Celeste Cocktail

The Celeste is a beautifully crafted gin cocktail that harmonizes botanical notes with the sweet fruitiness of apricot and the nutty creaminess of orgeat. Fresh lemon juice provides a tart backbone, while a few dashes of Peychaud's bitters add a layer of complexity and a subtle pink hue. It's a sophisticated, silky, and refreshingly complex drink perfect for those who appreciate nuanced flavors.
Celeste Cocktail

Preparation

Preparation time: 4 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Celeste is classified as a modern classic cocktail. It falls into the sour category due to its structure of spirit, citrus, and sweetener. Its unique combination of ingredients makes it a sophisticated choice among contemporary gin drinks.

Serving

Serve this sophisticated drink ice-cold in a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass for an elegant presentation. It's a spirit-forward but balanced cocktail with a moderate alcohol content, intended to be sipped and savored.
Serving size
Approximately 120 ml (4 oz)
Alcohol content
Approximately 23-26% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

This cocktail was created by esteemed London bartender Nick Strangeway. It's considered a modern classic that emerged from the cocktail renaissance of the early 2000s. The drink is celebrated for its perfect balance and the way it layers multiple distinct flavors into a cohesive and delightful whole.
Origin
Created by Nick Strangeway in London, United Kingdom, during the early 21st century.

Celeste Cocktail

The drink is primarily known as the Celeste or Celeste Cocktail. The name evokes a celestial or heavenly quality, fitting its delicate and aromatic profile. There are no other widely recognized alternative names for this modern classic.
Original name
Celeste
Alternative name
The Celeste

Characteristics overview

The Celeste offers a complex bouquet of botanical gin, sweet apricot, and nutty almond, with a silky smooth texture. Its flavor is a perfect balance of sweet and sour, finishing with a clean, lingering taste and a beautiful pale pinkish hue.
Flavor
Botanical, Fruity, Nutty, Tart, Aromatic, Stone Fruit
Aroma
Juniper, Apricot, Almond, Anise, Floral
Taste balance
Sweet, Sour
Aftertaste
Clean, Lingering, Complex, Fruity
Fizziness
Still
Color appearance
Cloudy, Pale Pink, Peach Hue
Texture
Silky, Smooth
Seasonality
Refreshing, Year-round

Flavor intensity & Experience

This cocktail has a medium-high flavor intensity, characterized by a prominent fruitiness and a balanced interplay of sweet and sour notes. The alcohol presence is moderate and well-integrated, while the texture has a subtle creaminess from the orgeat.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

You will need London Dry Gin as the base, complemented by apricot liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and orgeat for the body. A couple of dashes of Peychaud's bitters are crucial for the cocktail's signature color and aromatic complexity.
  • London Dry Gin45 ml (1.5 oz)
    A classic juniper-forward gin works best to balance the sweetness.
  • Apricot Liqueur15 ml (0.5 oz)
    Brands like Rothman & Winter or Marie Brizard are excellent choices.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice22.5 ml (0.75 oz)
    Freshly squeezed is essential for the bright sour flavor.
  • Orgeat15 ml (0.5 oz)
    A quality almond syrup, which adds sweetness and a creamy texture.
  • Peychaud's Bitters2 dashes
    Adds color and a distinct anise and cherry flavor profile.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

This is a shaken cocktail, so a cocktail shaker is essential. You'll also need a jigger for measuring, and both a Hawthorne and a fine mesh strainer for a perfectly smooth pour.
  • Cocktail shaker for chilling and combining ingredients.
  • Jigger for accurate measurement.
  • Hawthorne strainer to hold back the ice.
  • Fine mesh strainer to ensure a silky texture.

Instructions

To prepare the Celeste, combine all ingredients in an ice-filled shaker and shake well until chilled. Double strain the mixture into a pre-chilled coupe glass and garnish with an expressed lemon twist.
1. Chill your coupe or Nick & Nora glass by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer.
2. Add all ingredients—gin, apricot liqueur, lemon juice, orgeat, and Peychaud's bitters—to a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill the shaker with cubed ice.
4. Shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled.
5. Discard the ice from your chilled glass.
6. Double strain the cocktail through a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer into the chilled glass.
7. Express the oils from a lemon twist over the surface of the drink and drop it in as a garnish.

Garnishing

A simple yet effective lemon twist is the ideal garnish. Expressing the oils from the peel over the glass adds a bright citrus aroma that complements the drink's flavors.
  • Lemon twist, expressed over the drink to release oils and then placed in the glass.

Dietary Information

This cocktail contains nuts due to the orgeat (almond syrup). It is generally dairy-free and gluten-free, but may not be vegan as some orgeat can contain dairy and Peychaud's bitters may contain cochineal.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✕ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✕ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

The drink contains around 200 calories per serving, primarily from the alcohol and the sugars in the apricot liqueur and orgeat. The carbohydrate and sugar content is moderate for a sour-style cocktail.
Calories
Averagely 190-220 kcal (795-920 kJ)
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 15-18 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 14-17 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is perfect for sophisticated occasions like cocktail parties or as an elegant pre-dinner drink (aperitif). Its refreshing and complex profile also makes it a wonderful choice for a sunny afternoon or a stylish summer gathering.
  • Cocktail Party
  • Aperitif
  • Elegant Evening
  • Summer Gathering

Pairing suggestions

The Celeste's complex, fruity, and botanical profile pairs well with light and aromatic foods. Consider serving it alongside appetizers like goat cheese crostini, grilled shrimp, or a simple bowl of high-quality almonds and olives to complement its nutty notes.
  • Light appetizers
  • Goat cheese and fig crostini
  • Grilled shrimp
  • Almonds and olives

The Celestial Harmony of the Celeste Cocktail

The Celeste is a triumph of modern mixology, a sophisticated gin sour that is both refreshing and complex. Its genius lies in the balance of juniper-forward gin, sweet apricot, nutty orgeat, and fresh lemon, all brought together by the unique aromatic touch of Peychaud's bitters. Perfect for those looking to explore beyond the standard classics, the Celeste offers a memorable and elegant sipping experience.

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