Extravagant cocktails: the Gold Coast trend everyone wants to get a photo for Instagram of

Whether it’s a Japanese Slipper or a Pina Colada, this Gold Coast cocktail festival has it all. Including some very unique creations like the Gumball.

IT’S cocktail season and bar tenders all around the Gold Coast have been mixing, shaking, stirring, muddling and pouring up concoctions of sickly sweet, sour and refreshing cocktails.

Extravagant cocktails stacked high with sugar and chocolate are the latest trend being served up around the Coast.

Retros and Shooters in Surfers Paradise marketing manager Tammy Wood says she thinks people have become attracted to the appearance of the drink.

Cocktail connoisseur Fiona McConnell and mixologist Brady Hixson prepare for the cocktail festival at NightQuarter in Helensvale. Photo: Tertius Pickard

“Now it’s summer time, people really enjoy a cocktail with big chucks of fruit hanging off it and bright colours,” she said.

“People love our blue lagoon fish bowl. Of course, it’s best shared as they are generous in size, but I think that’s what people love about them.”

This Saturday, NightQuarter is hosting a Sugar and Spice Cocktail Festival in their new cocktail bar, the Deck.

Cocktail connoisseur Fiona McConnell and mixologist Brady Hixson prepare for the cocktail festival at NightQuarter in Helensvale. Photo: Tertius Pickard

NightQuarter Bar manager Raoni Borges said he has created 30 unique cocktails for the night.

“Our most unique being served is called the Gum ball. It’s made with jelly bean infused vodka and is quite sweet but fresh with lemon juice,” Mr Borges said.

Guests attending NightQuarter are expected to use around 50 litres of different spirits and serve up around 2000 drinks.

MOST POPULAR COCKTAILS OF SUMMER 2018

FISH BOWLS

“Fish bowls are the one thing I’ve noticed that people love to share on Instagram,” Mr Borges said.

SILLY AND SWEET CANDY

Sweet nostalgic candy flavours have been a huge hit recently. NightQuarter is serving up a Gum ball flavoured drink which is mixed with jelly bean infused vodka.

DESERT SHAKES

Alcoholic, sweet and sticky desert shakes are a big hit — the more chocolate, baked goods and sugar stacked on the better.

FRESH AND FRUITY

It’s always been a favourite but new drinks, such as botanical flavours, are the new refreshingly cool trend.