An international initiative bringing together bars, restaurants and hotels around a shared mission: creating an exclusive “Cocktail for the Ocean” with Prince Explorer Gin. Every cocktail enjoyed directly contributes to marine conservation, with €1 donated to ocean protection projects.
The long-awaited third edition of the ‘Cocktail for the Ocean’ Awards took place on Sunday 22 March 2026 at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo’s Amù restaurant, in a refined yet relaxed atmosphere. The event, graced by the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, blended excellence with conviviality, where the rigor of competition met the elegance of a day focused on creativity, sharing, and innovation for ocean protection.
Prince Explorer is fully committed to ocean protection, which is why it has pledged to donate € 1 to ocean conservation efforts for every Cocktail for the Ocean sold in participating establishments.
Maevah Lorion is the talented mixologist behind Gaia Monte-Carlo and the winner of the 2026 Cocktail for the Ocean Awards. Her signature creation, “OKEANÓS”, pays tribute to the scientific expeditions of Prince Albert I while celebrating sustainable mixology through a philosophy of total circularity.
Inspired by the Azores and crafted with upcycled ingredients, her cocktail combines creativity, historical storytelling and environmental responsibility. By transforming every detail into a meaningful experience, Maevah embodies the new generation of bartenders who use mixology as a powerful tool to inspire ocean conservation.
A true taste of the Riviera – a sensory journey capturing Mediterranean terroir. Prince Explorer is enhanced by the creamy depth of pine nut orgeat, a tribute to the region’s forests and rich biodiversity. The bright notes of yuzu perfectly balance the richness of the orgeat, while fresh basil adds a fragrant lift, evoking the lush gardens of the Riviera. Each ingredient reflects a commitment to ecological balance and sustainable craftsmanship.
Ingredients :
– 5cl Prince Explorer Gin
– 2cl Pine nut Orgeat *
– 1.5cl Yuzu juice
– Parmesan chip
– Lime Yuzu Basil Foam **
The delicate parmesan chip garnish provides a savory contrast, amplifying the drink’s umami complexity and echoing the pesto-inspired theme. The chip’s caltiness and fattiness harmonize with the cocktail’s sweetness and acidity, creating a well-rounded, balanced experience.
* Roast 200g pine nuts at 180°C for 10 min. Add 50g white sugar and 150g pure cane sugar. Blend and add 15cl boiling water. After 30mins, blend again, strain through a cheesecloth and add 3cl orange water. ** Blend 20cl yuzu juice, 25g lime zest, and 20g basil. Filter through a cheesecloth. Add 2 egg whites, 2g soy lecithin and 5cl 2:1 sugar syrup before loading in a siphon.
A homage to childhood memories, ecological gestures that help protect our seas, and a tribute to Prince Albert I. Each cocktail is served with a bottle thrown into the sea bearing a quote from the Prince. The white wine and pineapple come from the Azores, an archipelago that Prince Albert’s explorations led him to appreciate. Served in a child’s sand bucket, with an edible wafer glass coated in chocolate. Ingredients derived from food reuse across the restaurant’s teams.
Ingredients:
– 50ml Prince Explorer Gin
– 15ml White wine syrup (Azores)
– 40ml Pineapple tepache
– 3 drops Seaweed bitter
– 2 spays Citrus saline solution
Stirred in a mixing glass. Served without ice in a chocolate-coated wafer. Topped with pineapple tepache, finished with citrus saline solution spray.
Notes:
On the nose, saline attack. On the palate, freshness of Prince Explorer first, then roundness from syrup and tepache. White wine and pineapple perceived first, then bitterness lingering. After several minutes, chocolate notes settle in.
The Mer Martini is a celebration of the sea and the essence of summer by the coast. Designed for everyone to enjoy, it offers a refined introduction to the classic martini with a Côte d’Azur twist. By combining elements from both sea and land, this cocktail creates a lasting impression through its balanced flavors. It embodies the harmony between freshness, salinity, and depth, evoking memories of ocean breezes and sunlit shores.
