Cutting-edge concoctions

Karen Walker pours her Dough & Dynamite cocktail. Picture / Babiche Martens

Fabric and scissors were swapped for cocktail shakers when some of the country's top fashion designers stepped behind the bar.

Ten designers whipped up stylish, sweet confections at a cocktail competition last week in anticipation of New Zealand Fashion Week, which starts on September 18.

Claire Kingan-Jones' Solitaire - a mix of gin, lychee and ginger garnished with a diamante cocktail stick - was the judges' favourite.

Other designers taking part were Karen Walker, Liz Mitchell, Cybele Wiren, Andrea Moore, Caroline Church, Jane Rhodes, Heather Docherty, Alissa Serdoun and Mary-Ellen Prendergast.

The designers' cocktails will be available at the Hilton's Bellini bar from next week. But if you're keen to whip them up at home, here are some of the recipes.

CLAIRE KINGAN-JONES
Cocktail: Sapphire

45ml South gin
15ml ginger liqueur
45ml Ch'i & lychee syrup

Pour all ingredients into a martini glass, stir and serve.

KAREN WALKER
Cocktail: Dough & Dynamite

30ml Seven Tiki rum
10ml plum wine
30ml guava nectar
dash of ginger liqueur
4 chunks of watermelon

Mix ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Strain and pour into a martini glass, garnish with white citrus blossom.

LIZ MITCHELL
Cocktail: Undercurrent

60ml South gin
5ml Cinzano Bianco
splash of olive brine

Pour all ingredients into a martini glass and stir. Garnish with a caper then serve.

CYBELE WIREN
Cocktail: Sword Swallower

60ml lychee infused 42 Below Pure
10ml sake

Fill a boston shaker with ice, pour over all ingredients. Stir, strain into martini glass. Garnish with cherry studded with plastic swords dropped in centre.

ANDREA MOORE
Cocktail: The Saint

45ml 42 Below vodka
15ml white choc liqueur
15ml Cointreau
dash of orange juice
dash of grenadine
3 wedges of lime
sugar to garnish

Sugar rim a martini glass. Mix all ingredients in cocktail shaker, strain and pour into glass.