By Leigh O’Connor.
There comes a time in every trend’s life when it must take a long, hard look in the mirror and accept the truth: it’s over, darling. For the Espresso Martini - once the Queen of "just one drink before we head home” - that moment is now.
She’s had a fabulous run. She’s kept us perky on dance floors, at rooftop bars, even through awkward work functions. Move over, caffeine Queen. There’s a new wave of festive drinks swirling across Australia and they’re laced with native botanicals, bold flavours and the unapologetic swagger of a Summer Christmas.
Welcome to the era of Wattleseed Negronis, Finger Lime Sours and Davidson Plum Spritzes - cocktails that trade the Northern Hemisphere’s sugar-laden, cinnamon-soaked Christmas vibes for something brighter, tangier and unmistakably Aussie. Why should Europe have a monopoly on festive drinks when we’ve got a pantry full of native ingredients begging to be shaken, stirred and shown off at every December barbeque?
The Wattleseed Negroni: A New Classic with More Personality Than Your Work Bestie
Wattleseed is having a quiet but powerful moment. Nutty, toasty and slightly chocolatey, it slips into a Negroni like it was born for the role. Where the Espresso Martini screams, "Let’s get lit!”, the Wattleseed Negroni murmurs, "I’ve got depth, darling.” It’s the grown-up sibling in the cocktail family - still fun, still punchy, but with a sophistication that suggests you've been to at least one farmers’ market this year.
Expect to see it everywhere this Christmas: clutched by coastal holidaymakers, passed around backyard parties and appearing on menus where bartenders whisper things like "infused overnight” and "foraged locally”. It’s the Christmas spirit reimagined - bittersweet, aromatic and very easy to drink a few too many of.
Finger Lime Sours: The Glitter Bomb of Summer
Finger limes are basically nature’s popping candy and if you haven’t had those pearly citrus beads bursting across your palate, prepare for a festive glow-up. A Finger Lime Sour takes the classic whisky sour template and hits it with flickers of lime caviar that sparkle like Christmas lights on a Queensland verandah.
It’s tangy. It’s fresh. It’s a little bit bougie and it feels exactly like the kind of drink you serve when you want guests to think you’re effortlessly cool, even if you’ve spent half the day trying to keep the pavlova from collapsing.
Davidson Plum Spritzes: Because Christmas Should Taste Like Colour
Move over Aperol - Davidson plum has entered the chat and she’s here to dominate. Intensely tart with a deep magenta hue, this ruby beauty turns any Spritz into a drink so glamorous it practically demands its own playlist. Think sunset tones, tropical acidity and instant holiday smugness.
Pair it with gin, bubbles, or whatever sparkling thing you remembered to chill. No one will care about the specifics; they’ll be too busy marvelling at the fact that their drink looks like it could headline a Summer fashion campaign.
The Verdict: Santa’s Gone Native
So yes, the Espresso Martini has earned her rest. Let her nap. This Christmas, Australia is shaking things up with flavours that match our sunshine, our beaches and our deliciously chaotic December energy. Expect bold. Expect bright. Expect cocktails with more attitude than a family cricket match after three hours in the sun.
Cheers to a festive season with fewer reindeer and more rooftail vibes.
