Kick off your date night right with a delicious cocktail! Our good mate, and fab festival host, Andy Clarke is here to help you add some spice to your Valentine's weekend.

His delectable Pineapple Smash, from his upcoming book Home Bar*, is beautifully fragrant and sweet, yet packs a punch! Introducing pineapple to red chilli feels a bit like sitting the good kid next to the naughty kid at school, but hey – opposites attract. This daring combo works on so many levels – the addition of basil, white rum, and lime juice creates a serious flavour explosion. 

*Pineapple Smash is from Andy‘s upcoming book ‘Home Bar’ which will be published by Welbeck Publishing in May 2022. 

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Cocktail shaker
Muddler
Juicer
2 lowball glasses (or highball if using sparking wine)
Fine-mesh strainer

PROPORTIONS

2 parts white rum 
4 parts pineapple juice 
1 part lime juice

INGREDIENTS 

100ml/4fl oz white rum
½ red chilli
8 basil leaves
200ml/7fl oz pineapple juice
50ml/2fl oz fresh lime juice
1 egg white
2 large handfuls of ice cubes
Dry sparkling wine (optional)

TO GARNISH

Shavings of lime zest

METHOD

① Put the rum, chilli and basil leaves in a cocktail shaker and muddle. Add the pineapple juice, lime juice and egg white and shake for about 10 seconds. Add a handful of ice cubes and then shake for about 20 seconds more until the shaker is extremely cold to the touch.

② Fill the glasses with ice and strain the cocktail into the glasses.

③ To garnish, cut two thin shavings of lime zest, twist to release the oils, then add one to each glass.

④ For a longer drink, and to make it a little more like a Flirtini, top up with dry sparkling wine