Popping corks, shaking cocktails and pushing boundaries: meet Aidy Smith

Fresh from curating a special menu of Cointreau cocktails to celebrate GAY TIMES’ 40th anniversary, we get to know the queer drinks guru and TV personality.

This year we’ve been celebrating a major milestone here at GAY TIMES: the big 4-0. Across four decades, the publication has cultivated a thriving queer community and created a vibrant platform for LGBTQIA+ culture. 

To mark our fortieth anniversary, we’ve been delving into queer history with a little help from the legendary Cointreau orange liqueur and queer drinks guru and TV personality Aidy Smith. The result? Four bespoke cocktails curated by Smith that have been inspired, concepted and created especially for our 40th birthday. 

Taking inspiration from the riches of queer cinema – from the vibrant Priscilla to the early drag stylings of Some Like It Hot – the four delectable beverages span everything from soothing peach to pineapple spritz. 

We sat down with Smith to learn more about the inspiration for these unique recipes, to learn what cocktails represent some of our favourite former cover stars and to discuss his broader career so far.

What makes a good birthday party cocktail?

A good birthday party cocktail should light up the room. Bursting with flavour, it should be really easy to make and most importantly, put a smile on your face. There’s no room for intimidation when it comes to mixology. Everyone should be able to grab their shaker and get in on the action. I live for that!

How did you approach creating these bespoke cocktails for GAY TIMES’ 40th birthday party with Cointreau?

Working with two of the most iconic names within their industry is a pretty exciting situation to be in. I’ve watched GAY TIMES grow over the years to become the force of nature that it is today, equally as much I’ve been exploring the liquid gold of Cointreau ever since I started making cocktails over 15 years ago! The intention here was to pay a nod to our rich and wonderful LGBTQIA+ history while creating a series of cocktails that celebrate our culture, individuality and remarkable influence in all things fashion, music, film, and more. Through taste, smell, visualisation and playing with the senses, I’ve created a series of four drinks, putting my own twist and style on cocktails we’ve all come to know and love over the years. The best part is, they’re so easy to make, anyone can shake them up from the comfort of their home. 

Can you give us a little bit of insight behind the meaning of each cocktail?

I always say the hardest part of creating any cocktail is naming the damn thing. You have to find a clear link between the liquid, taste, look, feel and moment you’re celebrating – there’s so many variables involved it can be mind-boggling. As we tried to come up with clever and relatable names, we kept breaking off to talk about LGBTQIA+ films we loved – and without even realising it, found our theme. Each serve is named after a beautiful on-screen movie or cinematic influence, which in its own right has contributed to LGBTQIA+ progression through storytelling, resilience, love, laughter and ultimately, just living our best lives. Each one is packed full of personality, flare and cheek, in all the best ways possible. 

Divine Peach: Peach Margarita with Cointreau 

Praising the remarkable LGBTQIA+ talent that has graced our airwaves over the last 40 years, this twist on the margarita is incredibly moreish. Think bright juicy peach with a light vanilla orange, all held together by a sassy citrus zing. A satisfyingly unique take on one of the most famous cocktails on the planet with a cute peachy twist. Once you’ve tasted it, there’s no going back. 

Some Like it Hot: Spicy Mango Jalapeño Margarita with Cointreau

Our community is praised for its individuality and uniqueness, never being afraid to go beyond the norm and embrace our true selves for who we are, even if we ruffle a few feathers along the way. This cocktail celebrates so many remarkably unique personalities coming together as one in the name of progression. Think sweet soothing mango and a kiss of vanilla orange, with a fresh burst of lime and a spicy kick of jalapeño which hits you in all the right places. Spicy margaritas have become a global sensation over the last few years, but there is one question which still divides opinion: to rim or not? Well, for this serve, we do. And not just any old rim. My version has a tickle of salty chilli to really tease those taste buds.

Priscilla: Pineapple & Rum Highball with Mount Gay Rum

Embodying one of the first major films to normalise and raise awareness on trans culture, Priscilla is not afraid to showcase her true beauty to the world. Light toffee and tropical notes dance around the glass with a gentle pineapple spritz. Light, minimal sweetness due to Mount Gay Eclipse having no added sugar (for those staying off the sugar), and packed full of thirst-quenching tropical notes. Someone pass me a straw!

