How To Make a Bride's Tears Cocktail

By Mina Sorvese

Serving Bride's Tears Cocktails at weddings is a traditional Dutch custom. The drink is made especially for weddings, either to be served at the reception or as a gift given by the bride and groom to their guests. Comparable to perfume, the smell is floral and fragrant. The gold and silver coloring from the spices are to represent the smell of roses and moonshine. Old tradition states that the couple keeps a bottle of the cocktail, and when the wife is mad at the husband, she pours a glass and gives it to him as a reminder of the vows they took on their wedding day. There are various ways to make a Bride's Tears Cocktail, and below are some recipes.

Traditional Bride's Tears

Juice of 2 lemons
2 teaspoons cinnamon
4 cloves
2 pieces of mace
6 white peppercorns
1 teaspoon coriander
5 orange peels
1 unpeeled tart apple
2 cups milk
2 quarts red or white wine

Slice cloves lengthwise and crush white peppercorns. Squeeze the lemons and reserve the juice. Dice the apple and peel the oranges. In a large punch bowl or pitcher that hold a gallon of liquid, mix lemon juice, spices, apples, and orange peels. Add wine and milk. Allow cocktail to steep for at least a day before serving.

For a Bride's Tears cocktail that is a little more contemporary, follow the recipes below. These cocktails can be served at the wedding reception, or even as a fun drink at a bridal shower or bachelorette party.

Bride's Tears

2 ounces vodka
1/2 cup pink lemonade
Pink rim sugar
1 lemon, sliced into wedges

Rub rim of cocktail glasses with lemon wedges and dip the rim into sugar. In a martini shaker, add ice, vodka, and pink lemonade. Shake and strain into cocktail glasses. Fill an Apothecary jar and a small bowl with faux pearls. Tie a pink ribbon around the lid of the jar. Prior to the guests being served their Bride's Tears cocktail, tradition calls for them to make a wish for the couple and drop a few pearls into a jar. The pearls represent the tears of joy the bride will cry on her wedding day. This drink can also be served as a shot - just use shot glasses in lieu of cocktail glasses.

Southern Bride's Tears

2 1/2 ounces gin
1 ounce grapefruit juice
Dash of grenadine

Pour into a martini shaker with ice. Shake and strain into cocktail glasses.