Ingredients :
– 6cl Prince Explorer Gin
– 1.5cl Tio Pepe Sherry
– 1.5cl Lychee Water
– 1.5cl Kaneshichi
– 2cl Elderflower and Sea Samphire Cordial
Stir all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass until well-chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a slice of pickled daikon.
Prince Explorer gin provides the foundation, complemented by the delicate sweetness of elderflower and the subtle salinity of sea samphire cordial. Lychee water introduces tropical notes of summer, while Kaneshichi katsuobushi spirit adds an umami depth, seamlessly tying the ingredients together with the crisp dryness of Tio Pepe Fino sherry.
A cocktail inspired by maritime exploration and the oceans, evoking ageing in an iodised environment, saline ingredients, and natural elements. A sensory experience that evokes travel, the sea, and respect for the environment. The name “L’Hirondelle” refers to Albert I’s most famous ship.
Ingredients:
– 40ml Prince Explorer Gin infused with blood orange zest
– 30ml Campari
– 20ml Bitter Bianco
– 10ml Iodised black olive brine (house-made)
– Maldon salt
Built directly in the mixing glass. Garnished with Campari and blood orange jelly shot, Prince Explorer Gin caviar, iodised water and olive brine.
Notes:
Iodised, bitter, woody. Served in hand-blown glasses embedded in driftwood. Aged in a jar for one month in iodised and salted water.
A sustainable creation that highlights local ingredients. The blue color comes from kombu and spirulina, two plentiful marine ingredients that bring an umami richness. The soda, infused with thyme, rosemary, and lemon—all grown locally to minimize its carbon footprint—perfectly rounds out the flavors. Poseidon combines taste, sustainability, and creativity, offering a unique sensory experience while respecting the environment.
Ingredients :
– 4cl Prince Explorer Gin
– 3cl Ocean Solution *
– Recycled cordial tuile
– Prince Bitter Soda **
– Saline Solution ***
From a sustainability perspective, the focus is on reusing ingredients. For example, the lemon peels and rosemary sprigs used to infuse the gin are repurposed as garnishes for the cocktail. This process minimizes waste and gives a second life to elements that would otherwise be discarded.
* Infuse Kombu with clarified lemon juice, eucalyptus leaves, cardamom, and blue spirulina to create a vibrant, oceanic base with herbal and citrus notes. ** Combine gentian, quinine, pink peppercorn, Sichuan peppercorn, thyme, water, sugar, and carbonate with CO2. *** Mix cardamom, salt, and water.
An umami cocktail that evokes the salinity of the sea and the Mediterranean coasts. On the rim of the glass, a “sand” composed of tomato trimmings, capers, kombu and gilthead bream powder, like stones dissolved in the sea. A rare shell containing a magical elixir.
Ingredients:
– 40ml Prince Explorer Gin
– 50ml Gold tomato / kombu shrub
– 10ml Tio Pepe sherry
– 10ml St Germain
– 10ml Nori / chocolate infused mezcal
Shrub technique with clarified cherry tomato water, rice vinegar, mirin, yuzu, kombu infusion. Mezcal infused with nori seaweed and spiced dark chocolate.
Notes:
Umami, Fresh, Iodised
A tribute to the ocean, evoking the fresh and vibrant essence of the coastal environment. This cocktail represents a connection to the beach of Viareggio, with local shells and stones used for garnish, and serves as a reminder of the natural beauty that inspires it.
Ingredients :
– 5cl Prince Explorer Gin
– 1cl saline solution
– 8cl homemade Spicy Mediterranean Tonic
– 2cl lime, sage, and rosemary cordial **
Combine the Prince Explorer, the saline solution, and lime, sage and rosemary cordial. Stir well and strain into a high trumbler. Top with the homemade spicy Mediterranean tonic and garnish with an artisanal citrus chip.
** Combine green apple, rosemary, sage, and lime to create a flavorful infusion.
Green Wave is a liquid manifesto of modern exploration. A bridge between two iconic waterfronts: the Venetian Lagoon, studied as a global laboratory for coastal city survival where seaweed filters the ecosystem, and the boulevards of Monte Carlo with its Bigarade orange trees. The cordial fuses the briny umami depth of the lagoon’s algae with the solar citrus vibrancy of Monte Carlo’s orange tradition. Verjus adds green, sophisticated acidity.
