The Maccarita: This Is Paul McCartney’s Favourite Cocktail

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These drinks are inspired by icons

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What’s Paul McCartney’s signature drink? Which spirit best represents Audrey Hepburn? And what was the late Queen Elizabeth II’s go-to order? A glamorous new book, Cocktails at Larry’s, pays homage to an array of sitters from the National Portrait Gallery’s archives through cocktails, merging mixology with history.

It’s a project from Larry’s Bar, the speakeasy found within the National Portrait Gallery, which features walls lined with portraits of cultural figures, from music legends to Hollywood stars and royalty. ‘These cocktails are not just drinks – they’re an invitation to explore the lives of some of the most iconic figures in British history,’ said Tom Onions, co-founder of The Daisy Green Collection, which operates Larry’s Bar and wrote the book in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery.

‘Cocktails at Larry’s captures the essence of these personalities and the moments they inhabited, weaving together the worlds of art, culture, and cocktails in a way that feels truly timeless.’

Below, we share three favourites from the book.

3 Recipes From Cocktails at Larry’s

The Maccarita

Vibrant, refreshing and sunny

‘The Maccarita pays homage to the Margarita, with its history as colourful as its flavours, and various stories claiming to be its true origin. Tequila, which gained popularity in the United States after the Second World War, is the key ingredient in a good margarita. The spirit is made only in the Mexican town of Tequila, from blue Weber agave. During the 1970s, a Tequila Sunrise was the drink in LA, loved by many of the greatest music icons.

‘With its key ingredients of orange and tequila, it has some similarities with the Maccarita. McCartney likes to use clementine juice in his cocktail, and includes triple sec and Cointreau to add layers of orange which contrast with the lime, salt and tequila blanco. At Larry’s, we have played with a number of twists on this drink – the peppery tequila blanco can be switched for tequila resposado with a hint of vanilla, or for a smoky mezcal.’

Ingredients:

Patron Silver tequila
Cointreau Briottet
Curaçao triple sec
Fresh clementine juice
Salt on lime juice on the rim, to garnish

The Monroe: Lychee and Rose Petal Martini

Delicate, luxurious and floral

‘The allure and charm that Marilyn Monroe exuded on screen have become synonymous with beauty, and we endeavour to conjur her inimitable glamour with our meticulously crafted Lychee and Rose Petal Martini.

‘Lanique, a key component of this cocktail, traces its origins back to the 18th century. Made from rose petals, Lanique was favoured by nobility for its luxurious aroma and delicate flavour. The Martini itself has its history in the 19th century; it is believed to have evolved out of the Martinez (a drink of gin, vermouth, maraschino liqueur and bitters) created in the town of Martinez in California. Fruit-based cocktails are very much a product of the later 20th century, with a growing following today, which seems only appropriate for one of the greatest and most enduring global icons.’

Ingredients:

Konik’s Tail vodka
Lanique Spirit of Rose liqueur
Briottet lychee liqueur
Apricot liqueur
Cadello 88 Lime juice
Rose petal and frozen yogurt coconut tear, to garnish

The Hepburn: White Lady

Fresh, minty and elegant

‘The original recipe of the White Lady was created in 1919 by Harry MacElhone, at Ciro’s nightclub, where Audrey Hepburn would later begin her career as a dancer. MacElhone created another version of the recipe in 1929 at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, which included hints of mint, and provides the inspiration for our cocktail. Our White Lady combines mint and gin, which are vacuumsealed together at -19 degrees celsius for 60 minutes, to extract flavour without drawing the bitterness from the mint leaves. It is served with a refreshing foam, infused with Earl Grey tea and lemon.’