In The Mix
The popularity of cocktails continues to grow. Once seen as a drink for special occasions, many are now opting to try their hand at making their own, writes Tracy Hargreaves
Consumers are opting to drink cocktails over beer and wine and with ever increasing cocktail bars opening there’s plenty of choice to be had. Believe it or not cocktails are not a new thing, they have actually been around since at least the 1800s, with mixed drinks called punch dating back to the 1500s.
But where does the name come from? There are many theories about its origin. There are some who think they come from the cockfights in vogue in the European taverns of the 1600. The feathers (tail) of the defeated rooster (cock) were given to the winner, of course with glory and ample libations too. But the strongest theory is that it is derived from the French word ‘coquetier’ which refers to an eggcup type measure.
The definition of a cocktail is an alcoholic drink consisting of a spirit or spirits mixed with other ingredients, such as fruit juice or cream. Today of course, there are now mocktails, which are still a mixture of ingredients, but all non-alcoholic.
But to get them right is a skill and requires some creativity. Some of the first cocktails were quite simple, such as a whisky sour – a mixed drink containing whisky, lemon juice, sugar, and optionally, a dash of egg white.
The Mojito is another which has been around a long time and in fact dates back to the pirates and is also believed to be the favourite drink of Sir Francis Drake. The same goes for the planter’s punch, the drink of the sugar cane growers, made of course with rum.
But over the years cocktails have become more refined with new liqueurs and spirits added and now people are having a go themselves.
According to a survey commissioned by Gordon’s, Baileys and Tanqueray, the research found that many of us are drinking cocktails before and after main meals with 37 per cent enjoying pre-dinner cocktails and 36 per cent preferring to indulge post-dinner.
But despite the popularity of cocktails, some of those polled have knowledge gaps – with 70 per cent unaware vodka is used to make an espresso martini, while 58 per cent had no idea rum is the key ingredient in a mojito.
Keen to impress friends and family with their cocktail mastery, almost four in 10 have equipment they bring out for special occasions. So, if you fancy having a go yourself, these exotic cocktails feature little gems of fresh fruit to create delightfully refreshing drinks. Make them at home for a cooling antidote to the summer heatwave!
BERTRAMS
BERTRAM’S RASPBERRY RIPPLE
This is fruity and sweet with plenty of raspberry flavour coming from both the Whitley Neill Raspberry Gin and the Chambord. The lemon juice keeps it from being overpowering whilst adding some refreshing zesty character.
50ml Whitley Neill raspberry gin
25ml Chambord black raspberry liqueur
12.5ml fresh lemon juice
100ml pineapple juice
12.5ml sugar syrup
Garnish with fresh raspberries and blackberries
Bertram’s Restaurant
Crow Wood, Royle Lane, Burnley BB12 0RT
01282 471930
info@bertramsrestaurant.com
ESCAPE COFFEE & COCKTAILS
THE BRAZILIAN
All the passion of the carnival squeezed into a short satisfying tipple. Santa Teresa rum, passion fruit liqueur, a full de-seeded passionfruit, fresh lime juice and a smidge of egg white. Finish with a few drops of Angostura bitters.
40ml Santa Teresa rum
20ml Passoa
De-seeded passionfruit
25ml fresh lime
Egg white
ESCAPE COFFEE & COCKTAILS
LEMON SHERBET
Sour, sweet and sharp, this features Bombay gin, fresh lemon, Cointreau, sugar and orange juice topped with flying saucers.
50ml Bombay gin
25ml lemon
Spoonful of white sugar
20ml Cointreau
50ml orange juice
Escape Coffee & Cocktails
10 Market Place
Clitheroe BB7 2DA
www.escapecoffeeandcocktails.co.uk
YU COPSTER GREEN
BRAMBLE
A short fruity drink with a punch of the gorse flower and raspberry gin which comes in afterwards to round off the drink.
50 ml Forest gin
25 ml Creme de Mure
12.5ml fresh lemon juice
12.5ml sugar syrup
Fresh blackberries
YU COPSTER GREEN
LYCHEE MARTINI
With a taste that is oriental and tropical taste, this presents an alternative to a dessert which will cleanse your pallet.
50 ml Kwai Feh lychee liqueur
50ml lychee Juice
25ml Kettle One vodka
12.5ml fresh lemon juice
12.5ml sugar syrup
Fresh lychee puree
Yu Copster Green
500 Longsight Road
Copster Green, Blackburn BB1 9EU
01254 240665
ARTISAN
POMEGRANATE GIN SMASH
A refreshing sweet concoction, traditionally inspired with an exotic infusion. Finished with cucumber to add a beautiful freshness and topped with rosemary to bring out those botanical flavours.
1.5 ounces of cucumber-infused gin
3 drops of bitters
Seltzer to top
1 cucumber ribbon per glass
Pomegranate gems
Shaved ice
Artisan
Whalley Road, Billington BB7 9HY
01254 822556
www.artisanribblevalley.co.uk
