lemon is surprisingly versatile, it can give your drinks a light, refreshing flavor or a strong tang. But if you want a new sour ingredient for your cocktails, why not try kaffir lime? Kaffir lime is a citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia. Sometimes called “makrut lime” or “Thai lime”, it is a common ingredient in Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Burmese cuisine. Its leaves (fresh, dried or ground) are popularly used to flavor curries. Its zest is used in a similar way to lemon zest and can be added to anything from stir-fried vegetables to desserts. You can also use it to make rejuvenating cooler and fun cocktails.

Read also: 11 Best Cocktail Recipes | Easy Cocktail Recipes

The fragrant kaffir lime can be incorporated into your cocktails in a variety of ways. For some drinks, you can replace common lime juice with kaffir lime juice. In others, you can use its leaves to impart a deep flavor and a hint of bitterness. You can also make kaffir lime liquor at home. Conspiracy happened? Here are 5 easy recipes for cocktails with kaffir lime to get you started:

Here are 5 quick kaffir lime cocktail recipes:

1. Kaffir Mojito

This Kaffir Mojito is a twist on the classic summer cocktail. To make this innovative mojito, you need to mash mint leaves, kaffir lime leaves and lime slices. When the sugar melts, add ice cubes and add white rum. Pour club soda over it and garnish with mint leaves. Click Here For full recipe.

2. Kafir Mule

You may have heard of the Moscow Mule or the Mexican Mule. But have you tried Kafir Mule? All you need for this drink is Kaffir lime-infused vodka. Don’t worry about its sourcing – you can easily make it at home. All you have to do is pour vodka and kaffir lime leaves in an airtight container and shake it a few times every day for a week. To make the cocktail, pour the infused vodka into a glass with ice cubes. Pour lime juice, squeezed lime wedge and ginger beer into glass. Add and top up with a little club soda if you like. Garnish with kaffir lime leaves. Click Here For full recipe.

3. Hystrix Highball

This cocktail has a silky mouthfeel with hints of vanilla, honey and ginger. The rum, lime juice, kaffir lime leaves and stilts are first shaken well. They are then shaken upside down (shaken with ice, and then without). Finally, it is filtered twice and served in koto cut highball glasses. You can garnish it with kaffir lime leaf and vanilla sprinkles. Click Here For full recipe.

Read also: 5 DIY Cocktail Recipes With A South Indian Twist

4. Phi Phi Cocktail

This cocktail is named after the Phi Phi Islands, an island group between Phuket and Thailand. There’s a fruity yet spicy hit in this tropical cocktail. To make this drink, add four ice cubes, vodka, lychee juice, Thai chili pods, lime juice, and kaffir lime leaves to a shaker. Chill a cocktail or tiki glass and have it ready. Shake well and strain the drink into a glass. Garnish it with 1/2 slit chili. Click Here For full recipe.

5. Flavor of Democracy Cocktail

A great combination of flavors in this colorful cocktail. It can also be enjoyed as a non-alcoholic cooler (just don’t add the alcohol). To make Flavor of Democracy cocktail, combine mint, basil, kaffir lime leaves, elderflower, lime, and gin/tequila (or any liquor of your choice) in a shaker. Shake well and pour it into a G&T glass. Make layers of crushed ice, add Orange Oleo Saccharum and top with Sprite. Click Here For full recipe.

Which of these cocktails do you want to try first? Tell us in the comments.