For The Byron Bay Issue we naturally head to the sublime Byron venue of Raes on Wategos to seek their cocktail expertise to share with you today. Raes is a bit of a dream wedding destination for sophisticates as you can book out the entire boutique hotel for a whole weekend of celebrations. They can cater to 50 guests seated and up to 70 guests for cocktail parties, plus a unique, personalised menu will be created for you by their head chef.

They say, “You can spend your days before and after your wedding indulging in morning swims, pink sunrises and lounging on the sun-drenched balconies of your Penthouse.” How heavenly to have something like that to look forward to right about now!

Their pina-colada-inspired cocktail below – available at Raes in-house dining room and cellar bar – gives you a little taste of that vibe. And since it includes a delightfully nutty liqueur created by the locals at Cape Byron Distillery, we couldn’t resist encouraging you to shake up a few while you plan your engagement party, wedding or honeymoon for 2021.

Maca-Colada by Raes on Wategos

  • 90ml of pineapple juice
  • 20ml Brookies ‘Mac’ macadamia liqueur
  • 20ml white rum
  • 20ml coconut cream
  • 15ml fresh lime juice
  • Candied cherry and pineapple frond, to garnish

Shake all ingredients except garnishes with ice. Strain into a tall or highball glass over crushed ice. Finished with a candied cherry (or two!) and/or pineapple fronds. Sip and feel like you’re on your beachy honeymoon already.

Ms Floral Says: Morning swims and pina-colada-inspired cocktails in Byron sounds incredible right about now! Thank you Raes on Wategos for allowing us to have a little piece of Byron Bay at home.
About Ms Fleur de Lys: Aside from being Ms Polka’s Editorial Assistant, Ms Fleur de Lys is also Polka Dot Bride’s Melbourne correspondent so you’ll see her running all over town finding wedding inspiration. As both a lifestyle journalist and cocktail aficionado, Fleur appreciates the power of words whipped up as deftly as a good martini.