How to Make a Sicilian Paintbrush Cocktail: Craft Recipe & Expert Tips
A Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting the Ultimate Serve.
A fresh, summery highball and a modern twist on the classic Indian Paintbrush. The dryness of grapefruit juice and Aperol is beautifully balanced with the sweetness of fresh orange and maple syrup, while Sekforde's Sicilian orange, rosemary and gentian sparkling blend adds a botanical finish that ties the whole serve together. A few dashes of Peychaud's bitters bring subtle depth. Light, dry, and very drinkable, this one's a crowd pleaser from the very first sip.
⸻
Base Spirit: Gin
Flavour Profile: Dry, citrusy, botanical, refreshing
Glassware: Highball Glass
Occasion: Garden Parties, Summer Gatherings, Dinner Parties, Birthday Celebrations
⸻
Ingredients:
40ml Gin
20ml Aperol
30ml Fresh Grapefruit Juice
15ml Fresh Orange Juice
10ml Maple Syrup
Sekforde Sicilian Orange, Rosemary & Gentian Sparkling Blend (to top)
2 Dashes Peychaud's Bitters
Rosemary Sprig & Orange Rind (garnish)
⸻
How to make:
Add the gin, Aperol, fresh grapefruit juice, fresh orange juice, and maple syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake hard for 10–15 seconds until well chilled.
Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice.
Top with Sekforde's Sicilian orange, rosemary & gentian sparkling blend.
Add the Peychaud's bitters dashes on top, allowing them to bloom naturally through the glass.
Garnish with a rosemary sprig and a twist of orange rind.
Serve immediately.
⸻
Allergens:
Sulphites (Aperol and bitters, brand dependent)
⸻
Story behind the Serve
This serve is a modern twist on the Indian Paintbrush, a cocktail traditionally built with vodka, grapefruit juice, fresh lime, rosemary syrup, and Peychaud's bitters. We've taken that foundation and reworked it around gin and Aperol, swapping in fresh orange and maple syrup for a softer, more rounded sweetness, and finishing with Sekforde's botanical sparkling blend in place of a simple top. The result is a lighter, more aromatic highball, dry where the original was sharp, and finished with a delicate effervescence that makes it feel distinctly suited to a Sussex summer afternoon.
Planning an Event in Sussex?
Whether you're hosting a summer garden party in Lewes, a relaxed dinner party in Brighton, or a anniversary celebration across the Sussex countryside, we bring bespoke cocktail experiences to you.
Loved this one? Try our Blueberry Basil Gin Smashnext, perfect for your next garden party.
Want the full lineup? Browse our Gin Cocktails for more inspiration.
Ready to bring it to your event? Enquire about Private Events across Brighton, Hove & Sussex.
Premium Hove-based mixology service across:
East & West Sussex | Tailored menus | Professional Bartenders
