Tag Archives: martini

Festive Cocktail Guide Vol. 4 ft Isle of Harris Gin

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Courtesy of Isle of Harris Distillery, we’ve been treated to a very festive recipe created by Tom Jolly of The American Bar, Gleneagles Hotel. 

The Adru Martini has been made specifically to compliment the coastal flavours of the Isle of Harris Gin. Infused with sugar kelp this unique and aromatic gin, has been married with orange bitters and vanilla pods to create something truly Christmassy. 

The Adru Martini;

Ingredients;

50ml Isle of Harris Gin

25ml Lillet Blanc

1.5ml Sugar Syrup

2 dashes of Orange Bitters

1 dash of Vanilla Saline

Lemon Peel 

Method;

Make the Vanilla Saline – 40g of Sea Salt to 100ml of water and 3 split Vanilla pods then leave to infuse for 24 hrs. 

Add all ingredients, except for the lemon, to a chilled mixing glass.

Add a large block of ice and stir until liquid is chilled and suitably diluted. 

Strain into a coupe glass 

Squeeze oils from Lemon over the drink and rub the stem with remaining peel

Drop peel into drink as a garnish. 

Isle of Harris Distillers have also created bespoke gift packages for Christmas. Each handmade Martini Glass is unique, having been blown, shaped and polished in traditional fashion. Complete with ‘The Martini Project’ and distillery marques alongside exclusive Martini recipes to enjoy, the gift set also comes with a special Aromatic Water distilled from Sugar Kelp, picked sustainably by the distillery’s seaweed harvester.

The Harris Martini + Gift Set: £92 at harrisdistillery.com.

Shop all Isle of Harris Distillery products at harrisdistillery.com

Cocktail Ideas : Tanqueray Edition

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Every weekend until Christmas we will be offering you up some lovely cocktail ideas which you can use to celebrate the occasion or to create your very own cocktail guide with to use all year round. This week we were sent some exciting Tanqueray cocktails created by presenter Miquita Oliver. We think you will love her daring twists on some Gin cocktail classics.

First up the Tanqueray Martini – This is probably my favourite cocktail ever. Simple, sophisticated and packs a punch. Miquita has created;

Tanqueray Martini with Ginger Chilli and Coriander.

45ml Tanqueray London Dry Gin
10ml Chilli infused Cocchi Americano
10ml Chilli infused Dolin Dry
5ml Ancho Reyes Chili Liqueur
1 dash orange bitters
Atomised with coriander & ginger spray
Garnish: Coriander leaf

Stir all ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled martini or nick & nora glass
garnish with spray and float a coriander leaf in the drink

For the Chilli vermouth infusions
Take 2-3 dried whole chillies and break their skin and put straight into the bottle and allow to infuse for 1.5 hours – taste after this time to check that the chilli has infused – depending on the strength of the chilli it may need a little longer but this should add a gentle heat to the vermouths – after this time strain and rebottle

For the coriander & ginger spay
Infuse coriander and ginger for 1.5 hours. Strain. Transfer liquid to any plastic atomiser

The Green Tanqueray Tonic –

A refreshing and zesty green take on the G&T


For the Syrup:
500g Sugar
1.5 Litre Water
350g Cucumber
1.5 Granny smith apples (cored)
20ml Lime juice

Heat sugar & water up together and leave to cool to make sugar syrup
Blitz cucumber, apples and lime in a blender and strain. Add to the sugar syrup.

To serve:
40ml Cucumber and Apple syrup
25ml Tanqueray
topped with Fever tree tonic

Garnish:
Pleated cucumber peel (full length of cucumber) pierced by a cocktail stick and rested on top

The Red Tanqueray & Tonic

The Red Tanqueray Tonic – perfect for Christmas, we love the spicy notes and cranberry twist.

For the Syrup:
500ml water
150g Sugar
100g Cranberrys
10g Cinnamon
10g Black Cardamon

All except sugar in a pan and  bring to the boil and simmer for 20 mins
Reduce to about half as much water and add the sugar. Simmer for another 4 mins on a low heat, remove the spice cinnamon & cardamon and blitz the rest. Strain.