Ingredients:
– 40ml Prince Explorer Gin
– 25ml Wakame seaweed & bitter orange cordial
– 5ml Verjus
– 2 drops Homemade saline solution
Stir and strain.
Notes:
Garnished with orange-glazed dried wakame seaweed. Served in a bespoke Murano hand-made glass.
The infused gin liqueur, built on fennel seed, cardamom, pink peppercorn and white pepper, brings spiced, floral and subtle aniseed notes. The cucumber and kombu cordial adds vegetal freshness, bright acidity and a restrained marine character. The saline solution enhances salinity and umami, reinforcing a clean, iodised maritime profile. The sea urchin chip delivers a final textural contrast and an intense marine finish.
Ingredients:
– 40ml Prince Explorer Gin
– 20ml Infused Gin Liqueur
– 40ml Cucumber & kombu cordial
– 5 drops Saline solution with sea urchin water
Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into the glass, finish with sea urchin chip garnish.
Notes:
Umami, Fresh, Iodised. Garnished with sea urchin roe chip.
A tribute to exploration, to Prince Explorer, and to the vast, uncharted oceans. Just as ancient navigators set sail into the unknown, we embark on a sensory voyage, seeking the perfect balance between tradition and innovation. This cocktail evokes the richness and fragility of the marine world. Each sip, a reminder of the importance of protecting this beautiful, powerful and precious ecosystem for future generations.
Ingredients :
– 4cl Prince Explorer Gin
– 1.5cl Saint Germain
– 6.54cl homemade Mediterranean Soda**
Build the cocktail directly in a highball glass by pouring the Prince Explorer gin over ice, then gently topping it with the soda. Stir before adding a dash of Mistral essence. Garnish with an oyster leaf and serve alongside a rice chip topped with fresh oyster, lemon gel, and herring caviar.
** To prepare the pre-carbonated soda, combine St-Germain with verjus infused with citrus peels, thyme and green spirulina, then carbonate using a soda siphon.
A martini-style cocktail inspired by coexistence and quiet exploration. The name Kyosei comes from a Japanese philosophy meaning “living and working together for the common good.” It reflects the idea that progress comes not from domination, but from balance between land and sea, tradition and innovation, exploration and respect. Built around Prince Explorer Gin, the cocktail frames and elevates the spirit. Its maritime botanicals remain at the centre, supported by a sugar kelp and plum kombucha reduction that brings saline depth, bright acidity and gentle fermentation. A rhubarb and shiso verjus cordial adds soft, rounded acidity and a subtle green aromatic note, echoing Japanese restraint. The olive oil drops offer a quiet nod to classic martini tradition. Kyosei imagines our explorer returning from Japan not with ingredients, but with philosophy, learning from systems that restore rather than extract.
Ingredients:
– 45ml Prince Explorer Gin
– 15ml Sugar kelp & raspberry plum kombucha reduction
– 5ml Rhubarb and shiso verjus cordial
– 3 drops Aromatized olive oil
Stirred in a chilled mixing glass, strained into the glass. Garnished with 3 aromatized olive oil drops on the surface.
Notes:
Served in a 3D-printed glass. Sugar kelp kombucha fermented 7-12 days, then reduced by 60-70%. Rhubarb and shiso cordial made with verjus.
This cocktail is more than just a drink; it’s a reminder of the beauty and fragility of our oceans. It serves as an invitation to reflect on the importance of protecting marine ecosystems. With every sip, «La Mer dans le Verre» encourages us to recognize our shared responsibility to combat ocean pollution and safeguard the future of our oceans. The Gritti Palace is a proud supporter of the «Save the Ocean» project.
Ingredients :
– 4cl Prince Explorer Gin
– 1cl Italicus
– 1cl Rhum Trois Rivières Cuvée de l’Océan
– Blue Curaçao
– 4cl homemade Lemongrass and Mint Kombucha
Chill the glasses, then add ice to the shaker. Pour all ingredients into the shaker and shake vigorously. Strain the mixture into the chilled glasses and garnish naturally for an organic presentation. Delicately place a sprig of wild fennel in the center of the drink for the finishing touch.
