Serving cocktails on tap is one of the best ways to increase your service speed and keep consistent drink quality at the bar. At Glacier Design, we’ve seen the popularity of draft cocktail systems skyrocket over the years, thanks to their ability to streamline the cocktail-making process and eliminate alcohol wastage. But what kinds of cocktails can you use in a draft system? The answer? Almost any cocktail your heart desires! These systems are extremely versatile, and you can keg nearly any cocktail as long as the system is properly maintained and your batch recipe has been taste-tested. If you’re trying out draft cocktails for the first time, it’s a good idea to start with some solid, classic cocktail recipes without pulp or frozen ingredients to avoid clogging the lines. To get your ideas flowing, we’ve compiled a list of a few recipes for cocktails on tap. These batch cocktail recipes are perfect to have on hand since they are some of the most commonly ordered drinks and taste great on draft. *Note: For all of the below recipes, the measurements are listed for an 18 L beverage tank, which holds approximately 600 ounces. Make sure to leave a bit of room in the tank so the ingredients can be properly mixed by the mixing base of the draft cocktail system. Old Fashioned Batch Recipe The Old Fashioned is a classic bourbon cocktail that kegs well and is perfect for your cocktails on tap program. Ingredients: 14 L Bourbon 2 L Filtered Water 2 L Simple Syrup Directions and Garnish: Add all ingredients to the beverage tank and turn on the mixing base to stir. Dispense the cocktail into a low-ball glass over a large ice cube. Add a dash of Angostura Orange bitters, garnish with orange and lemon peel, and serve. Moscow Mule Recipe for Cocktails On Tap A Moscow Mule is an excellent choice for cocktails on tap, as the ginger beer will stay fully carbonated in the keg and retain taste quality. Ingredients: 6 L Vodka 1.4 L Lime Juice 10.3 L Ginger Beer Directions and Garnish Add all ingredients to the beverage tank and turn on the mixing base to stir. Dispense the cocktail in a copper mug on the rocks. Garnish with mint and lime. Cosmopolitan Draft Cocktail Recipe For customers who love a fun, sweet cocktail, the Cosmopolitan is a great choice for cocktails on tap. Ingredients: 6 L Vodka 2 L Cointreau 4 L Cranberry Juice 2 L Lime Juice 3L Filtered Water Directions and Garnish Add all ingredients to the beverage tank and turn on the mixing base to stir. Dispense the cocktail into a martini glass. Garnish the glass with a lime or lemon wheel. Margarita on Draft Recipe Who doesn’t love a margarita on a hot summer day? This drink is excellent on draft and retains the fresh lime flavor it’s known for. Ingredients: 5 L Reposado Tequila 4 L Agave Syrup 1.5 L Orange Juice 3.5 L Lime Juice 4.5 L Filtered Water Directions and Garnish Add all ingredients to the beverage tank and turn on the mixing base to stir. Dispense into a margarita glass garnished with a salt rim. Add a lime wheel to the rim of the glass. Sangria Recipe for Cocktails on Tap Another summertime favorite, Sangria is known for being an excellent batch cocktail. Fortunately, it tastes just as good as a cocktail on tap! Ingredients: 3 L Cabernet Franc 0.5 L Cherry Liqueur 0.5 L Whiskey 0.25 L Honey 0.75 L Blueberry Juice 0.75 L Cranberry Juice 0.75 L Filtered Water Directions and Garnish Add all ingredients to the beverage tank and turn on the mixing base to stir. Garnish any glass with sugar or spices on the rim. Dispense cocktail into the glass. Boulevardier Recipe for Draft Cocktails A variation on the Negroni, a Boulevardier provides a bit of spice and is great for the cooler months. Try this recipe when serving cocktails on draft. Ingredients: 3 L Whiskey 3 L Campari 3 L Amaro Montenegro 1 L Filtered Water Directions and Garnish Add all ingredients to the beverage tank and turn on the mixing base to stir. Dispense the cocktail into a tall glass over large ice cubes. Add 2 dashes of Agostura Bitters. Garnish with mint and an expressed grapefruit peel. Adding Cocktails on Tap to Your Bar? Glacier Can Help If this guide to making batch cocktails on tap has inspired you to add draft cocktails to your beverage program, Glacier is here to help. We are one of the leading providers of cocktails on tap systems and beverage dispense equipment in the United States, and we’d love to help you start reaping the benefits of a draft cocktail system at your bar or restaurant. Serving cocktails on tap not only gives your bartenders a break – it also ensures that the taste and quality of your cocktails stay consistent over time. Your customers will enjoy faster service and delicious drinks with this type of system, and by reducing alcohol waste from mixing cocktails by hand, you can even see more profits. If you’d like to see what kinds of cocktails on tap systems may be best for your business, give us a call at 877-617-BEER. Our team would be happy to suggest some options and help get a new system installed.
