The East 8 Hold Up is a delicious, vodka-based cocktail with passion fruit syrup and fresh pineapple. It is fruity, refreshing, tangy, and bitter-sweet. The key to making it extra-tasty is to use pieces of fresh pineapple rather than juice.
This cocktail is perfect for summer sipping or tiki parties, though personally I could drink it any time of the year. You should check out Caribbean rum punch for another tasty and tropically-flavoured cocktail, and prepare to be instantly transported to a beach with sand between your toes.
I was recently introduced to this cocktail at the lobby bar in The London Edition. I recalled from previous visits that the bartenders there are fantastic, and I asked for something off of the menu. After a large fanfare of measuring, shaking, and pouring, the bartender presented me with an East 8 Hold Up - a delicious cocktail with a rather amusing story.
Origin
Kevin Armstrong of Milk & Honey, London, created this cocktail in 2010. He lived in an area of London called 'E8' that had its share of unsavoury characters, and muggings were common. After a night out, Kevin parted ways with friend Sam Jeveons, who stopped to relieve his bladder on the way home, pants down around his ankles.
A mugger approached from behind, stepped on Sam's pants and demanded that he hand over his wallet. However, things didn't go to plan as this hold up ended with Sam chasing the mugger down the street, his pants still around his ankles and his belt wrapped around his fist. Kevin decided to name his cocktail creation after that memorable evening.
Ingredients
- Fresh pineapple, diced
- Vodka
- Aperol
- Freshly squeezed lime juice
- Simple syrup
- Passion fruit syrup
See the recipe card below for quantities.
Instructions
Using a cocktail muddler, press the fresh pineapple into a purée.
Add all of the cocktail ingredients (fresh pineapple purée, vodka, Aperol, freshly squeezed lime juice, simple syrup, and passion fruit syrup) into your cocktail shaker, along with the pineapple purée and some ice cubes.
Shake very well, then strain into an ice-filled cocktail glass.
I garnished my cocktails with wedges of juicy pineapple and bright flowers to go with the cocktail's sunny, tropical flavours. However, the original garnishing for this drink is a pineapple and lime wedge.
Cheers! And make sure that you don't get caught with your pants around your ankles.
Equipment
To make this cocktail you will need a cocktail shaker, a muddler, and a cocktail strainer. You can find all of these pieces and more inside of this cocktail bar set.
📖 Recipe
East 8 Hold Up
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 3 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Category: Cocktails
- Cuisine: British
Description
The East 8 Hold Up is a delicious, vodka-based cocktail with passion fruit syrup and fresh pineapple. It is fruity, refreshing, tangy, and bitter-sweet.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons fresh pineapple, diced
1 ½ oz (45ml) vodka
½ oz (15ml) Aperol
½ oz (15ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
¼ oz (7.5ml) simple syrup
⅙ oz (1.88ml) passion fruit syrup
Instructions
Using a cocktail muddler, press the fresh pineapple into a purée.
Add all of the cocktail ingredients (fresh pineapple purée, vodka, Aperol, freshly squeezed lime juice, simple syrup, and passion fruit syrup) into your cocktail shaker, along with the pineapple purée and some ice cubes.
Shake very well, then strain into an ice-filled cocktail glass.
I garnished my cocktails with wedges of juicy pineapple and bright flowers to go with the cocktail's sunny, tropical flavours. However, the original garnishing for this drink is a pineapple and lime wedge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 51
- Sugar: 11.6 g
- Sodium: 6 mg
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20.4 g
- Protein: 0.6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: east 8 hold up
Kate Smith says
Great cocktail! So tropical with the perfect balance of tart and sweet
Asha says
Thank you Kate!
Marie M says
Love this drink
Asha says
Thanks 🙂 me too!
Jodie says
Perfection
Asha says
Thank you! Such a great drink for summertime
Natalie says
Cool dirnk
Asha says
Thanks! I thought so too
Reece says
Great flavour
Asha says
Thanks!
Wanda says
This tangy darling made my evening. First time trying this drink but won't be the last.
Asha says
Thanks! It's become a regular of mine as well 🙂
Mario says
Thanks for sharing. Great tasting drink.
Asha says
Thank you 🙂
Denise says
Ahhhhh this drink was a lovely way to start my evening. Revives the weary soul.
Asha says
Thank you, it's such a lovely cocktail ❤️
Kate says
Delicious drink.
Asha says
Thank you 🙂
Hope says
A perfect drink to end my evening.
Asha says
Thank you 🙂