Serve:
35ml red syrup
10ml Lemon juice
2 dash angostura bitters
top with fever tree tonic

Garnish:
3 cranberries on a cocktail stick

Tanqueray is available to buy from multiple major retailers. For more details visit www.tanqueray.com

Delicious Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Inspiration

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Cinco De Mayo continues to serve it’s purpose to celebrate the victory of The Mexicans and what better way to celebrate than with the best of Mexican culture, good food and good booze. Mexican food is known for being hearty, flavoursome and rich so why not try a recipe which will impress everyone;

We have a delicious Vegan recipe for you to try tonight alongside a mouth-watering Vegan cocktail to see in Cinco De Mayo! Olé

Coronation Cauliflower Tacos;

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For the cauliflower;

1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
100g vegan mayonnaise
40g dried apricots – chopped
1 tablespoon of chopped coriander
1 teaspoon of chopped mint
Zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon lemon juice – or to taste
Good pinch of Malden salt
Fresh cracked black pepper
1 medium sized cauliflower (must be ultra fresh)

For the garnish:
2 tablespoons of toasted almonds or sunflower seeds
Edamame Beans

For the Slaw
Ingredients:
¼ white cabbage
¼ red cabbage
1 carrot
100g vegan Greek yoghurt
2 tbsp lemon juice
Good pinch of Malden salt
Fresh cracked black pepper

Add Tacos

Now for the Cocktail:

Vegan Martini
MAKES 1 LITRE

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300ml Tanqueray Gin
40ml Ginger juice
12ml Salt Water
120ml Agave
80ml Lime
80ml Lemon
400ml Green juice

Shake it up and serve.

¡ARRIBA!

The Late Summer Sun is a Great Excuse for a Cocktail

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However, cocktails are a bit of a fiddle aren’t they? No, no,  not always it seems. Try these recipes which hit the spot and take no time at all. They are ideal for accompanying a September BBQ or, if autumn arrives, ask the gang over and have one, at least, before a roast dinner.

All Star Martini

This refreshing martini has been created by All Star Lanes, Brick Lane, East London, using J.J. Whitley Rhubarb Vodka who have created a range of spirits inspired by the British countryside. The Rhubarb Vodka really is reminiscent of freshly picked rhubarb, is a delicate colour and ideal as a cocktail base. So here we go:

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Ingredients (single serve): 25ml J.J. Whitley Rhubarb Vodka, 25ml J.J. Whitley London Dry Gin, dash of Fee Brothers Plum Bitters, 10ml fresh lemon juice, 5ml vanilla and passion fruit syrup, 10ml pressed apple juice, shot of Prosecco, a dried lemon wheel, dehydrated cornflower petals (or other edible dried flowers)

Method: Put all ingredients, except the prosecco into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a coupette. Garnish with the lemon and petals and serve with a chilled shot of prosecco.

And what about this:

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Botanical Martini

This gin lover’s dream has been created by popular Manchester cocktail bar, Tusk. The Botanical Martini is made using Whitley Neill, a premium gin inspired by Africa and carefully blended with nine botanicals, including the superfruit baobab which has six times more vitamin C than an orange.

Ingredients (single serve): 50ml Whitley Neill Gin, 10ml Noily Prat, dash Peychaud’s Bitters

Method: Stir the ingredients together and pour into a coupette glass- what could be more simple, especially if you have had a few of the others first!

Liverpool Gin G & T
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My parents spent quite a long time in India. In fact I was born there. They swore by a gin and tonic as the sun went over the yard arm, and trust me, this  is a very fine gin. Founded at the Bankhall distillery in Liverpool, Liverpool Gin is premium spirit handcrafted in a copper still. This small batch, aromatic gin recreates flavours of the past with the finest organic botanicals. Believe me,  you can almost see the ships masts in the port, the warehouses filled with spices, juniper, sugar cane. It really is one of the finest gins I have tasted.

Ingredients (single serve): 50ml Liverpool Gin, 100ml Fever Tree Tonic, wheel of orange and spring of mint

Method: Pour the gin and tonic over ice and garnish

Cheers everyone – enjoy.

You can buy J.J. Whitley Rhubarb Vodka from Amazon for £27.24 for 70cl. @JJ_WhitleyUK   facebook.com/JJWhitleyUK

Whitley Neill is available in Sainsbury’s and Tesco as well as Drinksupermarket.com for £23.29, 70cl. @WhitleyNeill  facebook.com/WhitleyNeill

Liverpool Gin is available from The Whisky Exchange for £44.95, 70cl. @LiverpoolGin  facebook.com/liverpoolgin

J.J. Whitley, Whitley Neill and Liverpool Gin are crafted and distributed by Halewood Wines & Spirits. (www.halewood-int.com)

 

 

 

5cc Singer Tavern launch new Old Street location.

