Canned cocktail brand Curatif has teamed up with iconic TV chef Iain ’Huey‘ Hewitson to launch Huey’s Strawberry Margarita, a nostalgic twist on the classic cocktail.

At the heart of Huey’s Strawberry Margarita is a recipe personally developed by Hewitson alongside Curatif’s mixologists to reflect his favourite flavours. It includes house-made strawberry syrup, crafted from real strawberries in a hypertonic solution to extract maximum flavour. The syrup is balanced with fresh lime juice, agave nectar and Los Arcos 100% Agave Blanco.

The cocktail’s profile nods to Hewitson’s stories of enjoying Strawberry Daiquiris after long restaurant shifts.

Hewitson said: “I’ve got a few Margaritas under my belt from my years in the kitchen, and I must say this one’s a beauty.

“Working with the Curatif crew was great fun – we’ve basically canned a bit of my history. It’s got real strawberries, a real kick, and it takes me right back to the old days. I think people will love it as much as I do.”

Hewitson has worked in Australasian hospitality and media for over 50 years. After moving from New Zealand to Melbourne in 1972, he quickly rose to prominence as one of the country’s leading chefs, helming acclaimed restaurants such as Clichy, Fleurie, Champagne Charlie’s, The Last Aussie Fishcaf, Memories of the Mediterranean, Tolarno Bistro, and Barney Allen’s Bar & Diner. By the late 1980s, critics hailed him as “the most important Melbourne restaurateur of the eighties”.

Hewitson then became a household name on Australian TV from 1991 onward with hit programs like Healthy, Wealthy & Wise, Huey’s Cooking Adventures (which attracted 1.7 million weekly viewers at its peak) and Huey’s Kitchen – effectively teaching a generation to cook with his approachable, no-fuss style.

Now 77, Hewitson has recently found yet another audience on social media. In a twist few saw coming, Huey became a surprise TikTok sensation in 2024, amassing hundreds of thousands of followers and even earning a nomination for Food Creator of the Year at the Australian TikTok Awards.

It was on TikTok that Curatif’s team spotted Hewitson casually enjoying a Curatif Margarita – a viral moment of culinary nostalgia that sparked the idea for this unique collaboration.

Curatif co-founder and Managing Director Matt Sanger (pictured above with Huey) said: “For many of us, Huey taught us how to cook when we were young. Seeing him with one of our Margaritas in hand felt serendipitous.

“Huey’s Strawberry Margarita is our way of celebrating his outsized influence on Australian food culture. It’s a delicious trip down memory lane – blending Huey’s classic, fun-loving approach with Curatif’s modern cocktail expertise.”

Hewitson didn’t just lend his name and palate to the drink – he also brought his chef’s touch to the table. The veteran restaurateur has devised a bespoke dish to pair with the Margarita – a Thai-inspired Salmon Ceviche, featuring fresh Tasmanian salmon cured in a punchy marinade of fish sauce, lime juice, bird’s eye chili, garlic, and shaved palm
sugar.

The bright, zesty Ceviche complements the Strawberry Margarita, echoing its sweet-heat balance and embodying the fusion of cocktail culture with classic Huey culinary flair.

The launch also arrives at a high point for Curatif. The Melbourne-based company has just been shortlisted for the 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) Global RTD Producer Trophy – marking Curatif’s fourth consecutive nomination for the world’s top Ready-to-Drink producer award, an unprecedented achievement in the category.

Curatif previously took out the IWSC trophy three years running (2022, 2023, 2024), establishing itself as a world leader in canned cocktails.

“Being nominated four years in a row is humbling and thrilling for our team,” said Sanger. “It underscores our commitment to quality and innovation – and collaborations like Huey’s Margarita are a perfect example of how we keep pushing the
envelope.”

Huey’s Strawberry Margarita is available in limited-edition boxes of four via Curatif’s online store (RRP $48 per box), alongside his ceviche recipe. Learn more here.