It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right? No need to wait. Ok, so maybe day drinking isn’t the best idea, but it will eventually be 5 o’clock. So, do you have your drink already picked out? Do you have a go-to that never lets you down? Let us inspire your taste buds and challenge your bartender with these unusual cocktail recipes. Or maybe you are your own mixologist? In that case, get ready. 

The Bacon Cherry Creek

Image: Aleksandr Nakic/E+/Getty Images

 Made for the bacon lover, this unusual cocktail starts with bacon-washed bourbon. 

• 2 ounces bacon-washed Knob Creek Bourbon
• 3/4 ounce Liquid Muse Cherry-Cinnamon Syrup
• 1/2 ounce ruby port
• Orange zest for garnish

The Ruby Queen Cocktail

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The Ruby Queen gets its name from the ruby red color of the fresh beet juice used to make it. Just add a little scotch and sweetness and you have yourself a fine cocktail.

• 1 1/2 ounces Cutty Sark Blended Scotch
• 1 ounces fresh red beet juice
• 3/4 ounce honey syrup
• 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
• Sprig of fresh tarragon for garnish

The Eucalyptus Martini

Image: Humberto Marques

Are you a fan of the cool, refreshing taste of menthol? Try out this eucalyptus martini recipe for an unusual spin on a classic cocktail. 

• 50 ml (approx. 1 1/2 ounces) Tanqueray 10 or Martin Miller's Gin
• 25 ml (approx. 3/4 ounce) homemade eucalyptus syrup
• 12.5 ml (approx. 1/2 ounce) lime juice
• 3 drops of egg white
• Eucalyptus leaf for garnish

The Bugs Cutty

Image: Cutty Sark

It’s time to take the carrot to a new level with scotch and some herbal liqueurs.

• 1 1/2 ounces Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition Scotch
• 1/2 ounce Amaro Meletti
• 1/2 ounce Yellow Chartreuse
• 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 ounces fresh pressed carrot juice
• Fresh ground black pepper for garnish

The Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Cocktail

Image: Carin Krasner/Stockbyte/Getty Images

Beer. Good.

Bourbon. Good.

BBQ. Good.

Beer + Bourbon + BBQ. Better.

Could this be the “manliest” drink out there? You be the judge. 

• 1 1/4 ounces Maker's Mark Bourbon
• 1 ounce Evan Williams Honey Reserve Whiskey Liqueur
• 1 bottle of Shiner Hefeweizen Beer
• 1 ounce "BBQ water"
• 1/4 of a whole orange

The Roasted Rhubarb, Strawberry and Rosemary Prosecco Cocktail

Image: Honest Cooking

If mimosas are your brunch best friend, give this drink a try. You might consider them cousins, just with hints of rhubarb, strawberry, and rosemary.

• 3 stalks rhubarb, chopped
• 3 Tablespoons sugar
• ½ cup strawberries, sliced
• ¼ teaspoon rosemary, chopped
• 1 bottle prosecco
• Rosemary sprigs for garnish

The Blood Orange and Ginger Margarita

Image: Honest Cooking

Who doesn’t love a good margarita? Take yours to the next flavor level with a little blood orange and ginger. 

• Ice
• 2 ounces blood orange juice
• 1.5 ounces tequila
• Juice from 1 wedge of lime
• 3 ounces strong ginger beer

The Havana

 Image: Honest Cooking

This unusual cocktail is called The Havana for a reason. What is one thing that Cubans are known for? Their cigars. That’s right, this drink is made with cigars. The bourbon absorbs the flavor of the tobacco giving this drink a strong, unique taste.

Tobacco-Infused Bourbon:

• 1 Cup (.24l) Bourbon
• 3 1" (2.54cm) Pieces Cut from a Good Quality Cigar

Cocktail:

• 2 Ounces (59ml) Infused Bourbon
• ¾ Ounce (22ml) Frangelico
• 12 Dashes Aztec Chocolate Bitters
• 9 Dashes Cherry Bitters
• 3 Dashes Angosturo Bitters

The Somrus Fizz

Image: Somrus

For the fans of Indian food out there, this unusual cocktail is the perfect pairing. It relies on the Indian liqueur Somrus to give it its unique Indian taste. 

• 1 1/2 ounces Somrus Cream Liqueur
• 1 ounce gin
• 1/2 ounce limoncello
• 1 egg white
• 3 drops orange blossom water
• 2 drops rose water
• 1/2 teaspoon superfine sugar
• 1/2 scoop of ice
• Soda water

The Plumdog Millionaire

Image: Bulldog Gin

While this drink really doesn’t have much to do with Slumdog Millionaire, the pairing of plum and lavender is unusual. Don’t be thrown off by these two flavors, this drink is definitely worth a try. 

• 2 ounces Bulldog Gin
• 1 ounce Japanese Plum Wine
• 1 ounce DRY Lavender Soda
• Black Plum Half Wheel Garnish
• Lavender Sugar Rim

The Bull Shot

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This cocktail used to be popular in the 60s and 70s and is currently making a comeback. Related to a Bloody Mary, just substitute the tomato juice for beef broth and you have the bull in the Bull Shot.

• 1 1/2 ounces vodka
• 3 ounces chilled beef bouillon or beef consommé
• Dash of lemon juice
• 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 2 dashes Tabasco sauce
• Fresh ground pepper to taste
• Celery salt (optional)
• Lemon wedge for garnish

The Candy Corn 

Image: S&C Design Studios

This might seem like a Halloween drink, but there’s nothing that says you can’t have it year round, especially if you like Kettle Corn. The drink gets it name from the candy part (sweet wine and grenadine syrup) and the corn part (Kettle Korn infused gin). 

• 1 1/2 ounces Kettle Corn-infused Bombay Sapphire Gin
• 1/2 ounce Moscato wine (sweet dessert wine)
• 3/4 ounce homemade citrus peel grenadine syrup
• 3 candy corns for garnish

Raise your glass for these unusual cocktail recipes. 

Cheers!