DERBY DAY MINT JULEPS

As it was Derby weekend in Kentucky, and we were making Juleps at the weekend. We decided to give you a few tips on how to make a delicious mint julep for yourself.......


1) Take a Julep cup and put about 12-15 mint leaves in the bottom of it
2) Add 15mls sugar syrup(we prefer syrup to granules as you get more fuller flavoured drink using syrup)
3)Muddle to extract flavour out of the mint
4)Fill the Julep cup with crushed ice
5)Add 50mls of your favourite bourbon and churn until the outside of the cup is starting to frost

6)Add a little more crushed ice and garnish with 3/4 mint sprigs bunched together beside a straw. (this way, with every sip you get the wonderful aroma of the fresh mint)
7) Enjoy.........responsibly of course. :-)


These delicious drinks can of course be made in a glass if you don't have a Julep cup, but there is something special about sipping out of an ice cold drinking vessel that adds to the magic of this cocktail.


They can be purchased at www.cocktailkingdom.com

The Imposters

An interesting read from Mr Wondrich....

The Imposters

EASTER COCKTAIL RECIPES

Ok, so the bars are closed here in Ireland on Good Friday, so.....what to do??????

Here is a couple of recipes for you to try:-

AFRICAN ALEXANDER
25mls Hennessy VS
25mls Amarula Cream Liqueur
25mls Creme de Cacao Dark
25mls fresh cream

Method:- Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Add ice. Shake well and double strain into a chilled martini glass/coupette. Dust with grated nutmeg..

Deliciously rich,creamy and chocolatey it is the perfect cocktail for chocolate lovers. A fruity twist on the classic cocktail Brandy Alexander.

And for you none cream lovers..........

CHERRY MANHATTAN
60mls Woodford Reserve Bourbon
20mls Martini Rosso
5mls Cherry syrup
1 drop angostura bitters

Method:- Pour the bourbon, Martini Rosso and syrup to a mixing glass with ice. Add a dash of bitters and stir. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a Maraschino infused cherry.

Enjoy!! Oh and  Happy Easter!!!!

BOLS FOAMS NOW IN IRELAND

During a training sesison in Dundalk last week I spotted what I thought were quite dinky minitaure bottles of Bols liqueurs only to discover that they were actually Bols Foams.

Available in the following flavours:-

BLUE CURACAO
BANANA
CREME DE CASSIS
AMARETTO
CREME DE MENTHE GREEN
CREME DE CACAO WHITE

You can get them from Barry and Fitzwilliam 021-4320900 or 01-6671755

I used a couple of them and found them easy to use, the foam lasted ages and tasted great. My only drawback would be the selection of flavours avilable. But if they take off, I am sure they will work on other flavours.

Oh and because of the small amount that comes out with each pump, covering the top of a martini cocktail takes a little time.

Keep your drinks in champagne flutes and highballs for now :-)  but definitely worth a trial!!!!!!

Catex 2011 - Food Solutions

http://www.youtube.com/vuviemedia#p/a/u/1/tqZLEPzZZ0A
Here is Richard from Food Solutions talking about the Monin Syrup range and their coffee ILLY which for me is the best espresso to get you started in the morning!!

As well as supplying these two great brands to the trade they also have the John Artis range of crockery and glassware and bar equipment.

So if you are wondering where to get coupettes and unusual sling glasses then these guys are your first port of call!!! Sadly they have stopped selling the the silver shakers!! :-(

You can also get the full range of syrups from Classic Drinks 021-4510066

Get your hands on the Gingerbread syrup, it is amazing in a Daiquiri or a Latte!

VALENTINES DAY COCKTAILS

Hosting a little dinner at home tomorrow night??


Here is a couple of suggestions for you to make tomorrow night for your loved one................

FOR HER

That's Amore

35mls Vodka
17.5mls Strawberry liqueur
35mls Strawberry puree
Champagne to top up
Martini glass
Cracked black pepper

Method:- Add the vodka, liqueur and puree to a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake well. Take a whole strawberry and wipe the rim of a martini glass with it. Then dip the martini glass in the cracked black pepper.
Strain the mixture into the martini glass, it should come to just above halfway. Then top with Champagne. garnish with the strawberry you used earlier!!!!

