Not everyone loves the astringent burn or aftertaste of near-pure drinks like gin and vodka. Enter cocktails.
For as long as liquor has existed, people have been mixing their drinks. Cocktails, therefore, have a surprisingly long history. They are chic, hip, and full of colour.
They have captured people’s attention with their relative smoothness, taste profiles, character, and the artsy nature with which they arrive at tables. We are in the age of experimental cocktails.
Bartenders are getting more and more creative with their riff on the drinks. Everything is making it to the glass: bitters, sugar, eggs, vermouth, citrus, syrup, name it.
Cocktails have become box office on account of their novelty and have become an important part of a subculture in alcohol consumption.
We talked to three Nairobi-based cocktail enthusiasts about some of the most memorable cocktails they’ve had in 2024 and what made them special.
Michael Kilonzo
Michael Kilonzo is an influencer. His nature of work allows him to travel a lot. In the process, he gets to sample cocktails from around the world that leave him with great memories.
Micheal Kilonzo Musau poses for a photo after an interview at 270-degree rooftop in Nairobi on December 3, 2024.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
For him, cocktails are more than drinks; they evoke memories, moments, and moods. At the top of his mind, he remembers four cocktails that stood out for him in the year.
Aperol Spritz – Mombasa
A Spritz is an Italian wine-based cocktail commonly served as an aperitif across Italy. “What I love about this cocktail is its simplicity and vibrance all mixed into one drink. Its main components are Prosecco, Aperol, and sparkling water. It has a distinct citrusy flavour that I found very refreshing when I travelled to Mombasa early this year. It was particularly very handy in the coastal heat,” he says. “This cocktail is lower in alcohol content. Ideal for when you want to chill.”
Whiskey Sour—Nairobi
Its taste profile is a blend of sweet, bitter, and sour. The Whiskey Sour contains whiskey—as its name suggests—lime juice and sugar.
It may vary depending on other components used in its build. “I discovered this on a night out at the Village Market [Nairobi]. This is a great cocktail for people who like whiskey with a sour mix to cover up the alcoholic taste.”
Negroni—Cape Town, South Africa
“I’d call this a gentleman’s drink. It is a strong yet smooth drink. Cape Town is a vibey city, and a Negroni compliments the city’s attitude. I went there to celebrate my birthday, and a Negroni is a perfect celebratory drink.” It is a heady mix of Gin, Campari, and sweet Vermouth. It offers a bold, bittersweet profile and is a good choice for short celebratory nights.
Bloody Mary—Diani
The Bloody Mary combines tomato juice, celery, gin, and tonic water. This blend creates a savoury and refreshing drink. “I sampled the good old Bloody Mary in Diani at wedding luncheon. I loved its rich flavour and bold character. It is also a departure from other traditional sweet cocktails.”
Suzzanne Atieno
Suzzanne is an image technology product manager based in Nairobi. Hers is a very busy job. She enjoys sharing cocktails with friends whenever she can step out of the routine. As the festive mood kicks in, here are her four best cocktails.
Passion Caipiroska—Zanzibar, Tanzania
This quick and refreshing summer cocktail is ideal for times spent in hot and humid places like coastal towns. It balances the sweetness of passionfruit with a zesty, slightly fizzy finish. Its alcoholic component is vodka. “It’s an easy fix to a lazy beach afternoon,” Suzzanne says.
Tom Collins—Juba, South Sudan
This is a simple cocktail that combines gin, soda water, lemon juice, and a touch of mint. The fresh mint elevates the fizzy and citrusy notes. “It was like meeting an old friend in a faraway country. I have taken Tom Collins before; I just hadn’t experienced it with a minty profile that blends so well with the other profiles in the cocktail.”
El Franco Spicy Margarita—Nairobi
“When I need a drink for a fun night out, the El Franco Spicy Margarita is my drink. This bold cocktail mixes tequila, mezcal, grapefruit, watermelon, lime, jalapeño, and a dash of mint. Its interplay of sweet, tart, and spicy flavours creates an oxymoronic taste—bittersweet yet fiery. Perfect for unwinding after a long month, it’s a true crowd-pleaser,” she adds.
Mimosa – Lamu
“This has been my choice of celebratory drink for some time now. Turning 30 was a big thing, and how else would I want to commemorate my entry into an epic decade than with bottomless mimosas? I like it for its versatility and ability to elevate any moment.”
Suzanne Atieno Otieno and Micheal Kilonzo Musau pose for a photo after an interview at 270-degree rooftop in Nairobi on December 3, 2024.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
The mimosa she is talking about is made up of sparkling wine and orange juice. It is a delicate cocktail, as Suzzanne admits, “too much of one component will ruin your mimosa. Too much fruit will turn the flavour into somewhat of a fruit punch. Too much wine and that’s all you will taste.”
Wanjiru Njoroge
Wanjiru loves the cheer of friends and good times. “With the fast-paced city life, it is easy to forget to step aside and have a little fun.
I love being around friends who bring this out of me and have great cocktails to compliment this. This year has been about sampling and experimenting. Two cocktails stand out for me,” she says.
Cloud 9 Aviation—Nairobi
“This is my to-go cocktail. This is a signature cocktail from 270 Degrees Rooftop Bar. Every time I meet with friends, say, once a week (sometimes more), to banter, talk, and generally get together, I choose the Cloud 9 Aviation,” she says.
The cocktail’s base is Tanqueray Gin. Instead of egg white, as you do with a whiskey drink, they use Aquafaba (blended chickpeas). It doesn't have that eggy feeling.
This specific one has a little bit of purple haze tea. “The tea gives it a sweet flavour. The cocktail is an upper; it doesn't bring you down, it's quite light. It is also a very fresh drink—I take a maximum of three per sitting.”
Gin and Tonic
“If I ever found myself at a place where I can’t have my Cloud 9 Aviation or a Margarita, then I would take Gin and Tonic (G&T). You can always rely on this as there will always be gin and tonic—and, therefore, my cocktail.”
As the name suggests, it is a highball cocktail made of gin and tonic water poured over a large amount of ice. The ratio is commonly 1:1 but varies with taste preference and other drink mixers at play.
Cocktails are alcoholic drinks, even though they may have taste profiles not common to alcohols—they should, therefore be taken in moderation and enjoyed responsibly.
