Arabian Nights Cocktail Recipe

I first tried this cocktail recipe on my honeymoon in the Sahara, it was the perfect way to watch the sun set. Later, I heard from the locals that it is served to all new brides as a way of encouraging them to embrace the romance of marriage - a folklore taken from the story of the Arabian Nights.

I adapted the recipe to include the cream; it gives it a richness that works well with the tangy pineapple, sweet dates and hint of vodka. Great served as a cocktail, but equally delicious served as a mocktail for the whole family to enjoy.

Ingredients:

2 fresh dates

1 rolled date

2 ounces of vodka

1 ounce of pineapple juice

Dash of cream

Dash of soda water

Ice

Directions:

Finley chop the fresh dates and then add to a cocktail shaker with the vodka, soda water, cream, and pineapple juice before shaking vigorously for 1 minute. 

While the mixture is resting, add ice to a cocktail glass and slice your rolled date into a 2-3-centimeter slice. Pierce the date with a cocktail skewer and shape into a heart. 

Strain your cocktail over your ice and garnish with the heart shaped date before serving.

If you are making a mocktail version, replace the vodka with extra soda water.