Ron Matusalem Foodpairing

Three years ago I had my first sip of Matusalem rum. Back then, I was invited to a webinar about a scientific study on foodpairing. The participants were asked to try it out, using the Matusalem bottles of Gran Reserva 15 and Insolito (until this day the only rosé rum I have ever seen or tasted).

So… I was very excited to be invited to a foodpairing lunch this week, matching even more Matusalem rum variations to dishes prepared by the seasoned chef of Sanzaru Restaurant in Brussels. 

After a crisp appetizer (Sea bream ceviche, leche del tigre with coconut milk and aji amarillo, topped with Imperial gold caviar and pickled red onion gel) matched with a punch based on the Gran Reserva 15, we sat down for a three-course meal. 

The Insolito was the perfect base for a cocktail (with celery tomato and walnut bitters), matching with the starter, smoked heirloom tomato, cockle juice, lovage sorbet and cucumber celery gel.

The Gran Reserva 15 (neat) was a perfect match for the main course with Veal Blanquette, fried sushi, caramelised sweetbread and passion fruit.

The Gran Reserva 23 married the dessert, peach illusion infused with Ron Matusalem 23, kalamansi, white chocolate, hazelnut and praliné ice cream. 

But when we all thought the event was almost over, we had a true Steve Jobs-style “there is just one more thing” moment… or should I say “one more delicious sip”. 

French wine casks were added to the Solera system to produce a limited edition of 2000 bottles: Gran Reserva Lefebre 23. 

Definitely one of the better ‘pousse-café’ drinks I have had this summer 😉 

Excellent "end of summer" event. Top quality easy-sipping rum... and it's always nice to reconnect with my friends in the industry. 

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Consulting unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Two bottles, two stories

Today’s classic cocktail is a mix of two bottles and two stories. The first story is pretty well-known. It’s about the famous English statesman, Winston Churchill. The man loved a good Martini but had a special way of preparing the drink. He must have stated something like “Just glance at the vermouth bottle briefly from across the room while pouring the juniper distillate freely”. 

Another great mind, Ernest Hemingway, limited the vermouth to just a teaspoon. So I was looking for a Martini-style drink, heavy on the gin, with just a subtle scent of vermouth. 

The Hemingway story also states that he froze his glass and stirred the gin ice and ice cold. That reminded me of another story. A few years ago I attended a lunchtime workshop by Suntory, learning interesting things about Japanese spirits and ice carving. One of the most interesting workshops I’ve attended, because of all the side stories told by brand ambassador Zoran Peric. 

One of the stories was about partying in Japan. We’ve all seen the shiny ice buckets with Champagne bottles in our European clubs and discos, but Zoran told us they do the same thing in Japan with a bottle of whisky or gin. They bring a bottle of spirit to the table, accompanied by longdrink glasses and a large bucket of ice balls. The colder the drink, the easier it actually is to drink.

With both stories combined, I played around with the brand new bottle of Japanese Roku gin, the “Sakura Bloom” limited edition.  This special bottle is a homage to Hanami, Roku Sakura Bloom layers sweet florals with hints of saltiness from blossom leaves. A blend of six uniquely Japanese botanicals enhances its natural sweetness, creating a gin in full bloom. With this flavourful gin, I wanted to mix up a strong and ice-cold Martini, with just a subtle hint of vermouth, as a tribute to those mentioned above. It didn’t disappoint. 

Winston’s Sakura

Ingredients

50ml Roku Gin Sakura Bloom

15ml Cucielo Dry vermouth

Method

Add 50ml of gin to a small bottle and keep it in the freezer for 24 hours. Pick a nice vintage coupe and rinse it with dry vermouth. Add the Gin. Let it breathe for a few moments. Enjoy. 

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Consulting unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations. Everything I write is my own opinion.

The only way is up... or neat?

Neat or Up ???

When serving a nice cocktail, without ice in the glass, there are two different serving possibilities: up or neat. Now what's the difference? 

Neat
This terminology is used for drinks served at bottle temperature, without extra chilling like stirring or shaking with ice cubes.  

Up
This terminology is used for drinks chilled while preparing (shaking, stirring, ... with ice cubes), but served without ice in the glass. They are usually served in a coupe or Martini glass.   

"5 a day" with Fox liqueur

When you play around and experiment with boozy recipes almost every day, you won't hit 'Jackpot' combinations every day. But some days you really do. Today was one of those glorious days. 

I received a small sample of Fox, a pear liqueur. This sweet bottle of flavour inspired me to create a tasty new drink. Warning: Don't add extra sweetness, this is very sweet liqueur.

I named it "5 a day", linking it to the advised amount of fruit you have to eat daily. Do enjoy this tasty, but super easy 3-ingredient drink. 

5-a-day

Ingredients
50ml Martin Miller's Westbourne Strength Gin
20ml Fox pear liqueur
20ml Tio Pepe Sherry

Method
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with lots of ice. Stir for 15 seconds and strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a sweet cocktail cherry. And enjoy... this is delicious!!!