«La Mer dans le Verre» combines fragrant, balsamic notes from Prince Explorer with the fresh citrusy zing of Sicilian bergamot and a vibrant blend of lemongrass and mint kombucha. A touch of Martinican rum adds a rich, salty character, embodying the essence of the ocean and infusing the cocktail with a depth that reflects its coastal production.
The Coral Guardian is a tribute to the vital role of coral reefs, which support 25% of marine life despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor. The drink features a complex sensory profile: the gin provides the structure and alcoholic profile; the blue curacao adds citrus notes and the deep, iconic hue of the ocean; the cordial delivers a refreshing acid and balsamic finish. Presented nestled among corals as a symbol of protection, the drink features an oyster foam layered on top as a garnish. This cocktail is a liquid manifesto for marine preservation. It balances the botanical strength of Gin Prince Explorer with tropical and marine elements, visually and sensorially recreating the beauty and fragility of the reef.
Ingredients:
– 45ml Prince Explorer Gin
– 25ml Cordiale lime e menta
– 15ml Acqua di cocco
– 10ml Blue curacao
– Aria di foglie d’ostrica
All ingredients except the oyster foam added to shaker. Shaken, poured into the glass using a double strain method. Oyster foam layered on top as garnish.
Notes:
Served in a glass nestled among corals. Oyster foam layered on top as garnish.
A tribute to the ocean’s mesmerizing nature with fresh, tangy notes that evoke its briny depth, and a balance of floral sweetness and vibrant tartness, reminiscent of a coastal breeze. Subtle saline and earthy undertones mirror the scent of seaweed along the shore, and an effervescence capturing the refreshing mist of the ocean. Each sip connects you to the invigorating spirit of the sea, reflecting its beauty and the rich life at the water’s edge.
Ingredients :
– 5cl Prince Explorer Gin
– 2.5cl Fleur de sureau Sauvage Giffard
– 3cl citric saline solution
– Goldberg Ginger Ale
– 1.5cl Blackberry and bergamot Cordial **
Combine the gin, elderflower liqueur, citric saline solution, and blackcurrant & bergamot cordial in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well to combine and chill, then strain into a chilled highball or coupe. Top with Goldberg Ginger Ale and garnish with a twist of lemon peel and a small piece of edible seaweed.
** Simmer 200g fresh blackcurrants and 200ml water in a saucepan, gently crushing the berries. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve and return to the pan. Add 100g caster sugar, 1 tsp salt, zest and juice of 1 fresh bergamot, 10ml lemon juice, and 1 tsp citric acid. Simmer until it thickens slightly, then strain again and refrigerate.
A tribute to the Great Barrier Reef, an ecosystem so vast it can be seen from space. A city of limestone and life, built by tiny engineers over millennia. This beauty is fragile: every year, the reef faces bleaching from warming waters. When the water warms even by one degree, the coral expels the seaweed that gives it colour and nourishment. This cocktail aims to be a hymn to resilience, the flavour of a future where the Great Barrier Reef will not just be a memory.
Ingredients:
– 40ml Prince Explorer Gin
– 60ml Cordial of yuzu, lemongrass and aloe
– 20ml Lime
– 10ml Ink of sake with butterfly pea tea
Shake and double strain into a low tumbler. Add ice sphere. Pour ink of sake with butterfly pea tea on top.
Notes:
Decorated with a sphere of oyster leaf.
This cocktail is inspired by the Mediterranean, using Nadorcott mandarins, rosemary, and Nonino Aperitivo for a balance of fruity, herbal, floral, and bitter notes. The foam, with sea samphire and Timut pepper, evokes the sea. Carefully chosen ingredients elevate Prince Explorer gin, and the decoration, made with repurposed materials, reflects Mediterranean coastlines and erosion.