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At a loss for what to do this weekend? Well 5cc the uber secret cocktail club have bars tucked away in a host of hip venues in London and they’re just about to add a new location to the mix. Singer Tavern: 1 City Road is a Grade II listed pub bang in the heart of Old Street, but behind the traditional façade and down in the basement, lies the newest venue kitted out with the best of East London’s design inspirations.

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If you’ve serious about your cocktails make sure you hot tail it down here to try a smashing selection of traditional cocktails and also innovative twists on classics which pack a serious punch. Perfect for after work drinks or a hot date with large booths and hidden little nooks. Watching the skilled barman mix up the drinks is a spectacle itself. All of the cocktails are served in different glasses with their own panache and edge.

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I tried the Old Fashioned, Margarita and Montgomery Gin Martini, a few times, which was by far the freshest Martini i’ve tasted in a while. Other than whats on the menu, the highly skilled barman aim to please by making whatever you like however you like. Thumbs up all round. This is a hidden gem in the heart of the city. If you’re looking to escape the corporate bar vibe this joint has some serious soul.

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As well as Old Street, 5CC have locations in Hoxton, Exmouth Market, Bethnal Green and Farringdon all with different menus.

For more info check out, 5cc-London.com

Getting Into The Christmas Spirit | Alcohol Gift Guide

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Ah, Christmas. The time for overindulgence. Too much food, booze and time spent with people you have to people you love dearly. No having to go to work in the morning, just bad TV and lying comatose on the coach. It truly is magical. To help the magic along we have started our Christmas Alcohol Reviews. Here are our top picks to buy the people who have been very, very good this year. alcoholchristmasreviewwhattobuy

Snow Leopard Vodka

This vodka (made with spelt, the so-called ‘grandfather of grains’) was created by a passionate conservationist determined to save these critically endangered big cats. Which is why we should all buy one this Christmas.

Stephen Sparrow, an ex-drinks industry expert, heard about the snow leopard’s plight during a trip to the Himalayas. Shocked at learning there were less than 5,000 left in the wild, he came back and founded the Snow Leopard Trust UK – and then created this super-premium vodka to help fund its projects. Stephen has set a global goal to raise a million dollars annually for snow leopard conservation by 2025. That’s the the figure the President of the Snow Leopard Trust has advised could provide the ‘step change’ to remove the animal from the endangered list. This goal has been helped by the vodka recently gaining national distribution in Waitrose.com

With 15% of the vodka’s profit going direct to the Snow Leopard Trust, funds are provided to community-based conservation projects. These range from replacing farmers’ livestock that might be taken by snow leopards; through to helping educate herders’ children and training for adults in spinning wool and handicrafts for extra income. Supporting these projects helps educate the local communities and fosters a positive attitude towards the snow leopard.

£36.00 RRP for a 70cl bottle and available at Waitrose.com, Harvey Nichols and Ocado.com, as well as all good independent drinks retailers. Snowleopardtrustuk.org / snowleopardvodka.co.uk

 

Snow Leopard Vodka – The Conservation Martini

Glass: Martini

75ml Snow Leopard Vodka
5ml French Dry Vermouth
1 sprig of rosemary to be stirred in a mixing glass

Method: Add ingredients into an ice-filled mixing glass and briskly stir for 20 seconds.
Pour into a Martini glass.
Garnish: Rosemary sprig placed in the Martini or cocktail glass.

 

Whitley Neill Gin

This is top-class, truly wonderful gin. Perfect for gin lovers, winner of the World’s Best Gin Award at the International Wines and Spirits Festival, super-premium Whitley Neill Gin stands out from the crowd with its African botanicals cape gooseberry and super-fruit baobab, which has six times more vitamin C than an orange. Whitley Neill is slightly softer than more traditional gins and the taste is refreshingly citrusy and sweet. Whitley Neill Gin is available in sainsburys.co.uk priced £24.00.

 

Lamb’s Spiced

This is wonderful spiced rum with a lower alcohol content that other spiced rums. The sophisticated readers of Frost will know that is a good thing. New Lamb’s Spiced is a perfect gift for rum aficionados and cocktail lovers. It’s a gentle blend with a lower alcoholic content (30% abv) than other spiced rums, which makes this smooth golden liquid ideal for sipping. Natural spices and hints of cinnamon and caramel give Lamb’s Spiced a sweet, warming flavour. Lamb’s Spiced is available in Tesco.com priced £14.49 for a 70cl bottle.