Tootsie: Raspberry Passion Fruit Martini with Passoa Passion Fruit Liqueur

What celebration of LGBT+ history is complete without paying a nod to the remarkable drag artists who have brought us so much love, cheer and undeniable laughter for decades? Tootsie is a beautiful example of self-expression and not being afraid to show your true colours. Over the last 40 years our drag queens hard work and resilience have resulted in drag performance being embraced on a mainstream level – and there’s no slowing them down. In this serve, elegance meets sass with a soothing comfort. Silky raspberry holds hands with a vibrant burst of passionfruit and a velvety vanilla glow. Much like watching drag; once you get a taste, you’ll just keep coming back for more. 

Click here to read more about the cocktails and discover the recipes. 

If you had to serve a cocktail to the following former GAY TIMES cover stars, what would it be and why?

Let’s start with Kylie Minogue…

The Clover Club – it’s basically a raspberry Gin Sour and a cocktail that is so full of life. Bursting with the electricity of fresh lemon and balanced out by a fruity and calming pink raspberry – it’s like witnessing both her high and low notes simultaneously. Secret tip, add 20ml of Passoa to the recipe to hit that extra level of PADAM! 

How about Grace Jones?

Rum Old Fashioned – Most people think that whisky is the only spirit to go in an Old Fashioned, but I dare to question that. Rum is the perfect evolution of this drink, especially for those who find whisky too harsh to drink. I’d take some of this legend’s Caribbean roots with a Mount Gay XO and match it with her unquestionable ability to break the norm, think outside of the box and dare to be different. Let’s break the rules. 

What would you serve Orville Peck?

The Sidecar – With a voice like that, I immediately think deep, seductive dark chocolate orange. Country music is often perceived as outdated, but Orville has proven that isn’t the case, just like the Sidecar is a prime example of how Cognac doesn’t belong at the back of the cupboard. Remy Martin Cognac meets Cointreau Orange Liqueur with a kiss of lemon and vanilla syrup. Hands down one of the best cocktails to have ever been invented. 

And finally, what would you make for Ncuti Gatwa?

Passion Fruit Martini – For the man who never fails to make me beam with joy. Ncuti’s on-screen presence is a force to be reckoned with. He’s like sunshine in a glass, which is exactly what this serve reminds me of. I also love how this serve is going through a resurgence of self-expression and twists, much like Ncuti and every new role he continues to absolutely boss. 

What advice would you give to people looking to refine their drinking tastes and learn to make cocktails with one of the Remy Cointreau brands?

Don’t be afraid. I know that shaking up a serve can come across as quite daunting, but I promise you it’s not. In the same way you bake, barbecue and cook anything for that matter, it’s just about following a recipe. Arm yourself with a cocktail shaker, jigger, lemon squeezer and strainer and see what you are capable of. Start with super easy serves and before you know it your confidence will peak and you’ll be shaking like there’s no tomorrow. There’s nothing quite like sipping something you made yourself. Be proud to explore and delight some taste buds in the process.

You present and produce The Three Drinkers travel series on Amazon Prime Video. Now on season three and airing in over 100 countries and territories, it has become one of the highest-rated drinks shows across global streaming platforms. What do you think has been the key to its success?

Honestly? Being unapologetically myself at all times and not being afraid to ask the questions people often shy away from. The vast majority of drinks content we see on our TVs seems to focus on swirling glasses and talking about mundane tasting notes, terroir and soil types. Big yawn. I wanted to do things differently. By putting lifestyle and travel at the centre of my show I’ve been able to capture the viewers’ inquisitive side – call it, armchair travel. This show isn’t just about discovering more about drinks and how to enjoy them, it’s about seeing all that a particular country or region has to offer. From its food, hotels and local crafts to fashion, history, cultural norms and most importantly – the unique personalities of the people which make it what it is. I do everything from milking cows, making shoes and eel-fishing to bathing in seaweed, hosting cocktail classes with drag queens and even something called bog snorkelling, but I’ll let you watch to find out what that entails. I’m also not afraid to lean into who I am as a person. My LGBTQIA+ roots are important to me and I want that story to come across on-screen by exploring or adding my own insights to each destination I visit so I can share something with them too. Ultimately, by ditching the technical talk and embracing who I am as a person with all my weird and wonderful quirks, the story just unfolds naturally and we never quite know what we’re about to capture on camera next! For me, THAT is what makes great TV. 

