Inspiration is a fine thing – 2 Cocktails by Jamie Boudreau…

I’ve been watching cocktail videos on YouTube since before I can remember, with great shows like Robert Hess’ cocktail spirit and Charlotte Voisey’s proper pour, it’s hard to keep a track of the great cocktails you uncover.

However I saw a few episodes of Jamie Boudreau’s ‘Raising the bar’ YouTube series and a couple of cocktails really stuck out; the ‘Evergreen Swizzle’ and ‘Wallingford’. They stood out for several reasons but mainly these drinks are refreshing and perfect for recreating at cocktails parties you may or may not have planned…

Jamie Boudreau has long been a hero of mine, with his own bar; the Canon Bar in Seattle which he supposedly stained and decorated with 3 cases of Angostura Bitters back in 2011, and these videos are of two of my favourite recipes from his show.

Jamie Boudreau doing what Jamie Boudreau does…

The first recipe is a cocktail I’ve seen many a time, mainly all through the video link I’m supplying below, but also through trying it out a couple of times. It’s rather odd, it’s a strong drink, but the ice does exactly what he says it will…

The second is a little more on par with the London cocktail week posts I’m currently working on… During the week I went to a whisky seminar with a guest speaker called Gaz Regan (a true cocktail legend) and he has his own bitters spread across most American bars. The second recipe includes a dash or two of Regan’s orange bitters, a wonderful product but hard to get in this country at this time, unfortunately, but something to help tie this post into other on the way.

So what about the recipes I hear you shout well here they are (along with the links to their respective YouTube videos – in the form of links).

Evergreen Swizzle

1 ½ measure Edinburgh Gin

½ measure Pine Liqueur

½ measure Yellow Chartreuse

½ measure fresh Lime Juice

½ measure Sugar Syrup

Great Gin = Great drink.

Method: Shake all ingredients over ice and then pour into a glass filled with crushed ice and swizzle well.

Check out the YouTube Video here.

Wallingford

1 ½ measures Martin Miller Gin

¾ measures Kina L’Avion D’Or

¼ measure Dry Curacao

A great combination of spirit, aperitif and liqueur following Jamie’s ‘Golden Ratio’…

Method:

1)      Stir all the ingredients well over cubed ice.

2)      Squeeze a grapefruit peel over the glass and wipe the rim of the glass and finally drop it in.

3)      Pour in the drink and enjoy.

Check out Jamie’s video here.

I do hope you like the recipes, they’re a little stronger than the usual but the flavour combinations are pretty darn awesome! Try them out and let me know what you think about them…

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Halloween is coming, so are the Cocktails…

Halloween is right around the corner, it’s Thursday in fact, and the best way to celebrate any such event is exactly how the Mexicans do: with a party.

Halloween is coveted by many different cultures across the world, not just here in the UK or over the water in the USA but under different names it is celebrated across more than 30 countries across the planet.

Whether it’s the Latin American/Mexican/South American Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) or the Wiccan Samhain (pronounced ‘sow-in’) October 31^st – November 2^nd are, pretty much universally, 3 days of fun and celebration. Whether it’s the celebration of deceased loved-ones or just a bunch of trick or treaters, the time of Halloween/Dia de Muertos is a wonderful time of year…

Now I’m not an avid trick or treater, I have no children to take on such outings, nor do I see the point in going and asking strangers for sweets… However I do quite like a good old ‘Adult Halloween’ (like the one featured in an episode of The League – Ghost Monkey) with alcohol and cocktails aplenty…

Over the coming week I shall be writing up some cocktails perfect for any Halloween party you ‘re planning and will aim to share all of them on the big day (Thursday 31^st) just in time for you all to get out there and enjoy them…

The Classic Brain Haemorrhage Cocktail…

Whether it’s the Spiced Caramel Apple (my very own creation) or the classic Brain haemorrhage Shooter there will be some gems. Look out; the Fervent Shaker Halloween Cocktails are about…

Cocktail #1

Remember, this Halloween your themed cocktails don’t have to look amazing… Although a little style can always help…

It’s London Cocktail Week!!!

October 7^th – 13^th is London Cocktail Week.

Huzzah and glory to everything cocktail!

Come one, Come all!

This week, in the seven dials area of London (basically down the road from Covent Garden), spirit companies from around the world will gather and celebrate in all things cocktail…

Whether it’s a Fever Tree inspired Dark N’ Stormy, or one of the heavily advertised Disaronno sour there is something for everyone… I for one intend to have my fill.

Below is my itinerary, from picking up the wristband (that allows entry to some events, but more importantly allows you to partake in £4 cocktails at certain establishments across London throughout the week.

