Name: East 8 Hold-Up Cocktail Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients: 45 ml Vodka; 15 ml Aperol; 20 ml Pineapple juice; 15 ml lime juice (freshly squeezed); 8 ml Sugar syrup; 5 ml Passionfruit Syrup; 1 piece Pineapple Wedge; 1 lime wedge

East 8 Hold-Up

Description

What it is: A vivid modern vodka cocktail combining pineapple and passion fruit with lime and the bittersweet orange bite of Aperol.

The story: Kevin Armstrong created the East 8 Hold-Up at Milk & Honey in London in 2010. Its name refers to London’s E8 postcode and a robbery story associated with the drink’s creation. It has since become a recognised modern classic and returned to the world’s best-selling-classics conversation.

Why it works: Pineapple and passion fruit give immediate tropical fruit, lime supplies the sharp edge, while Aperol stops the drink becoming a simple sweet fruit cocktail. A hard shake gives it enough aeration to make the pineapple feel bright rather than heavy.

Ingredients

45 ml Vodka
15 ml Aperol
20 ml Pineapple juice
15 ml lime juice (freshly squeezed)
8 ml Sugar syrup
5 ml Passionfruit Syrup
1 piece Pineapple Wedge
1 lime wedge

Equipment needed

Cocktail Shaker – For chilling and aerating the fruit juices. Fine Mesh Strainer – Optional for a cleaner texture.

Instructions

Chill a lowball glass and prepare a pineapple wedge and lime wedge.
Add vodka, Aperol, pineapple juice, lime juice, rich sugar syrup and passion fruit syrup to a shaker.
Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 to 15 seconds.
Strain into the chilled lowball glass over fresh cubed ice.
Garnish neatly with the pineapple and lime.

Recommended glassware

Lowball Glass (recommended)

A short, sturdy glass for spirit-forward cocktails served over ice.

180–300 ml Short, wide, heavy-bottomed tumbler.

Best for: Old Fashioned, Negroni, Boulevardier, Whiskey Sour over ice, Rusty Nail.

Garnish: Great for orange twists, cherries, and large clear ice cubes.

Quick facts

5 mins Easy Approx. 13.4% ABV 2 units 186 kcal Fresh cubed ice Batch friendly

East 8 Hold-Up recipe.