Cocktails with Eucalyptus cordial
Eucalyptus cordial is a sweetened, acidified eucalyptus syrup: cooling, medicinal and long-lasting on the palate.
How it's used
Its aroma is cold, camphor-like and close to mint, and it carries across a whole drink. It suits gin, herbal and sparkling drinks, alongside citrus, mint or rosemary.
Substitutes for Eucalyptus cordial
Eucalyptus syrup
Replaces the cordial one for one. Syrups lack acid, so squeeze in a few drops of lemon juice if the balance falls flat.
Homemade syrup
Dissolve 400 g of sugar in 480 ml of hot water and toss in a small handful of fresh leaves sold for food, not florist stems. Steep, tasting every 10 minutes, then strain and sharpen with lemon.
Rosemary or bay syrup
The closest kitchen alternative. These herbs share eucalyptol, the compound responsible for that cooling scent.
Mint syrup
Cools in a similar way, but only smells of mint. Swapping it in yields a softer result without the medicinal edge.
Essential oil
Will not work. It is poisonous neat, and a teaspoon or less can be fatal.
