High Risk, High Reward

There are drinks you sip politely — and then there are drinks that demand a little courage. High Risk, High Reward was made for those who like to walk that line. It’s bold in colour, unapologetic in flavour, and balanced just close enough to danger that every sip feels alive.

This isn’t a cocktail for fence-sitters. It starts with the clean heat of overproof rum, softened by the depth of apricot liqueur and the bite of fresh lime. The foam layer adds contrast — light, silky, and aromatic — the calm before the storm. Then, as the crushed ice melts, everything begins to evolve. The sweetness fades, the acidity sharpens, and that rum comes back with a grin.

The garnish tells you what kind of drink this is. A mint sprig for freshness, a cucumber ribbon for restraint, and a glass that looks more suited for brandy than chaos. Because presentation is half the misdirection. You think you’re getting something elegant. You end up with something electric.

For bartenders, High Risk, High Reward is a challenge worth taking. For drinkers, it’s the kind of cocktail that reminds you why we shake in the first place — to find that perfect, thrilling balance between too much and just enough.

Recipe: High Risk, High Reward

Glass: Cognac snifter
Method: Shake and strain over crushed ice
Ice: Crushed (in glass)
Garnish: Mint sprig and cucumber ribbon on skewer

Ingredients:

• 45 ml Overproof rum

• 15 ml Apricot liqueur

• 25 ml Fresh lime juice

• 15 ml Honey syrup (2:1)

• 10 ml Ginger syrup

• 20 ml Cocktail Foamer 

Steps:

1. Add all ingredients except Cocktail Foamer to a shaker with ice and shake hard for 10 seconds.

2. Fine strain into a separate shaker tin, add Cocktail Foamer, and give it a quick dry shake.

3. Pour over crushed ice into a chilled cognac snifter.

4. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and a cucumber ribbon skewered neatly across the top.

It’s fiery, fragrant, and refreshing — a collision of tropical energy and controlled precision. A cocktail for those who don’t mind a little risk if it means getting the reward.