Ingredients :
– 5cl Prince Explorer Gin
– 3cl de Aperitivo Nonino Écume**
– 2.5cl Mandarin and rosemary cordial****
Combine all of the ingredients (except the écume) in a shaker filled with ice. Shake and double strain into a tumbler glass made from repurposed Prince Explorer gin bottles. To finish, top with the espuma.
** Mix 2g of Timut pepper, 200g of samphire, 200ml of water, and one egg white and immerse an electric foamer into the preparation.
**** Combine 20g of mandarin peel, 40g of rosemary, 50ml of lime juice, 100g of powdered sugar, 4g of citric acid, 100ml of water.
A carbonated Gin Sour that showcases Corsica and its products. Between land and sea, from forests to coastline, passing through the maquis. The roundness of chestnut, the bitterness of immortelle, the iodine of the sea, and the softness of the sun. A tribute to the island’s balance between natural reserve and mass tourism, local products and importation, economy and ecology.
Ingredients:
– Prince Explorer Gin infused with immortelle flower
– Chestnut cordial
– Kombu seaweed soda
– Verjus
– Sichuan pepper bitters
Gin vacuum-infused with immortelle at 60 C. Chestnut cordial via sous-vide. Kombu soda by natural fermentation. Sichuan pepper bitters cold-infused with grapefruit zest.
Notes:
Garnished with a sprig of immortelle flower. Sichuan pepper bitters highlight the peppery character of Prince Explorer Gin.
A poetic tribute to a serene beach at sunset. The cardamom-citrus rim captures the gin’s vibrant notes, while its citrus notes are enhanced by pink peppercorns and softened by pineapple-sage. Szechuan pickled apples cleanse the palate, inviting you to rediscover the cocktail. The iodized foam mimics the sea. This cocktail elevates the gin’s natural elegance and complexity, much like the fading light of a sunset that lingers in your memory.
Ingredients :
– 4.5cl Prince Explorer Gin
– 2cl Rouge! Bitter Blanc
– 2cl Boudier Liqueur Combava
– 0.5cl dried Coquelicot flower water Infusion
– 3cl Tangy pineapple-sage & pink berries Infusion **
Combine the Prince Explorer, Rouge! Bitter Blanc, Boudier Liqueur Combava, and Infusion. Stir the mixture well and strain into a glass. Top with a float of Eau de Coquelicot. Garnish with iodized foam (écume iodée °), dehydrated citrus-cardamom rim ^, and pickled apple with Szechuan pepper.
** 1/4th 2:1 sugar syrup infused with pink peppercorns and 5% citric acid with 3/4th pineapple-sage infused in boiling water. ° Foam a combination of 3cl Midi Fauve, 2cl Boudier Nori, 3cl Maya coconut water, 3 dashes saline solution, and 1/4 barspoon sucrose ester. $ Finely grind dried lime, orange, and grapefruit slices and 5 green cardamom seeds.
This cocktail is like a wave on the seashore. Monaco, due to its geographical position, lies both on land and on the sea. A terrestrial cocktail with a marine soul, built around marine criste (marine fennel), a strictly coastal plant found along the Mediterranean, including between Monte Carlo Bay and Cap Martin. A tribute to Sovereign Albert I, who discovered the world through terrestrial botany before developing a passion for the marine world.
Ingredients:
– 50ml Prince Explorer Gin
– 35ml Homemade Marine Cordial
– 15ml Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao
– 60ml Homemade Thyme Soda
– Marine Water mist (saline solution)
Shaker. Gin, cordial and dry curacao shaken with ice, served in a rocks glass over clear ice. Finished with thyme soda and marine water mist.
Notes:
Decorated with a No-Waste Coral made from isomalt and recycled botanicals. Served over a rectangular clear ice block (8 cm x 6 cm).
A tribute to the fragile beauty of coral reefs and a reminder of the devastating impact of climate change. Sharp citrus notes and warming spice evoke ocean acidification and the gradual decay of marine ecosystems, while the base’s color reflects the lifeless remains of a once-thriving reef. More than just a drink, a statement—an invitation to reflect on nature’s delicate balance and the need to protect it.