The idea to begin with is to grab my wristband, and have a look around, then attend the first of my pre-paid events: Gaz’s Historical Tour. Then I’ll have 2 hours to have another look around and explore some of the goings on in the streets before making my way over the Nasmyth st for the discover Sipsmith seminar. Then I’ll make my way home. It’s a simple, but hopefully fruitful day out. Learning about Sipsmith gin, experiencing some great street vendors and of course Gaz’s historical tour…

Thursday 10^th October: Itinerary

12:00 – 14:00                      Wristband Collection                   

14:00 – 15:30                      Gaz’s Historical Tour

15:30 – 17:30                      Jerry’s Backyard Bar

15:30 – 17:30                      Botanical Bicycle (FeverTree)

16:00 – 17:30                      Disaronno Sour Station

15:30 – 17:30                      Whisky Exchange (Offie)

15:30 – 17:30                      Averna Pop Up Van

15:30 – 17:30                      Funkin Street Bar

17:00 – 17:30                      The Caorunn Sensorium

18:30 – 20:30                      Discover Sipsmith

As you can see this should be a fun day and I cannot wait to go up and have a look, not to mention photograph and write down everything I experience. You can all look forward to reading about this day in blog posts to come, but if you’re about at all and want to come and join in the fun you can!

I’ll be about as part of the crowd, but should you notice me at all (I’ll let you figure out who I am on the day) then please feel free to introduce yourself and we’ll share a drink and some words!

Until next time readers! Adieu

Tequila – It makes me Happy!

Does it? Either way it’s National Tequila Day in the USA (apparently) so have a listen, have a sip and sit back (you probably won’t be able to stand anyway!)…

Casamigos Tequila – Spoilers people, Spoilers…

I have heard news of a post about a New USA based* Tequila brand hitting this blog tomorrow around 11am (UK time) as a homage to the USA’s ‘apparent’ National Tequila Day (NTD)  … What could it be about I hear you say… What mysteries will be unveiled? Will it give you a hangover? All that and more on tomorrows post (Except the hangover thing – of course it will. It’s Tequila!**)

Here’s a little teaser to get you ebbing with saliva for that post…

Who are they? What brand will this tequila be? Is this teaser to revealing? All these and more tomorrow!

Take care, and until tomorrow, drink well and be safe!

*As US based as it possibly can be whilst still being called Tequila…

**Tequila consumed in copius amounts will always cause hangovers, as much as any alcohol consumed in excess. Please drink responsibly and be aware of your limits.

The Fizz Cocktail – A myth, a legend, but they do live among us…

The fizz cocktail is a famous cocktail, a famous cocktail you may never have heard of…

Club Soda has long been used to infuse some fizzy-ness into all drinks, not just cocktails.

It does sound like a contradiction but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Back in the classic days of traditional cocktails (think back to the 1890’s & early 1900’s) the fizz cocktail was a law unto its own. Like the sour all it required were some simple ingredients and the addition of alcohol.

The fizz cocktail contained: Lemon juice, soda water, and an alcohol of your choice. That’s it, a simple yet very effective way to get rather drunk, rather quickly.

However as the years go on, we have created more intriguing and ingenious concoctions that still class as a fizz cocktail. As long as it has the soda, lemon juice and alcohol, whose to argue?! …

In the next few days i’ll be posting a top 10 of my favourite Fizz cocktails, from the classic gin fizz served in your local bar, to the world famous Ramos Fizz of the New Orleans based Roosevelt.

This post is a precursor to introduce you to one of the cocktails on that list, but in a way that will get you thinking enough to appreciate why my top 10 is slightly different to those you might get from other people. Whether they be bartender, expert or self proclaimed leaders of the rebellion. The top 10 I post is strictly reflective of my tastes and why I think they are the best fizz’s you’ll find…

So in the meantime let me introduce you to one of those on the list to come…

The Sidecar Fizz.

The following link will take you to the website i used for the recipe included in my next blog. This website will introduce you to one of the best cocktails ever created. It’s classy, robust and perfect for any formal event. Whether it be a wedding reception or a cocktail party for a few friends. Check it out, make a few up and just enjoy a few of them.

http://whiteonricecouple.com/recipes/beverages/sidecar-fizz-cocktail/

But remember whatever you do, please enjoy them responsibly.

The Fervent Shaker.

A Classic Preview – Of a Classic Drink… THE MOJITO

Here’s a preview of my upcoming post about the magic of the MOJITO…

Basically Mojito’s ROCK! – they are superbly refreshing, glorious drinks for those glorious summer nights we never seem to get any more here in the UK… Well i have news for you, Rum is making a comeback this year and among a few other drinks, the MOJITO will he right on the front lines of this overdue revival.

The Mojito is a classic Caribbean style cocktail, although adopted my many a Mexican resort as a slight diversifier from Tequila; this drink is by far superior from the Caribbean using home grown local ingredients…

As i always say a cocktail can only be as good as its ingredients. And the Mojito is no exception. The original recipe calls for Caribbean white rum, Cuban in particular (as if it would be any other). Add to this the local sugar, limes and mint and you have one of the most crisp, breathtakingly refreshing drinks you’ll ever try…

A Classic Recipe…

60ml Caribbean White Rum

15ml Sugar Syrup

4-8 mint leaves

1/2 lime cut into chunks

top up soda water

crushed ice…

Mojito’s everywhere… Coming soon: More Mojito Recipes than you could shake a stick at (who does that these days anyway!)…

For methods on how to mix this drink and a large collection of different flavour-filled Mojito recipes (including some rather special easter related recipes), look out for my forthcoming post titled: Mojito’s – The many flavours of Caribben Rum

Keep mixing and dont forget: Drink Responsibly!