 

Lamb’s Navy Rum

A true classic. This is high-end rum. Truly Iconic British rum, Lamb’s Navy, is the perfect tipple to have in the cupboard at Christmas – not only is it a great cake preservative and ideal ingredient for flambéing the Christmas pudding, but it’s a great winter cocktail ingredient too. Lamb’s Navy Rum is available from all major supermarkets priced around £14.50 for 70cl.

 

Bootlegger

This is something truly unique for whiskey lovers who want something different. It is actually unaged white whiskey. It is gorgeous, sophisticated and luxurious with just the right amount of vintage kitsch.

Bootlegger is an unaged white whiskey inspired by the raw liquor ‘Bootleggers’ moved around the US during Prohibition. It has a raw sophisticated taste with aromas of peat, oak and vanilla with a smooth finish and has been created for sipping neat over ice as well as in cocktails. Bootlegger is available from Harrods.com and other premium retailers priced around £37.50.

 

Tequila Rose

Our editor loves tequila, just a shame she can’t drink it at the moment because she is pregnant! We did the hard work for her: This is a unique and delicious take on tequila. Tequila Rose is a luxurious blend of premium Mexican tequila and real strawberry flavoured cream liqueur. It’s an ideal alternative to traditional cream liqueurs at Christmastime and makes a fabulous gift for female foodies and cocktail lovers. Tequila Rose is priced £14.99 for 70cl from various supermarkets.

 

Grant’s Signature 

Grant’s whisky is always brilliant. Perfect for a wee dram. This Christmas Grant’s Whisky is putting a new twist on tradition this Christmas with the release of its Signature character and maltiness blend. With a smooth yet rich taste, with hints of caramel and biscuit which is delicious on its own, over ice or with a mixer. The product of five generations, Grant’s is Scotland’s oldest family owned blend.

The Grant’s Family Reserve is priced at RRP £17.49 (70cl) available supermarkets and off licences. The Grant’s Signature blend will be sold exclusively at Tesco.com, priced at RRP £18.49.

 

Koko Kanu Coconut Rum

Perfect for rum lovers: Koko Kanu is a subtle blend of crystal clear rum and coconut; the only full strength coconut rum available in the UK.

This beautifully rich tasting coconut flavoured rum from the Caribbean island of Jamaica, is so smooth and round that it’s delicious on its own over ice.

 

Koko Kanu Daiquiri

Ingredients:

50ml Koko Kanu
25ml freshly pressed lime juice
5ml Gomme (available at all good retail outlets)

Method:
Chill a martini glass
Add all ingredients to a boston shaker, shake and double strain
Pour into the chilled glass and garnish with a slice of lime or a mint leaf

 

Koko Kanu Grikoko
(Created By Chris Langhan)

Ingredients:
2 Shot Koko Kanu
½ shot lime juice
1 whole Mandarin (quartered)
Dash orange bitters

Method:
Muddle whole mandarin including flesh and zest (everything), add liquid ingredients
Shake hard and double strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish with a twist of orange

 

Bowmore Black Rock Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

This is a very unique no age statement whisky. It has a rich sherry and peat smoke which is then followed by blackcurrants, treacle toffee and cinnamon spice. Buy for someone you want to impress. It is unique and they probably would not have tried it before. This was released for the travel retail market in 2014.

 

Don Papa Rum

This is brilliant and new for rum lovers. New Don Papa is a premium aged small batch rum from the Philippines which was launched in the UK in February 2014. It is light and fruity on the nose, smooth and delicate on the palate with flavours of vanilla, honey and candied fruit. The Don Papa Rum Gift Pack is available from majestic.co.uk and Majestic stores for £30 and from Harvey Nichols stores and online at www.harveynichols.com

 

Glen Moray Single Malt

This is a top-class Scotch whisky, buy it for the whisky lover in your life. Glen Moray Single Malt is distilled at the Glen Moray Distillery, Speyside’s most northerly distillery which has been producing whisky since 1897. This 10 year old single malt has been uniquely aged in chardonnay casks. £25.00, available from sainsburys.co.uk and glenmoray.com.

 

Three Barrels Honey

Excellent French Brandy. Drink it and cook with it. Oh, and buy it for someone else if you can give it away. The UK’s favourite French grape brandy, Three Barrels, has been blended with the finest honey flavours to create Three Barrels Honey. The new spirit drink is so smooth and mellow, you won’t want to give up a drop for Saint Nick.

