Cocktail of the Week - Turkish Delight

Tuesday 15th May 2012, by Andy

Cocktails get there names for all manner of reasons, this one is fairly obvious, it tastes like the chocolate of the same name, dig in!

Stir the following ingredients over ice and double strain into a chilled cocktail (martini) glass with a chocolate powder or grated chocolate rim:

35ml Vodka
10ml Crème de Cacao Blanc
10ml Lychee Liqueur
1 Dash Rose Water

Watch Intoxicology TV

Monday 14th May 2012, by Andy

Episode One

ESPN's Nat Coombs proves to be a good sport by attempting to match my Mojito

Watch Episode One

 

Episode Two

Model & Presenter Donna Air makes a classic Dry Martini in the dark!

Watch Episode Two

 

Episode Three

Star of Chelsey OMG Kelly-Anne Lyons shows off her silky shaker skills as she makes a Mai Tai

Watch Episode Three

 

Episode Four

Formula One presenter Natalie Pinkham proves she like life in the fast lane as she makes a Margarita against the clock

Watch Episode Four

 

Episode Five

Celebrity Chef Joudie Kalla proves to be flavour of the month as she creates a cocktail from a box of mystery ingredients

Watch Episdode Five

 

Episode Six

The Margarita Speed Challenge sees all of the guests from Series One tested against the clock to see who can make a tip top Margarita in double quick time

Watch Episode Six

 

Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks

Tuesday 27th March 2012, by Andy

On the 28th March 1920 silent movie stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks tied the knot and became the darlings of Hollywood.

As well as no doubt sharing a number of common interests, they both also just happen to have had cocktails created in their honour, the Mary Pickford being one of a number of cocktails that came from Havana, Cuba during US Prohibition in the 20's and early 30's, and the Fairbanks Cocktail which Harry Craddock featured in his Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930.

Mary Pickford
50ml White Rum
20ml Eager Pineapple Juice
5ml Monin Grenadine

Shake all the ingredients over ice and double strain into a chilled cocktail (martini) glass. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fairbanks Cocktail
20ml Gin
20ml Dry Vermouth
20ml Apricot Liqueur
5ml Fresh Lemon Juice
5ml Monin Grenadine

Shake all the ingredients over ice and double strain into a chilled cocktail (martini) glass, and garnish with a stemmed maraschino cherry on the rim.

The Last Barman Poet

Tuesday 27th March 2012, by Andy

The 9^th Annual Golden Raspberry awards were held at the Hollywood Palace on the 29^th March 1989 to recognise the worst the movie industry had to offer in 1988.  Somehow, and it’s a diabolical liberty if you ask me, Cocktail starring Tom Cruise managed to top a list that included Rambo III, Caddyshack II, Hot to Trot and Mac & Me.

Well I guess Mr Cruise had the last laugh as I’m pretty sure Cocktail has out-sold most other movies from 1988, and that’s before we even mention its iconic soundtrack!

Anyway, as I’m sure we all remember, one of the scene’s involves our Tom jumping on top of the bar counter and reciting a poem, it which he names a number of alcoholic beverages that are on offer in his establishment, The Cell Block.

Here is a little reminder of said speech, and a link to the recipes just in case you wish to recreate them in the comfort of your own home:

The Last Barman Poet

I am the world’s last barman poet.
I see America drinking the fabulous cocktails I make,
America’s getting stinking on something I stir or shake.
The Sex on the Beach, the schnapps made from peach,
The Velvet Hammer,
The Alabama Slammer.

I make things with juice and froth,
the Pink Squirrel, the 3 Toed Sloth.
I make drinks so sweet and snazzy,
the Iced Tea, the Kamikaze.
The Orgasm, the Death Spasm.
The Singapore Sling, the Dingaling.

America you’re just devoted to every flavour I’ve got,
but if you want to get loaded…
Why don’t you just order a shot?

You may notice I haven’t given the recipe for all of these drinks, the reason being is that I have never been asked for one in 18 years of bartending; although the Dingaling apparently is a shot of Galliano added to a glass of Champagne which actually sounds quite pleasant.

However, I have no idea what a 3-Toed Sloth is, nor am I sure I want to; and the only recipe for a Death Spasm I’ve come across involves setting light to a combination of 151 proof rum, black absinthe and squid ink, which personally I think should be avoided at all costs.

Time for a Drink?

