Summer may be winding down, but why not shake things up? We asked world champion bartender Shekhar Grover to share the recipe for one cocktail that’s wetting his whistle this summer. Grover, who just happens to be behind the bar on Oasis of the Seas, recently competed in the Diageo Reserve World Class™ bartending competition. He had previously been named the best cruise line bartender in the world in the 2014 Diageo World Class Global Travel competition.
Grover’s favorite drink this summer, “Across the Universe,” is a little like a cruise ship itself: a tantalizing mix of international influences and flavors, with a healthy serving of breezy summertime refreshment. The name comes from the numerous ingredients hailing from all over the world (gin from the United Kingdom, Aperol from Italy, and so forth). Grover gives partial credit to his team at Royal Caribbean for giving him the space to be creative. “They have always given me courage to invent something, even if I have an idea that isn’t part of the menu, to give a ‘WOW’ impact to the guests,” he says.
Let’s get to mixing.
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz. Tanqueray No. 10 Gin
1/2 oz. Aperol
1/2 oz. St. Germain
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
Splash of Prosecco
About 1 ¼ cups watermelon juice
At least a few hours in advance (preferably overnight), pour watermelon juice into an ice cube tray and freeze. Combine gin, Aperol, St. Germain, lime juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well until chilled and pour into a glass over watermelon ice cubes. Optional: Garnish with an herb, slice of watermelon or lime or an edible flower.
If you’d rather keep your cocktail-making in the trusted hands of the pros, learn more about the dining and drinking options onboard our ships.
