70s Retro Banana Daiquiri

So, I really loved the Daiquiri with a shot of Amaro added to the recipe. What if we exchange this herbal bitter with any other liqueur? Would that work? I just had to try. 

Of course, I had to go completely crazy and try the oddest things first. 

What was the result? A crazy drink that was actually awesome. I swallowed this tasty drink almost as fast as a Brit drinks his pint. So, go raid your grandma’s liqueur cabinet, I’m sure you’ll find a bottle of Pisang somewhere in the back 😉

70s Retro Banana Daiquiri

Ingredients
50 ml Angostura Reserva Rum 3y 
20 ml Pisang Ambon
25 ml Lemon juice
10 ml Simple Syrup

Method
Add everything to a shaker with lots of ice. Give it a good shake and strain into a chilled tumbler with fresh ice. I garnished with a cocktail cherry and a slice of blood orange, but banana would have been so much better.

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications 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. 

Daiquiri Corretto

This week is the House of Angostura Tiki and Daiquiri week. I’m very happy to put the spotlight on this great classic drink and play around with the recipe. Most bartenders add a dash of Angostura bitters to bring the flavours together, but today I’m using a bit of amaro to boost the flavours. The result was absolutely delicious.

Daiquiri Corretto 

Ingredients
50 ml Angostura 5 years Gold Rum
20 ml Amaro di Angostura
30 ml Lime juice
10 ml Orgeat syrup

Method
Add everything to a shaker with lots of ice. Shake for 15 seconds and fine strain in a chilled coupe. 

If you have another lime left, add a twist of lime peel. 

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications 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. 

No Rum Required (mocktail)

You know a cocktail is a success when people ask for a second glass. The same goes for mocktails. This time I wanted to create a mocktail which would give you a slight hint of a rum-cocktail, but without alcohol and without an actual rum-replacement. Just playing with flavours.

No Rum Required

Ingredients
30 ml lemon juice
10 ml Orgeat syrup (almond)
a splash of agave syrup
60 ml Maracuja juice (passion fruit)

Method
Add everything to a shaker with ice. Give it a good shake and strain in a tumbler with fresh ice. Garnish with orange. 

And if your Uncle Fester absolutely wants some alcohol, just add a shot of his favourite aged rum to the recipe 😉 

TIP 
When mixing mocktails never stir or shake too long, because they will water down easily. 

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications 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. 

White Paddy

Still impressed by Shanky’s Whip, I couldn’t resist mixing up another variation on a great classic drink. This liqueur reminds me so much of the Mokatine sweets from my youth, I’m sure it can add the necessary coffee flavour and sweetness to drinks that really call for that. Today I’m mixing up a variation on the classic cocktail “The White Russian”, which was invented in 1949 by Belgian bartender Gustave Tops. 

The Dude would probably like this variation… but if you think otherwise, you are allowed to say “Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.” (*)

For my variation, I’m aiming for a bold slow-sipping drink based on Irish whiskey and liqueur.

First I tried the stirred version with heavy cream, which results in a brownish cream drink that looks very similar to Carolans or Baileys. 

I thought about it for a couple of days and I took another path, just adding all ingredients to a tumbler with ice cubes and topping it with whipped cream. Damn, this is fantastic. It breaks almost every rule in bartending. No shaking or stirring, just add everything to your glass. It’s almost like an explosion of flavours in your mouth. First the softness of the whipped cream, then you get the sweet coffee flavours and the whiskey rounds up with a nice strong finish. Try it, you’ll be surprised. And because the whipped cream contains lots of air, the drink doesn’t get messy as fast as the other variations. You'll have time to serve it to your visitor. 

My experience just couldn't be better... 'The Big Lebowski' was actually on TV the evening when I mixed this drink...

White Paddy

Ingredients
45 ml Teeling Irish whiskey (rum cask)
30 ml Shanky’s Whip Irish Whisky Liqueur
10 ml Vanilla syrup
Heavy cream or whipped cream

Method

There are several ways (and serves) for this drink: 

- If you want the serve to look like a glass of Irish Cream: 

Add whisky, syrup and liqueur to your shaker with ice. Give it a good shake. Strain into a tumbler with fresh ice. Add heavy cream. Gently stir the cream in your drink. No garnish needed. 

