The Morning After…

I have entered the 42 Below Cocktail World Cup every year so far, and never so much as got a call back… this year I was not going to take no for an answer! I trialed, tested, scrutinised and deliberated over my drink for weeks, finally settling on an adaptation of an old ‘Obsidian’ favourite, The Morning After Martini. Created by my best bud, mentor and phone a friend, Jamie Stephenson the ‘Morning after’ was a simple twist on the Kangaroo with Cointreau and Maraschino with Pink Grapefruit zests; a recreation of sweet and dry citrus fruits found in Marmalade. My adaptation took this idealogy and simply expanded with a touch of 42 Below bravado!

I started with the idea of a morning routine I used to use after a heavy night (usually in Mojo) on the beer… I would make myself

The Morning After Martini

42ml Buttered Toast infused 42 Below
5ml 42 Below Manuka Honey
5ml 42 Below Passion Fruit
10ml Cointreau
10ml Teisierre Pamplemousse
10ml Pink Grapefruit Dolin Chambery
3 drops Homemade Bergamot Bitters

Stirred in a teapot and served in an Mini Marie Antoinette glass.

Garnished with a Lemon Zest and the undeniable smell of hot toast!

Served with Berocca, Glaceau ‘Citrus’ Vitamin Water and 2 Advil…

Seasons Greetings

My love for the Christmas Period is unrellenting… I just the festive cheer, everyone in jovial moods, christmas shopping, visiting the european markets for a hot mug of Glußwein, the smell of pine needles when you walk through your front door, the seasonal lights in every town and village but most of all I love the food and drink associated with this magical time of year!

I have been creating Xmas Cocktails since I started bartending with typical ingredients like Cranberry Sauce and Brandy Butter but the cocktails below are the ones that will make you jump out of your seat and shout ‘Merry Christmas’!

Mince Pie Margarita

50ml Herradura Reposado
25ml Fresh Lime Juice
15ml Robert’s Essence of Christmas*
1 Tbsp of Robertson’s Vegetarian Mincemeat

Served in UrbanBar Margarita glass
Garnished with Mini Mince Pie

Merry Mojito

50ml Pine Needle infused Bacardi Superior
15ml Fresh Lime
10ml Pure Sugar Cane Syrup
4 Mint Leaves
1 Pine Needle Branch

Served in Hi Ball
No Garnish

Christmas in Manhattan

50ml Woodford Reserve
10ml Vya Sweet
10ml Robert’s Essence of Christmas*
Bsp Griottines Syrup
Dash Angostura Orange Bitters

Served in Marie Antoinette
Garnished with Griottines Cherry

All the Trimmings

30ml Roast Turkey infused 10 Cane
30ml Sausage infused Maker’s Mark
15ml Homemade Cranberry Cordial
Dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters
Dash Sage Tincture

Served in Old Fashioned glass
Garnished with Christmas Cracker

Seasonal Mar’tree’ni

50ml No. 209
10ml Dolin Chambery
Dash Miclo Eau de Vie Quoing (Holly)

Served in UrbanBar Cocktail glass
Garnished with Candy Cane and atomisation of Clear Creek Distillery Douglas Fir Eau de Vie

R-L: Mince Pie Margarita, Merry Mojito, Seasonal Mar’tree’ni, All the Trimmings

Dirty Sexy Martini

On becoming the Belvedere Brand Ambassador for the Central Region, I decided to create my own signature cocktails for the Belvedere Vodka range. The newest additions to the range are Belvedere Intense; a 50% abv version, Belvedere IX; spiced with 9 ‘botanical’-esque flavourings and the newest maceration of Belvedere Black Raspberry. This newest maceration is the most exciting for most people as the original Maceration Range of Cytrus and Pomarancza were very well received. Personally, I am more excited about the IX variant as I see it as a 21st century Gorska style of Vodka.
You may also notice the name change from Cytrus and Pomarancza respectfully to Citrus and Orange, this decision was made on the American market as they struggle to pronounce both Cytrus and Pomarancza but would have even more problems with Czarna Malina, the Polish words for Black and Raspberry, as the Maceration is a combination of Podlaise Raspberries and French Blackcurrants and not Ribus Nigrum, also known as Black Raspberry, now famous for their use in Chambord Liqueur de Royale.

And so… I present my own signature cocktails for the Belvedere range, I will be making these cocktails on my tour of the central region, hopefully I will see you there…

Dirty Sexy Martini

40ml Belvedere IX
15ml Homemade Moët & Chandon Vermouth*
3 drop(s) Olive Reduction

Served in Mini Marie Antoinette
Garnished with Mammoth Olive

My First Martini

35ml Belvedere Pure
10ml Inniskillin Reisling Ice Wine
Dash Fee Bros. Rhubarb Bitters

Served in UrbanBar Mini Coupe
Garnished with Lemon Zest

LMP

50ml Belvedere Cytrus
15ml Fresh Lemon
15ml Monin Tarte Citron
Dash Regan’s #6 Orange Bitters
1 Whole Egg

Served in Wine glass
Garnished with Graham Cracker

Panacea

50ml Belvedere Pomarancza
25ml POM Wonderful
15ml Monin Blood Orange
Dash Fee Bros. Grapefruit Bitters

Served in UrbanBar Cocktail glass
Garnished with Flamed Orange Zest

Ice Pop

40ml Belvedere Black Raspberry
15ml Pallini Limoncello
10ml Fresh Lime
10ml Monin Passion Fruit Syrup
Top Appletise

Served in Hi Ball
Garnished with Lemon Slice & Raspberry

* Homemade Moët & Chandon Vermouth is combination of 34 botanicals soaked in Moët & Chandon NV Brut for 12 days under vaccuum then recarbonated.