Ingredients :
– 8cl Prince Explorer Gin
– 2cl Maple Syrup
– 2cl Fresh lemon juice
– 3 drops Magic Velvet
– Fresh Mint
– Timut Peppercorns
Hard shake the Prince Explorer, maple syrup, fresh lemon juice, Magic Velvet, and fresh mint sprigs vigorously with ice. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a mint leaf and a light grind of Timut pepper. Serve the glass on black edible sugar, symbolizing a dead coral reef.
The ingredients reflect a commitment to quality and locality. A pure expression of Prince Explorer gin, only enhanced by Timut pepper. Its vibrant citrus and floral notes add a subtle layer of complexity, complementing the gin’s natural character. Organic lemons and mint, handpicked from the garden, bring freshness and brightness, while maple syrup adds a touch of depth.
The concept was to amplify the gin’s natural citrus and botanical character through acid-adjusted grapefruit juice for sharper tartness, while fresh thyme in the foam echoes the gin’s dominant botanicals. The seaweed syrup uses a cold infusion to preserve delicate mineral notes. The siphon foam references coastal spume along the shoreline. Served with a plastic net symbolising trawling damage and plastic pollution threatening marine life. The name means “Thyme of the Sea” in Maltese, an endangered plant from the Maltese coastline.
Ingredients:
– 45ml Prince Explorer Gin infused with immortelle flower
– 15ml Seaweed washed syrup (homemade)
– 30ml Acid-adjusted & clarified grapefruit juice
– 1 dash Saline solution
– Egg-white foam with grapefruit, thyme, sugar
Stirred in a mixing glass for 30 seconds. Served over clear ice in a nude old-fashioned glass. Topped with siphon foam. Garnished with two seaweed leaves.
Notes:
Grapefruit juice acid-adjusted to reduce fruit waste. Seaweed syrup cold-infused to limit energy use.
A sustainable take on the classic Gimlet, inspired by daring sailors and Prince Albert I. This version repurposes lime juice byproducts to create lime cordial, garnishing powder, and jelly, ensuring zero lime waste. It’s an eco-conscious twist that reduces bar waste and minimizes carbon footprint while maintaining the bold, refreshing flavors of the original cocktail.
Ingredients :
– 6cl Prince Explorer Gin
– Lime and with chocolate powder *
– Albedo Jelly ^
– 2.5cl lime oleo cordial **
Combine the Prince Explorer and the lime oleo cordial in a mixing glass. Garnish with albedo jelly and the lime and white chocolate powder.
* Dehydrate oleo leftovers at 70° for 5 hours before blending with white chocolate 1:1 ** Oleo: muddle lime zest with sugar 1:1 overnight before straining. ** Cordial: combine 1L lime oleo, 5g ascorbic acid and 5g citric acid. ^ Boil lime albedo 5 times, changing the water each time. Blend with sugar, water, and green colouring. Finely strain and add agar agar.
Ingredients:
– 40ml Prince Explorer Gin
– 40ml Homemade cordial
– 25ml Clarified lemon and yuzu
– 5 dashes Kombu spirulina bitters
– 40ml Homemade tonic water
Cordial made with thyme, kumquat, citrus zests, cardamom, Sichuan pepper, ginger, sugar.
Notes:
Garnished with oyster leaf and its caviar.
Istria is shaped by two powerful elements: aromatic hills and the Adriatic Sea. This cocktail tells the story of that connection, how the land nourishes the sea, and how protecting one means protecting the other. Wild fennel and sage symbolise resilience against erosion and climate change. Istrian honey reflects biodiversity and the importance of pollinators. Adriatic sea salt reminds us that the sea must be respected, not overexploited. Service is clean, minimal, and waste-conscious.
Ingredients:
– Prince Explorer Gin
– Homemade sage and wild fennel cordial
– Homemade Istrian honey and sea salt syrup
– Fresh Istrian bitter orange juice
– Cold green olive brine (Istrian olives)
Shake and fine strain. Served in a chilled Nick & Nora glass.
Notes:
Garnished with olive leaf and dried orange peel from Istria.