Strawberry Serenade

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Cocktail History

The Strawberry Serenade is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created for National Strawberry Day after being asked to make a recipe specifically for Mozart Distillery Chocolate Strawberry Liqueur. The drink opts for a dessert-style template that calls for rum accented with the sweet fruit liqueur and chocolate bitters, but instead of the usual heavy cream base, I chose cream of coconut to give it more balance and a dreamy texture. Its name is also a nod to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, an influential composer from the Classical period and the inspiration for the distillery’s name.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Dark Rum: This is a type of rum made with fermented sugarcane juice or molasses and yeast, which are distilled and then aged, often in charred barrels, to develop a full-bodied, caramelized flavor.

Chocolate Strawberry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with cocoa, strawberries, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet, fruity flavor.

Cream of Coconut: This is a condiment made with coconut cream or coconut milk and sugar, which are blended and emulsified into a thick, rich spread.

Chocolate Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with chocolate, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a bittersweet, chocolate flavor.

Strawberry: This is a type of berry grown on low plants that has bright red skin speckled with yellow seeds and tart, sweet flavor.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry: This is a strawberry that’s been dipped in melted chocolate.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Muddler: This is used to muddle ingredients. I used the HQY Stainless Steel Cocktail Muddler.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. I used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Faint pink color

• Aroma: Fresh strawberry and dreamy coconut

• Taste: Creamy and sweet strawberry, chocolate, and coconut flavor with a hint of rum spice

• Finish: More chocolate and fruit

Kendall’s Take: “I was already a big fan of Mozart Distillery’s liqueurs after I started swapping out the coffee liqueur and chocolate bitters used in one of my all-time favorite drinks, the Mocha Spiked Horchata, for Mozart’s Coffee Chocolate Liqueur last year. That one’s since become a go-to, so I was excited to try out the strawberry version. Most assume you’d go with a cream-based template when making a recipe with it, but I ended up choosing cream of coconut instead of dairy. Oh man, does it give the drink such a magical texture! I would describe it as taking a sip of a strawberry cloud—light, airy, a little fruity, and very easy going down. The Strawberry Serenade would be a hit for Galentine’s Day or anytime you want to enjoy a sweeter pink drink with your ladies!”

Recipe