Gold Coast bars: the best cocktails to get you in the spirit of summer

Hot weather calls for cool refreshments. We’ve found five of the best cocktails to help you get into the spirit of summer.

Hot weather calls for cool refreshments. Amber Macpherson has found five of the best cocktails to help you get into the spirit of summer.

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Holy Hendricks

Mr PP’s Deli and Rooftop Bar, 43 Nerang St, Southport

Mr PPs' Rooftop bar's spring fling drink with strawberry, pineapple and lemon.

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Cool off with a cocktail fresh off Mr PP’s’ new menu, curated to capture the best harvests of the warmer weather. Bar manager Peter Boxsell says the holy Hendrick’s cocktail uses on-trend gin for a base before adding seasonal fruit. “Everyone’s loving Hendrick’s at the moment. It’s a refreshing citrusy summer cocktail,” he says. “It’s made with Hendrick’s (Gin), elderflower liqueur, fresh cucumber and citrus. It’s pretty simple.” If you prefer vodka-based cocktails, Peter recommends the spring fling drink with strawberry, pineapple and lemon.

Beauty and the Beast

White Rhino, Shop 38, Circle On Cavill, Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise

Pics of "instagrammable" cocktails at the White Rhino Bar in Surfers - Cocktails. 3- Beauty and the Beast

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The mercury rises, the days are longer and party season kicks off — everything about summer is extra, and White Rhino has a cocktail to match the vibe. The Surfers Paradise restaurant and bar’s Beauty and the Beast cocktail is a mix of fruit and vodka, served to your table in a smoky haze of dry ice. “It’s a delicate blend of vodka, strawberry liqueur, cranberry, cloudy apple, passionfruit and lime, beautifully presented with a red rose,” White Rhino events manager Bree Maloney says. “Make sure your cameras are handy for this one.”

In The Summertime

The Cambus Wallace, 4/2237 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

Dave Ferry from the Cambus Wallace. Picture: Jerad Williams

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A certain Thirsty Merc song comes to mind when you’re thirsty for a drink at The Cambus Wallace. The classy cocktail bar offers a concoction called In The Summertime, featuring fennel-infused Husk pure cane agricole rum, Maraschino liqueur, fresh watermelon, lime juice, simple syrup and cucumber. The locally-sourced rum paired with cool watermelon and cucumber will have you dreaming of sweet times and hot nights in no time.

Rosella’s Cocktail

Rosella’s, 1734 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Enjoy an unusual cocktail with a difference at Rosella's.

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At first glance Rosella’s signature cocktail looks like it’s resting in a small glass slipper. While a shoey might tie in with the Burleigh Heads Australiana themed bar, the vessel is actually the shape of the bar’s namesake — a bird, complete with lilly pilly leaves as tail feathers. “The Rosella cocktail is served in a little bird, made with Rosella jam, vodka, hibiscus flower. It has really nice flavours,” Rosella’s co-owner Jack Debeere says. “Our drinks and food offering is pretty fun.”

Heart-shaped Box

The Collective Palm Beach, 1128 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach

The Collective Palm Beach staff straining and making cocktail drink. Picture: Supplied/Destination Gold Coast

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Summer might bring thoughts of mangoes and watermelon but the often forgotten lychee is also in season from October to March, and its liqueur is sweet and syrupy. The Collective Palm Beach’s heart-shaped box cocktail is based with lychee liqueur and built with pear puree, lavender liqueur, vodka and lime for a refreshing sip. This underrated summer fruit deserves a toast, so raise your glass to lychees and the genius who extracted alcohol from it.

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