- If you want a bold and unblended look: 

Add the syrup and liqueur to your tumbler with ice. Next, add the whiskey. Top with whipped cream. Don’t stir, don’t garnish. The flavours will partly blend, but you will still get the different taste sensations while enjoying the drink. And yes, it will look a bit messy in the end too… just like the Dude himself. 

(*) Quote from the movie “The Big Lebowski”, a movie in which the main character 'The Dude' drinks multiple White Russians.

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications 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.

Shanky's Whip

It’s always a bit weird when you receive a parcel from a distributor in Italy… and it contains a bottle “Made in Ireland” 😉.

Two weeks ago we visited a friend who told us she really loves to mix spirits with ginger beer, but she’s not really fond of rum. This came back to mind when I opened this parcel and found a bottle of Shanky’s Whip, the original black liqueur based on Irish whiskey. This black liqueur is “whipped together” with Irish spirits, Irish whiskey, cream flavour and caramel. The aroma is fantastic and immediately reminds me of some sweets I really loved as a kid. 

This liqueur is packed with flavour and it doesn’t “burn” like a whisky. It’s easy and tasty to sip. You can drink it on the rocks, as a shot next to your pint of Guinness or with a good mixer. Mixologists can of course experiment by using it as an ingredient in a cocktail. I already have multiple ideas for this liqueur. 

Shanky Ginger Highball

Ingredients
50 ml Shanky’s Whip
100 ml Ginger Ale

Method

On the website they suggest mixing with coke, but I think Coke really dominates the taste.

I mixed Shanky’s Whip with Ginger Ale. Just build in a highball glass with ice and give it a quick stir. Garnish with a slice of orange. 

But since this is such a special bottle, let’s do another one...

Shanky’s Irish Old Fashioned

Ingredients

40 ml Teeling whiskey

15 ml Aperol

15 ml Shanky’s Whip liqueur

1 dash Angostura aromatic bitters

Method

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with lots of ice. Give it a good stir and strain in a tumbler with fresh ice. Garnish with orange and a maraschino cherry. 

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications 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.

Virgin Passion

Fans of our blog already know I never really do dry months like Tournée Minérale. But nevertheless I can share a very nice, easy-to-mix and tasty mocktail recipe. 

What I often miss in mocktails is a solid base. That’s exactly what a spirit provides in a normal cocktail and you often seem to miss that base in a mocktail. Nona June is a pretty good NA replacement for gin and is one of the only products of that kind that provides a good base. I don’t really need juniper for this recipe, but the strong passion fruit flavours will cover that. And what’s more… the passion fruit flavours also make this a great mocktail for Valentine’s Day.

The P***star Martini is a popular classic cocktail with strong flavours of passion fruit and vanilla. That combination shouldn’t be that hard to replicate for this mocktail. You can use fresh passion fruit, passion fruit puree or a good quality passion fruit juice. I’m using Caraïbos Maracujà juice, which is a pretty nice and economic option. Be aware that passion fruit puree only lasts for a month. Also be careful when buying juice, most supermarkets sell passion fruit juice which is actually 70-80% other fruits. We don’t want that. We really need the taste of passion fruit. The Maracujà is a variety of Brazilian passion fruit. It has a thick yellow skin, juicy and almost jelly like inside. A strong and fantastic aroma and lots of small brown soft seeds.

Virgin Passion

Ingredients
40 ml Nona June
40 ml Caraïbos Maracujà
20 ml Fresh lime juice
15-20 ml Vanilla syrup
Optional: ½ egg white if you want a silky foam layer 

Method
Add everything to a shaker with lots of ice. Give it a good shake for 12 seconds and strain in a chilled Martini glass or your favourite alternative. The preferred garnish is a half passion fruit, but you can also pair this drink with some dark chocolate. 

Important
If you want the egg white foam layer, first dry-shake for 10 seconds, then add the ice and shake again.

P.S. This month, this mocktail will also be available at Paal 26 Grand Café. 

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications 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.