How you can be a World Class bartender with Zacapa rum and Don Julio tequila

Celebrate the highly anticipated World Class Singapore Bartender of the Year and World Class Cocktail Festival with these delicious recipes
Don Julio
Photograph: Diageo
Time Out Singapore in partnership with Diageo
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Singapore is set to shake things up as the World Class Singapore Bartender of the Year makes its triumphant return after six years, where the country’s finest bartenders battle it out for a chance to represent the Lion City on the global stage at the finals in Toronto, Canada. As part of the World Class Cocktail Festival, these talented bartenders are also inviting you into their own bars to experience their craft firsthand. And if you’re keen to get in on the action, you don’t need to be a pro behind the bar yourself – just a little creativity and the right spirits, and you can be your own World Class bartender at home.

Just like the first round of the competition, we’re kicking things off with Zacapa and Don Julio, two standout spirits with deep histories and distinct profiles that make them ideal for cocktails. From Zacapa’s slow-aged richness to Don Julio’s smooth, oak-barrelled finesse, these spirits elevate every sip. Here’s how to mix up some signature drinks like a pro.

Zacapa rum

Crafted in the highlands of Guatemala, Zacapa is an award-winning rum that has earned a revered status among connoisseurs worldwide. Founded over half a century ago to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the town of Zacapa, this exceptional spirit is made from virgin sugar cane honey and aged using a unique Solera system at 2,300 metres above sea level, where the cool, high-altitude climate slows the aging process, enhancing its deep, complex flavours. 

How to make: Ron Zacapa Cloud’s Cradle

One way to indulge in Ron Zacapa is through the signature Ron Zacapa Cloud’s Cradle, a luxurious sip that deliciously blends deep caramel sweetness with a touch of spice. And if you're feeling bold, add soy sauce for a surprising umami twist.

Ingredients 

45ml Ron Zacapa XO 
7.5ml simple syrup 
2 dashes orange bitters 
2 teaspoons water 
Large ice cube 
Optional: 1-2 drops of soy sauce

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass.
2. Stir well with ice to chill and slightly dilute the drink.
3. Strain into a coupette over a large ice cube.
4. Add a drop or two of soy sauce to enhance umami notes.

How to make: Zacapa Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is a timeless classic, and with Zacapa No. 23 instead of the usual whiskey base, it gains a new depth that’s both rich and smooth. Aromatic bitters and simple syrup round out the flavours, creating a slow-sipping drink with layered complexity.

Ingredients

45ml Zacapa No. 23 Rum 
7.5ml simple syrup 
2 dashes aromatic bitters 
Orange twist for garnish

Method

1. Add Zacapa No. 23, simple syrup, and bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice.
2. Stir well until chilled.
3. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
4. Express the orange twist over the drink and drop it in as garnish.

Complete your experience with a special rock glass when you buy the Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Rum as a set here.

Don Julio tequila

The legend began in 1942, when a young Don Julio González saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in tequila production. With little but a dream and unmatched devotion, he set out to create the world’s first luxury tequila. For the next forty years, he spent his mornings walking the agave fields, carefully tending each plant. Aged for eight months in handpicked American white-oak barrels, Don Julio Reposado presents a rich golden hue and a velvety smooth finish, capturing the artistry of barrel-aged tequila.

How to make: Don Julio Paloma

Bright, citrusy, and delightfully refreshing, the Don Julio Paloma is the ideal warm-weather cocktail. Unlike its more famous cousin, the margarita, the Paloma relies on fresh grapefruit juice to deliver a tangy yet slightly bitter complexity, balanced beautifully by the smoothness of Don Julio Reposado. 

Ingredients

45ml Don Julio Reposado Tequila 
15ml fresh lime juice 
30ml fresh grapefruit juice
Sparkling water to top up
Pinch of salt 
Grapefruit slice for garnish

Method

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add Don Julio Reposado, lime juice, and grapefruit juice.
3. Stir gently, then top up with sparkling water.
4. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the top and garnish with a grapefruit slice.

Complete the experience with a special Don Julio Paloma glass when you buy the Don Julio Reposado as a set here.

How to make: Don Julio Margarita Reposado

The margarita needs no introduction, but with Don Julio Reposado, it’s a game-changer. Bold, oaky tequila is balanced with fresh lime, housemade curacao, and a hint of agave nectar for natural sweetness. Finished with house-ground chilli salt, this spicy twist on a classic is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

45ml Don Julio Reposado Tequila 
30ml fresh squeezed lime juice 
30ml housemade curacao or premium orange liqueur 
15ml agave nectar 
Chilli flakes and coarse sea salt to make house-ground chilli salt for garnish

Method

1. To make the house-ground chilli salt, pulse the chilli flakes and coarse sea salt in a food processor or use the mortar and pestle to grind them up.
2. Rim a rocks glass with the chilli salt and fill it with ice.
3. Shake tequila, lime juice, curacao, and agave nectar with ice until well chilled.
4. Strain into the prepared glass.
5. Garnish with a lime wedge or zest.

Purchase your Zacapa and Don Julio limited edition packs herePlease drink responsibly. Learn more at DrinkIQ.com.

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