8 Best Draft Cocktails to Serve on Tap
The trend of serving cocktails via the draft system is not going away anytime soon. Draft cocktails allow bartenders to serve several drinks in a fraction of the time it would take them to make individual glasses.
A draft system also makes a bartender’s work easier as it allows a customer to sample a portion of the cocktail without the bartender mixing one. Since customers may love trying new cocktails, a draft system allows them to find a favorite that will keep them coming back and eventually increase your revenue.
Northwest Draft Technicians is a trusted supplier serving restaurants and bars throughout the Portland, OR, area. We offer various draft beverage services and our draft technicians handle installations and maintenance, so businesses focus on generating revenue by serving clients.
The best candidates for draft cocktails are those that require fairly simple recipes yet are extremely popular. Having those on draft saves your bartenders and wait staff a lot of time over the course of the week, allowing them to focus on other tasks. Here are some of the best cocktails you can serve via draft systems.
Negroni
This Italian drink originally was made for consumption before meals. Count Negroni created it in the 1920s in Florence, Italy. It is composed of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
The ingredients for draft Negroni are:
- 125 ounces of gin
- 125 ounces of sweet vermouth
- 125 ounces of Campari
- 75 ounces of water
Combine all the ingredients and stir to incorporate. Stir in fresh orange zest for an extra flavor boost when serving.
Gin & Tonic
This refreshing cocktail is known as a “G & T” or gin tonic in several places and is suitable for a draft cocktail. It’s made with one part gin and two parts tonic of water. Its crisp taste is basic but interesting, and it is simple to make. When choosing your tonic, you want a mixer that doesn’t mask your gin’s qualities with artificial sweeteners. You’ll also want to make sure it has enough carbonation to make an effervescent draft cocktail.
Espresso Martini
The espresso martini is another drink that can be a draft cocktail. It’s a cold, caffeinated drink made from espresso, coffee liqueurs, and vodka. The ingredients to batch espresso martini cocktails are:
- 200 ounces of vodka
- 100 ounces of coffee liqueur
- 100 ounces of espresso
- 100 ounces of simple syrup
Combine the vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and simple syrup and stir. Serve in a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with coffee beans.
Old-Fashioned
The old-fashioned is a traditional whiskey cocktail made with bitters, soda water, and a simple orange garnish, served with plenty of ice. You will need the following ingredients:
- 3/4 ounce of orange bitters
- 100 1/2 ounces of water
- 30 ounces of rye whiskey
- 2 1/2 ounces of simple syrup
Mix all the ingredients in the draft system. Serve, in a chilled glass with ice cubes and garnish with an orange twist.
Mojito
The mojito is a classic Cuban cocktail punch that suits a draft system. Making this cocktail for a draft system requires the following ingredients:
- 200 ounces of white rum
- 100 ounces of lime juice
- A bag of crushed ice
- 10 spoons of sugar
- 50 ounces of soda water
Mix the white rum, lime juice, sugar, and soda water. Serve in a chilled glass and garnish with the muddled mint leaves.
Margarita
The margarita is one of the best cocktails that can be served via the draft system. It’s made up of tequila, triple Sec, and lime juice and served with salt on the rim of the glass. To batch a margarita, you need 5.25 liters of tequila, 1.75 liters of triple Sec, six bottles of lime juice, and some water.
French 75 Cocktail
The French 75 is rich and acidic, with a bubbly mouthfeel and botanical notes reminiscent of gin. You can serve it via a draft system and make it with these ingredients:
- 150 ounces of gin
- 75 ounces of fresh lemon juice
- 75 ounces of simple syrup
- 200 ounces of champagne
Combine the ingredients in the draft system. Garnish the glass with lemon twist and serve.
Boulevard
The boulevard and the Negroni are almost identical. They’re both made from Campari and sweet vermouth, but the primary liquor is what sets them apart. The Negroni is made with gin, whereas the Boulevard is made with bourbon. The ingredients include:
- 125 ounces of bourbon
- 125 ounces of sweet vermouth
- 125 ounces of Campari
- 75 ounces of water
Combine all the ingredients and stir to incorporate, then serve. Stir in a fresh orange zest for an extra flavor boost when serving.
Find a Cocktail Draft System in Portland, OR
Draft cocktails are becoming more popular due to their convenience and high returns for bars and restaurants. At Northwest Draft Technicians, we offer draft system customization services to restaurants and bar owners in the Portland, OR, area to ensure they serve more clients and increase their revenue. Contact us today for a free consultation with our draft technicians.