FOR HIM

Apricot and Nutmeg Sour

50mls Bourbon
17.5mls fresh lemon juice
10mls Sugar syrup
1.5 tsp apricot conserve
10mls egg white(optional)

Method:- Add the bourbon,lemon and sugar into a cocktail shaker. Add the conserve and egg white and shake without ice. Add some ice and shake hard again. Strain into an old fashioned glass with fresh ice. Dust some ground nutmeg over the top of the drink.

Enjoy!!!!!  and feel free to send us any pics of you making the drinks we will post them on Facebook

X FACTOR PARTY COCKTAIL RECIPE

This week we have gone with a winter warmer with the temperature dropping below zero out there.

A bit late for tonights episode but this will be perfect for tomorrow night.

This is a recipe we created for the guys at Slane Castle Whiskey and is soon to be launched in the US so watch out for it over there!!!!!

Hot Henry
40mls Slane Castle Whiskey
20mls Cinnamon syrup
1 small orange wedge
100mls boiling hot water

Method :- Boil the kettle!!!! pour some boiling water into a heatproof glass or mug to heat it. After about 1 minute discard the water. Add the whiskey and syrup. Top up with boiling water and stir to dissolve the syrup. Squeeze the orange wedge into the glass and serve with a napkin.

Cinnamon syrup is available on www.coffee-ireland.com or in Celtic Whiskey Shop on Dawson Street, Dublin........ the whiskey is also available in Celtic Whiskey Shop

THANKSGIVING COCKTAIL RECIPE

Here is a delicious recipe for you to try on 'Turkey Day'!!!!!

Black Forest
20mls fresh cream
2 tsp drinking chocolate powder
20mls Chambord
20mls Creme de Cacao Brown
Hot milk

Place the cream and powder into the bottom of a heat proof glass/mug.
Mix until like a paste.
Top up with hot milk to halfway.
Add the chambord and Creme de cacao Brown. Stir.
Top up with more hot milk and add some faom to the top of the drink.
Garnish with chocolate flakes................

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

X FACTOR PARTY COCKTAIL RECIPE

HERE IS THIS WEEKS X FACTOR PARTY COCKTAIL RECIPE:-

Vanilla Sky

40mls Vanilla Vodka
20mls fresh lemon juice
20mls sugar syrup
35mls raspberry puree
20mls Galliano Vanilla or Vanilla Liqueur

Method:- Pour the puree into the bottom of a tall glass. Top with crushed ice. Then add the vodka,lemon juice and sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker. Shake well and strain over the crushed ice. Drizzle the Galliano pver the top. Garnish with a mint sprig and berries

Vanilla Vodka is available in good off liciences like Gibney's Malahide, Celtic Whiskey Shop,Dawson St or Redmonds in Ranleagh.

To make raspberry puree just buy a tin of raspebrries in the supermarket and blend them. They will last for a couple of days in the fridge

To make sugar syrup just add equal parts sugar and water to a container and stir until the sugar dissolves.

Enjoy!!!!!!

X FACTOR PARTY COCKTAIL RECIPE

Here is this weeks X Factor Party Cocktail.......

RASPBERRY COLLINS
40mls Gin
20mls fresh lemon juice
2 tsp caster sugar
5 muddle raspberries
Soda Water

Method:- Muddle the raspberries in the bottom of the shaker. Add the lemon and sugar. Stir, then add the gin. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well. Pour the contents of the shaker into a tall glass(12-14oz). Top up with soda. Garnish with a raspberry and a mint sprig.

Enjoy!!

SHOPPING LIST:-
Gin.....17 portions per 70cl bottle
lemons for juicing(we advise pre squeezing if making a lot of them, half a lemon will generally give you the amount of juice you need but it is always best to measure for your cocktails!!)
Raspberries
Caster sugar
Soda Water
Cubed ice
Cocktail shaker
measure
muddler