You normally order a cocktail for one of three reasons, right? 1) to toast a special occasion as an alternative to Champagne 2) you actually really like the taste or 3) it’s a great photo opportunity. Because everyone knows nothing makes a better selfie accessory than a bright-coloured novelty cocktail.
But in between sticky fingers, dark bars and – well yes, the fact you’re probably actually wanting to drink your cocktail rather than agonise over angles – the perfect Instagram shot can be elusive.
So we sent Sasha Wilkins from award-winning fashion blog Liberty London Girlto try five Bacardi cocktails at the London Cocktail Club and do a run-down of her cocktail selfie rules at the same time. Let the likes flood in... *
READ MORE: What We Can Learn From The Unliked Photos Of Instagram
**Choose A Cocktail With Novelty Value
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Rumbongo, Rumbongo, they drink it in the Congo. But at the London Cocktail Club, Rumbongo is quite simply Bacardi rum and tropical juices, served to you in your very own monkey cooler. Really there’s no need for clever props or jazzy filters for this cocktail selfie. I mean, look at it, it’s a giant monkey. Just taking a straight up photo next to it will suffice, letting the cocktail do the talking. (When I asked if anyone actually ordered this, the barman replied: ‘*Once one person has a monkey, everyone wants a monkey.’ *I feel that’s a rule for life.)
READ MORE: Here’s How To Turn One Bottle Of Bombay Sapphire Into Five Very Different Drinks
**Match Your Mani To Your Lipstick
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At times cocktail drinking can require careful preparation. **La Familia – Bacardi **Gold rum, passionfruit, Benedictine liqueur shaken with citrus and egg white – is a pretty grown-up cocktail, so clearly it requires a very serious cocktail face. For once I’d had a manicure, so I went for the old match-your-lips-and-nails-to-the-drink trick. It’s subtle and says ‘I’m an adult and am having an expensive drink’.
**Use Your Greenery As The Focal Point
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The classic Mojito – Bacardi superior rum, lime wedges, mint (in case you’re wanting to recreate at home) – comes garnished with an angostura cocktail mint sprig at the London Cocktail Club. Which is rather handy, because if your cocktail has a key ingredient – such as mint – try using that as the focus of the pic. (It could be a huge piece of celery in a Bloody Mary, for example). Cropping adds some interest (and gets rid of nosy onlookers in the photo). I used Instagram and then toned down the colour with the ‘warm’ filter.
**Colour Correct Using The Right Filter
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This **Jam Jar Daiquiri – **Bacardi superior rum, a dollop of strawberry, forbidden liqueur and a hint of citrus – tasted delicious but required careful consideration. Pink cocktails can make your face look a bit too pink, which isn’t a great look for a selfie. I ran this through an Instagram filter – Nashville to be exact – to calm the colour down and make me look totally sober and not-so-saturated. Mind the pun.
**Accessorise In Advance
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You can’t go wrong with a classic Dark & Stormy – a sensual marriage of Bacardi Gold rum, lime, fresh ginger, honey syrup and ginger beer. This is a simple (and delicious) cocktail, and I was wearing a particularly good pair of vintage earrings, so I thought I’d use them to perk the picture up. Jewellery is a great accessory for selfies, next time I might even add a vintage ring to match.
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Follow Sasha on Twitter at @libertylndngirl
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.