Wednesday 21st March 2012, by Andy

As I'm sure you're all aware the clocks go forward this weekend, to be precise at 01.00 on Sunday 25th it will be time to shuffle your clock forward an hour.

Having lost an hour's sleep, and it not being a work day, may I suggest a rather unusual morning routine?

Try one of these and see if it brightens up your day:

Breakfast Martini
35ml Gin
15ml Triple Sec
20ml Fresh Lemon Juice
15ml Monin Sugar Syrup
1 Teaspoon of Rindless Orange Marmalade 

Place the gin and the marmalade into a shaker and stir to dissolve, add the other ingredients into the shaker and fill up with ice. Shake vigorously to make sure you disolve as much of the marmalade as possble; then double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with strands of orange zest.

Springtime Cocktails

Wednesday 21st March 2012, by Andy

March 21st marks the start of spring, and it looks as if the weather for once is going to play along and give us all what we want, a little sunshine.

So take advantage and head straight for a bar where you know you can grab something refreshing and stand outside.  Alternatively of course you can make something yourself easily enough and head out on to the patio or into your garden; here's a couple of great recipes to have a go at:

Garden State
35ml Gin
20ml Monin Elderflower Syrup
15ml Grand Marnier
25ml Fresh Lemon Juice
Top with lemonade 

Pour all of the ingredients into an ice filled highball glass, give it a little stir and garnish with a wedge of orange.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orange Blossom
50ml Vodka
50ml Eager Orange Juice
1 Dash Orange Flower Water

Shake all the ingredients over ice and double strain into a chilled cocktail (martini) glass, garnish with a zest of orange.

Mother’s Day Cocktails

Tuesday 13th March 2012, by Andy

Mother's Day brunch is a great chance to do something a little different by whipping up a surprise cocktail.

So it's the one day of the year your Mum doesn't have to look after you, your chance to pay her back for the other 364 days (365 this year in fact!) when she makes sure you're pointing in the right direction.

Now clearly you'll have got the card and the prezzie sorted well in advance, okay so on Saturday then, and of course you'll be planning to cook her brunch, well scrambled egg on toast is still a treat when it's cooked by someone else trust me!

So what are you going to do to top it all off and make it one to remember?  

Make a cocktail, really, did you not see that coming?

Anyway, here's a couple you could try without taking a week-long bartending course...

Mimosa
1/2 Glass Eager Orange Juice
5ml Dash of Grand Marnier
Top with Champagne 

Pour the ingredients gently into a flute and garnish with an orange twist if you're feeling flash! It's also worth mentioning this drink works really well with pink grapefruit juice instead of orange if you fancy something different.

 

 

Strawberry Martini
50ml Vodka
15ml Strawberry Liqueur or Chambord
4 Fresh Strawberries
1 Teaspoon of caster sugar

Crush the strawberries with the caster sugar in a shaker, add the vodka and the liqueur plus a scoop of ice and shake well.  Double strain into a chilled cocktail (martini) glass and garnih with half a strawberry on the rim. 

St Patrick’s Day Drinks

Monday 12th March 2012, by Andy

The arrival once again of March 17th can mean only one thing, the Irish take over the world for one day.  Well that's not strictly true, as I suspect the Irish to be one of the seemingly few nations these day, who don't actually wish to take over the planet.  But for one day per year it seems that the rest of us wish we were Irish, and therefore almost by default, all things Irish take over.

It must be a reflection of the Irish people, their legendary warm hospitality, their easy-going and mild-mannered nature, coupled with their willingness to laugh at pretty much anything in my experience, that makes us all wish we were a little more like that, and for one day at least we get that chance.

So let's make a little extra effort and celebrate in style this year, and why not start by making a few drinks for our friends?

Obviously the Irish Coffee is a classic, but hot cocktails aren't always the best at parties I find, so why not have a crack at this, a little twist on my Espresso Martini:

Irish Coffee Martini
35ml Irish Whiskey
15ml Coffee Liqueur
5ml Monin Sugar Syrup
1 Shot of hot espresso

Shake all of the ingredients vigorously  over ice and double strain into a chilled cocktail (martini) glass, garnish by adding three coffee beans on the top.

 

Here's an even simpler drink to make, that will go very nicely indeed with a drop or two of the black stuff:

 

Mist Again
25ml Irish Whiskey
25ml Irish Mist Liqueur

Pour the ingredients into an ice filled rocks glass, stir and enjoy! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fake Guinness
50ml Bacardi Superior
25ml Fresh Lime Juice
4/5 of a  Glass of Coke

Into an ice filled glass pour enough coke to fill 4/5 of the glass.  Then shake the Bacardi and fresh lime and gently pour on top to create a 'head', giving the appearance of a glass of Guinness. 