Presenting the show has allowed you to travel across the globe – as both an LGBTQ+ traveller and drink connoisseur, what would you say are some of the best destinations?

It’s hard for me to narrow these down but I’ll give it a try! On the wine side there’s some remarkable places to visit, from the vineyards of Southern England (yes, we have epic sparkling wine!) to Sonoma and Paso Robles in California and pretty much anywhere in Washington state and Oregon. New York has the Finger Lakes on its doorstep and Stellenbosch is just a stone’s throw away from Cape Town in South Africa. Then there’s New Zealand, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Australia, Germany, France, the list goes on. As certain parts of the world become more progressive, LGBTQIA+ people are welcomed to wine regions with open arms. Then there’s the spirit side of things. I’d seek out some of the urban distilleries within major cities – New York, London, Barcelona and Dublin all come to mind. In fact, in Season 2 of The Three Drinkers I even did an LGBTQIA+ bar crawl around Dublin, so you’ve already got your itinerary sorted! Ultimately, there’s a growing number of regions around the world that are incredibly progressive. I keep being asked to host a bespoke LGBTQIA+ wine tour in California, so maybe that’s something to consider for 2025! 

As the only TV presenter in the UK and one of just a small handful in the USA with Tourette Syndrome, you spend a lot of time advocating and raising awareness for neurodivergence. How important is it for you to provide representation in the media for such important causes?

When I was a little boy, I was told that people with Tourette’s could never be TV presenters. I was told we’d never be pilots, singers, journalists, police officers, the list goes on. The truth is, this is one of the most misunderstood and mocked conditions on the planet which people have no idea about. What they do believe is based on years of media misrepresentation, comedic jests and social media posts that are so far removed from the reality of what we live with. 

Few people know that 90% of those with Tourette Syndrome don’t swear uncontrollably. Even fewer are aware that based on what we’ve been forced to go through, our emotional intelligence, empathy and cultural awareness are on a whole other level. Ironically, when we follow our passions and the things we love, we become a force of nature. All the excess energy from our tics is re-channeled into those tasks and we become truly unstoppable. Sadly, there is a long way to go before the world understands this. 

In fact, the only reason I present a global TV series is because I created the show myself. From financing, creative and development to casting, presenting and marketing, I’ve been an integral part of each stage. Had I put myself forward for the same show as just talent, my foot wouldn’t have stepped a centimetre through the casting door. Commissioners still feel that those with Tourette’s don’t belong on TV, unless of course we’re there as a source of amusement. I call this the ‘circus freak show’ mentality which we’ve become all too familiar with. 

The reason I speak so openly about my own experiences is because I never want any little person to go through the same torment, harassment and bullying I did growing up, which has resulted in 47% of us considering ending our lives. I want them to follow their dreams, unhinge the shackles that society has placed on them and truly love who they are in a world where they absolutely, unquestionably belong. Put simply, I want them to tic freely. This is why I fight.

What’s next for you in 2024?

Honestly, continuing to do what I adore while finding new ways to keep the excitement alive! Having recently got my ADHD diagnosis I’ve been doing a lot of self-discovery, and you can expect some really cool things on the horizon in relation to the world of neurodivergence across radio and broadcast. There’s a few TV things I’m not allowed to talk about just yet but can’t wait to share, and of course I’ll be continuing to pop those corks and shake up those cocktails to quench your thirst. I’ve just begun a new role delving into the world of LGBTQIA+ travel too, so there’ll be a lot to unpack there (all puns intended). I think the main thing is just continuing to work hard while enjoying what we do. Life is too short to wake up each day and not live life to the fullest – something I’m beginning to realise more and more with each day that passes. Be kind to yourself and don’t be afraid to go out there and push the boundaries to make some magic happen. 

Click here to read more about the cocktails and discover the recipes. 

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