 

THREE BARRELS ON THE ROCKS WITH A TWIST

Glass: 10oz Rocks

Method: Pour over ice cubes and spray orange oils over the top of drink

Ice: Cubed

Ingredients:

50ml Three Barrels Honey

Garnish: Trimmed orange zest

THREE BARRELS HONEY AND GINGER

Glass: 12oz Hiball

Method: Fill glass with ice and pour in order listed

Ice: Cubed

Ingredients:

35ml Three Barrels Honey

Top ginger ale

Garnish: Lemon wedge squeezed and discarded, garnish with fresh wedge

 

THREE BARRELS HONEY COLLINS

Glass: 12oz Hiball

Method: Pour all ingredients in glass except soda, and then add ice

Fill with soda and gently stir, top with ice if required

Ice: Cubed

Ingredients:

50ml Three Barrels Honey

20ml Fresh lemon juice

5ml sugar syrup

Top with soda

Garnish: Lemon slice

 

THREE BARRELS HONEY FIZZ

Glass: Chilled flute

Method: Pour in order listed and stir

Ingredients:

25ml Three Barrels Honey

Top with Champagne or dry sparkling wine (Cava or Prosecco)

Garnish: Lemon oils sprayed and discard zest

 

What will be your tipple?

 

 

Cointreau Cocktail Recipes And Drink Review

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221635_10151288432442093_217936919_nI have had many cocktails with Cointreau as an ingredient. In fact Cointreau is at the heart of many famous cocktails including the Cosmopolitan and the Margarita. I knew it tasted good but was not quite sure what it was. Turns out it is an orange Liqueur. It smells great, it tastes great and everyone should have a bottle handy.

To top of the glamour factor gorgeous burlesque star Dita Von Teese is their spokeswomen. Here are some excellent cocktail recipes. We have been testing them all at Frost Mag central. The Sidecar was a particular favourite. Let us know your favourite.

COINTREAUPOLITAN:

Pour into a shaker with ice:

1.5 fl oz Cointreau

1 fl oz Cranberry juice

3/4 oz. Lemon juice

Shake and strain into a martini glass. Enjoy! The bartender’s tip: add the orange zest to your drink.

Cointreau Fizz

Cointreau Fizz Classic cucumber

Recipe: 50ml Cointreau, 100ml soda water and ½ fresh lime

Method: Squeeze wedges of lime into glass, fill glass with ice. Add the Cointreau and top up with soda water

Cucumber garnish is optional.

 

COINTREAU MARGADITA:

1 oz Cointreau

1 oz Silver Tequila

1 oz Fresh Lime Juice

1/2 oz Monin Rose Syrup

1 pinch Chipotle Spice

Mix all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and pour into a chilled coup glass. Garnish with floating rose petals. For an added kick, add a chipotle and salt rim.

Margarita

 

20 ml (1 oz) Cointreau
20 ml (¾ oz) lime juice
40 ml (2 oz) tequila 100% agave

Pour into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, shake well, then pour into a chilled margarita or martini glass.

 

Don’t forget to rim the glass with salt. Garnish with a piece of lime.

Bourbon Cocktail Recipe

1 1/2 ounces bourbon

1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/4 ounce Bénédictine D.O.M.

1/4 ounce Cointreau

Ice

Angostura bitters

Lemon twist, for garnish

 

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Place a cocktail glass in the freezer to chill.
  2. Combine the bourbon, lemon juice, Bénédictine, and Cointreau in a cocktail shaker and fill it halfway with ice. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted. Strain into the chilled cocktail glass, top with a dash of bitters, and garnish with the lemon twist.

 

Fluffy Dog recipe

 

1 oz Cointreau orange liqueur
1 oz Bailey’s Irish cream

Mix both ingredients and serve over ice.

Fluffy Duck

1 part/shot (30ml) advocaat 1 part/shot (30ml) cointreau 1 part/shot (30ml) cream 10 parts/shots (10x30ml) lemonade

Build and stir.

Jumping Jack Flash

25 ml Jack Daniels 25 ml cointreau 25 ml grand marnier 1 Can red bull

Shake the Jack Daniels, Cointreau and Grand Marnier with ice. Pour into a long glass and then add Red Bull.

 

What is your favourite cocktail? Share any recipes below.