Carrying on from the product of the month post about Wild Hibiscus Flowers, this cocktail is all about class.
First served in 2006 at the Dorchester hotel, London; this cocktail remains one of the most popular champagne cocktails on their menu. This cocktail mixes some bold flavours to subtly build on the quality of the champagne used.
Whilst some of the ingredients can be hard to find, they should be available in most health food shops or failing that they are all available online…
Hibiscus Royale Recipe:
7ml Natural Rose Water
20ml Wild Hibiscus Syrup
4-6 Mint leaves
Top up Champagne
Champagne and flowers are for everyone…
Method:
1) Muddle the mint in the glass and discard.
2) Stand a hibiscus flower upright in the glass.
3) Add the rose water.
4) Top up with champagne.
5) Finally, pour the hibiscus syrup in and let it descend through the champagne.
Fervent Shaker Top Tip: Feel free to remove the rose water and add a little flavour enhancer of your own, flavoured liqueurs always work, and not to mention flavoured sugar syrups…
This cocktail is just one of many available for you to read through on the Wild Hibiscus official site. From champagne cocktails to Daiquiris they have a wide selection worth checking out, especially if you are looking for something a little different for your party…
Perfect for that special touch on a romantic soiree…
Tequila is something I’ve never been able to get my taste buds use to, and that’s probably because all I’ve ever been exposed to is Jose Cuervo and Sauza. Whilst both brands do produce high grade 100% agave tequila, supermarkets sell just sell the cheaper ‘impure’ products (they are cheaper and show better sales – trust me it’s how they think – which is a shame I know).
Recently however there has been somewhat of a boom in the tequila industry, with more and more focus on ‘craft’ and aged ‘pure’ 100% Agave tequilas (especially across the USA). Here in the UK there are plenty of good quality tequila’s available, if you know where to look. Sainsbury’s for one stock a couple of 100% agave brands; El Jimador (Blanco & Reposado) and, along with Waitrose, Aqua Riva (Reposado). Both brands can say they are 100% agave and therefore better for you than those products that are not so.
Fervent Shaker Funny Fact: Due to the purer filtration processes 100% agave tequilas will not result in as bad a hangover as those tequilas that are ‘blended’ (basically any tequila that doesn’t say 100% agave on it). This is because some chemicals (the ones that cause severe hangover symptoms) are reintroduced when the ‘blended’ products are mixed. This does not happen with 100% agave tequila’s as once the chemicals are removed, that’s it, and they’re gone for good. Huzzah.
So moving onto this evening’s cocktail: The Catalina Margarita…
Catalina Margarita:
(42ml) 1 ½ measures Tequila
(28ml) 1 measure Blue Curacao
(28ml) 1 measure Peach Schnapps
(112ml) 4 measures Sour Mix*
The great looking Catalina Margarita, of course the Blue colour is governed by that timeless spirit: Blue Curacao. Picture courtesy of: http://www.RhodyJoes.com
Method:
1) Combine all the ingredients over ice in a shaker and shake until frosted.
2) Serve straight (preferable in a chilled Margarita cocktail glass).
3) Garnish with a lime twist.
Now a famous use of Catalina was the Catalina Wine Mixer…
The Catalina wine mixer is a fictitious event in the film Step Brothers. The film is hilarious, starring Will Ferrell as one of the brothers and he is the host of the wine mixer at the end… This cocktail as far as I can see, whilst not actually based on this reference, would have suited such an event perfectly. Sure it’s not a wine based cocktail, but Margaritas are literally perfect for any event. Keeping the recipe close to the original as possible (although this version is a lot longer than a classic margarita) this cocktail will wash away any shyness you feel at any event. It will help you forget your insecurities at any event you feel you don’t quite belong at. Whether that’s a good thing or not is a decision I will leave to you…
This slightly tweaked version I’ve created has taken its inspiration from the event. Who cares if it isn’t real, it’s the fucking Catalina wine mixer!
Catalina (Wine Mixer) Margarita:
(42ml) 1 ½ measures Tequila
(28ml) 1 measure Blue Curacao
(28ml) 1 measure Peach Schnapps
(56ml) 2 measures Sour Mix*
Top up Sparkling Wine
This version is slightly longer and more of an evening drink compared to it’s sipping counterpart… Picture courtesy of: http://www.redbookmag.com
Method:
1) As the classic calls for shaking, this one does to; just don’t shake up the wine…
2) Pour into a chilled margarita cocktail glass.
3) Top with the Sparkling wine.
4) Garnish with a lime twist and candied Lemon peel.
This cocktail is a little lighter than the original recipe to make it a faster sipper. This version of the drink can be a little richer in flavour, if you pick a good quality of sparkling wine, but equally lesser so for the same reason…
Fervent Shaker Top Tips: For a really grand version of this drink try using Champagne instead of just any old sparkling wine. Also try using Grapefruit juice as well as Sour mix. If you prefer a still drink, replace the sparkling ingredient with grapefruit juice. You can equally substitute the win for grapefruit soda if you do like your drink carbonated…
*Sour mix is a mixture of lemon juice, lime juice and sugar syrup. See my Jericho Breeze post for the recipe…
Hopefully you like this slightly different take on a great cocktail. And of course another cocktail you can drink whilst watching a film, look at you all sophisticated and that…
Enjoy the drink, and should you want to find the original in its original place try my book of the moment: 365 cocktails, written by Brian Lucas.
The Fervent Shaker 