Marshmellow Pie

Tuesday 06th March 2012, by Andy

My friend Nour has been telling me about her marshmallow pie for a while now and after seeing a picture of it the other day I had to make it. I heard about this pie from many people and it was almost becoming legendary amongst our friends. So she came round to give me the run down of this delicious fluffy, bouncy, pastel goo, which was simply divine. She usually makes it with a digestive biscuit base, but she amped it up a notch and made it with an Oreo cookie base, which I think just took it to a whole new level. 

Nour is an amazing cook, and has a great passion for it, so when she said she would share her recipe, i was super excited. I love it when people are open and like to show others how to make something, especially something this good and needed to be shared with everyone. So it was Sunday night, we were all recovering from a long night on Saturday, and Marshmallow Pie graced my kitchen and my belly. It couldn't have come at a better time.

I was the photographer for this and Nour was the chef. 














Recipe:

150g Butter
1 1/2 Bags of marshmallows (large and small, Pink and white)
200ml of cream
300g Philadelphia (light, optional)
30 Oreo cookies
sprinkles

Method:

• Melt the butter

• Bash the Oreos to make a crumble.

• Add the melted butter and mix together and place in a pie dish and flatten. Put it in the fridge to cool down while you do everything else.

• Put 3/4 of the Marshmallow in a pan and let it begin to melt.

• Add the cream and the Philadelphia and stir.

• Do not have the heat too high as it will burn. It should take about 7-10 minutes to melt.

• When it has become lump free, add the rest of the mini marshmallows, and let them almost melt, but keep thier shape.

• Pour into the pie base and add sprinkles and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before removing from the fridge.

I never made something this quick, and this recipe definitley has a place for my kind of cooking. It is good for kid's parties or just simply a little but of fun and also something that people have not really had before. Totally American, totally fattening, and totally perfect.

Joudie xx

 

British Pie Week

Monday 05th March 2012, by Andy

I see no reason why chefs should have all the fun when we can enjoy a drink designed to compliment our food.  This week is British Pie Week and therefore I thought it was time to unleash cocktails that are as delicious as the pies they're named after.  Each day this week I will unveil a recipe either based on a classic pie recipe, or created to compliment one.

The Weekend

Rhubarb and Vanilla Pie
50ml Homemade Rhubarb Puree
15ml Monin Vanilla Syrup
2 Dashes of Fee Bros Rhubarb Bitters
100ml Champagne or sparkling wine 

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing glass or a glass jug and swirl to combine them without flattening the sparkling wine, then pour into a flute.  Obviously depending on the size of the jug you're mixing these in you could make more than one at once.

 

Friday

Mixed Berry Pie
25ml Gin
25ml Chambord
25ml Funkin Blueberry Puree
25ml Eager Cranberry Juice

Shake all the ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail (martini) glass rimmed with grated chocolate. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday

Apple & Blackberry Pie Martini
25ml Calvados
25ml Chambord
35ml Eager Apple Juice
10ml Fresh Lime Juice

Shake all of the ingredients over ice and double strain into a chilled cocktail (martini) glass, garnish with a fresh blackberry on the rim.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday

The Cherry Pie Cocktail
35ml Gold Rum
15ml Chambord
50ml Funkin Morello Cherry Puree
15ml Fresh Lemon Juice 

Shake all of the ingredients and strain into a chilled cocktail (martini) glass, double straining won't work with the cherry puree as it's far too gooey and delicious for that.  Garnish with a stemmed marachino cherry on the rim.

 

 

Tuesday

Lemon Meringue Martini
35ml Citron Vodka
15ml Limoncello
25ml Fresh Lemon Juice
5ml Monin Vanilla Syrup

Shake all of the ingredients over ice and double strain into a coupette, then layer on a meringue foam (How to make meringues the Delia way Click Here) and grate lemon zest over the top of the drink.

 

 

 

 

Monday

Apple Pie Martini
40ml Vodka
10ml Vanilla Liqueur
35ml Eager Apple Juice
10ml Fresh Lime Juice
5ml Monin Cinnamon Syrup

Shake all of the ingredients over ice and double strain into a chilled cocktail (martini) glass, garnish with an apple chevron as pictured here, or a plain apple slice will also do the job nicely.

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