If you live in or have visited California, you know that it’s not a monolith. As one of the largest states in the continental U.S. the landscape, weather, people, vernacular, and culture differ from the most Northern tip to the Southern border.
We love California so much that our rum is inspired by and made from California botanicals. We can’t spill our secret mix of botanicals, but we blend the flavors and personalities of Northern and Southern California into our botanical rum.
We’ve compiled a list of our favorite Callisto cocktails that capture each of the personalities of Northern and Southern California. Is your vibe more NorCal or SoCal?
Northern California Cocktails
Callisto Cable Car
A Callisto take on the classic Cable Car cocktail. And an obvious homage to the iconic cable cars of the streets of San Francisco. Make yourself a Callisto Cable Car and imagine you’re on the corner of Hyde and Union listening to the hum of the rails, eating Swensen’s ice cream, and cherishing a San Francisco sunset.
1 1/2 oz of Callisto rum
1 oz of Lemon Juice
3/4 oz of Curacao
1/2 oz of Simple Syrup
Dash of Cinnamon Sugar (1:1 ratio)
Rub the rim of a chilled glass with a lemon wedge and dip into cinnamon sugar in a wide-mouthed bowl to coat. Shake the remaining ingredients with ice. Strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with an orange spiral.
California Gold Rush
Eureka! We’ve found the perfect northern California cocktail. The Callisto twist on the classic Gold Rush.
2 oz of Callisto rum
3/4 oz of Lemon Juice
3/4 oz of Honey
Combine all of the ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds until well mixed. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and serve.
California 75
A French 75? Northern Californian? Hear us out. The California 75 is the NorCal twist on a French classic. Drive up to Napa and pick up a bottle of a crisp, dry, California sparkling wine to give this cocktail a classic Californian twist.
2 oz of Callisto rum
5 oz of California Brut Sparkling Wine
3/4 oz of Simple syrup
1/2 oz of Meyer lemon juice
Shake Callisto, simple syrup, and lemon juice with cracked ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a Collins Glass half-filled with cracked ice. Top off with Californian Sparkling Wine. Enjoy!
Southern California Cocktails
California Girl
“Ugh, as if!” This cocktail is made for your inner valley girl. Put on Clueless and perfect that valley girl accent with this totally rad modern take on the White Lady cocktail. Sub gin for Callisto Rum and you’re like almost on Rodeo Drive.
2 oz of Callisto rum
3/4 oz of Meyer lemon juice
1/2 oz of Cointreau
1/4 oz of Honey syrup
1 Egg white
Dry shake the ingredients, then shake with ice. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with lemon peel and mint.
California Flip
Grab your flip flops, we’re heading to the beach. What’s more quintessentially Southern Californian than flip flops? Nothing. This creamy Callisto cocktail reminds us of long days with our toes in the sand and sunsets on the beach.
1 oz of Callisto rum
3/4 oz of Tawny port
1/4 oz of Simple syrup
3/4 oz of Heavy cream
1 Egg
Dry shake all of the ingredients, then shake again with ice. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a few grates of nutmeg.
Callisto Sunrise
A taste of the Golden State’s sunrise with a Callisto Sunrise. A Southern Californian staple, a Tequila Sunrise gets a twist with Callisto botanical rum. Maybe we should call it a Callisto Sunset, because you’ll be wanting to sip this one with your sweetie while watching the sunset on the California coast.
1 1/2 oz of Callisto rum
3 oz of Valencia orange juice
1/5 oz of Grenadine syrup
Shake Callisto and Valencia Orange Juice with cracked ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Add grenadine syrup and stir gently. Garnish with orange slices and maraschino cherry.
Do you agree with our choices? Share your California inspired cocktails on Instagram and don’t forget to tag us @drinkcallisto