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Consulting unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

A walk in the park

Most recipes on this blog are based on the old classic recipes, with a solid base of good quality spirit. During my workshops when sipping the first drink, I often get feedback that the drink is "pretty strong". A possible reason for that is the simple fact that lots of bars serve lighter drinks to increase their profit. The spirit is the most expensive ingredient after all. 

But, that said, on hot summer days we often really enjoy those lighter and easier-to-sip cocktails and longdrinks.

When I received a few samples of Garden Gin, I knew this would be perfect for such easy summer drinks. I created this variation on the 'English Garden'. Garden Gin is produced at the Bloempothoeve (translates as 'flower pot farm'), where they produce all the ingredients for their spirits and liqueurs: edible flowers, herbs and fruits. 

A walk in the park

Ingredients
50ml Garden Gin
15ml St-Germain liqueur
40ml Apple juice
10ml Lemon juice

Method
I know some bartenders just build this drink in a glass and give it a quick stir, but since it contains citrus it should be shaken. I'll leave it up to you, just make sure it's really cold and you serve it in a tumbler with fresh ice. I garnished my drink with a leaf of my Cola-herb. This plant is part of the Artemisia abrotanum family (lemon herbs) and smells like Coca-Cola. 

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Consulting unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are not paid promotions or recommendations.

Spirits Inn Beringen 2024 - Old, odd and rare bottles

The annual spirits festival hosted by my local whisky club “Spirits Inn Beringen” never fails to deliver an unforgettable experience. Each year, enthusiasts are treated to a curated selection of old, rare and exceptional bottles that showcase the rich diversity of quality spirits. It's an opportunity to savour drams from bottles that may be elusive or beyond our usual budgets.

This year's event was no exception, offering a glimpse into the world of whisky and other distilled delights. Among the standout moments:

Aerts Paradijs, a local distiller where I sampled another progression from barrel to bottle, witnessing the transformation of flavours from typical bread and dough notes to robust vanilla. But the real surprise came from a new experiment, Jeroen ingeniously crafted a delightful Marc (Grappa) using leftover grapes from Beau Marais winery.

My friend Chris delighted us with a selection of whiskies from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, each bearing whimsical names evoking flavours like "library dust." 

His recent trip to Scotland yielded a memorable experience at Deanston Distillery, which I was fortunate enough to taste — a truly delicious dram aged in a scraped and recharred barrel. This is whisky, but I could almost detect the typical cotton candy aroma you sometimes get in Tequila. 

The dedicated whisky enthusiasts of Caskaid shared their passion for sourcing and bottling unique spirits, all while supporting worthy causes. Their Ardbeg dram, with its initial burst of cookie notes, was a testament to their discerning tastes and philanthropic endeavours.

However, stealing the spotlight was a remarkable find: a cognac distilled in 1910. While most cognacs are aged for a fraction of that time, this exceptional bottling spent an astonishing 112 years maturing in oak, resulting in sensational and unparalleled flavours — a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As always, attending such an event is an immersive journey that words can hardly capture. 

Until next year — will we see you there?

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Consulting unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

When Jack (and Thomas) throws a party...

As a devoted fan of the Jack Daniel’s brand for many years, I've never needed convincing of the quality of this iconic Tennessee whiskey. However, it's clear that the Belgian office is dedicated to expanding its reach to a wider audience. While the brand has long been popular among bikers and metalheads in Europe, it's aiming to make its mark in the cocktail scene, and I couldn't be happier about it.

Thomas Timmermans, a familiar name in the cocktail world, now leads Better Drinking Ventures, And when it comes to enjoying top-notch drinks, Jack Daniel’s is always an excellent choice. Sounds like a perfect combination.

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending a private event at Ghent's renowned Fugazi cocktail bar. Owners Ruben and Cleopatra greeted us with a refreshing Fugazi Lynchburg Lemonade (featuring JD Tennessee Whiskey, Corn Liqueur, Lapsang Souchong, lemon, and London Essence Ginger Ale).

The drinks menu boasted three exquisite concoctions:

• A Bonded Affaire (featuring JD Bonded, Dry Vermouth, Bitter Liqueur, Maraska, and Umami Pearls)
• Barb Wire (crafted with Fennel-infused JD, Pickled Rhubarb Cordial, and Basil Soda)
• Mickey Mellow (featuring Gentleman Jack, Corn Liqueur, and Toasted Marshmallow)

Of course, there was no shortage of delectable bites to accompany the drinks. 

A live DJ set provided the perfect loungy ambience, but the highlight of the evening was undoubtedly reserved for the casino games, reminiscent of the clandestine speakeasies of the twenties.

A heartfelt thank you to Thomas and Vincent for extending the invitation to this remarkable event. 

Beyond the exceptional drinks and entertainment, what truly made the evening memorable was the gathering of the Belgian bar scene's finest. It was a delight to reconnect with such esteemed colleagues and friends.

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Consulting unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.