Bel'Uva Summerdrinks

When creating recipes with gin and vermouth, in most cases we just grab a bottle of white or dry vermouth and start experimenting. This time, we’re doing it a bit different. I was asked to try and create a couple of drinks with gin and vermouth of Bel’Uva. These products are created with grapes, sourced from Belgian wineries and mixed with botanical extracts. 

I created two drinks, you could consider them alternative recipes for the Martini and Negroni. But not really, they do taste very different. 

The Classy Bel'Uva is an excellent aperitif, while the Bella Bel'Uva is a delicious cocktail to enjoy on a sunny terrace. This summer both drinks are on the menu at Paal 26 Grand-Café.

Classy Bel’Uva 

Ingredients

50 ml Bel’Uva Gin Pinot Blanc

10 ml Bel’Uva Humulus Red vermouth

10 ml Medium sherry

5 ml Simple syrup

2 dashes Angostura cacao bitters

Method

Add everything to a mixing glass with lots of ice. Stir for 15 seconds. Strain in a coupe. 

Bella Bel’Uva 

Ingredients

50 ml Bel’Uva Gin Pinot Blanc

20 ml Bel’Uva Humulus Red Vermouth

20 ml Aperol

5 ml Simple syrup

Schweppes Tonic Pink Pepper

Method

Add gin, vermouth, Aperol and sugar to a mixing glass with lots of ice. Stir for 12 seconds, strain in a tumbler with fresh ice. Top with a bit of tonic. 

(Photo: Paal26)

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.

Red Grape Mocktail - Bel'Uva NA Aperitif

Our followers already know we are no big fans of Dry January and Tournee Minerale. But nothing wrong with a #mocktailmonday once in a while. Often enough I mix up a tasty mocktail, because I still have to pick up my daughter later that evening at the music academy. I’m very happy to see more and more decent and tasty alternatives hitting the market. In the past year we’ve tasted some excellent gin-, amaro- and vermouth replacements. Non-alcoholic beverages that can be used as real alternatives. You hardly taste the difference. 

Today I’m tasting a brand new non-alcoholic vermouth alternative, Bel’Uva Aperitif Humelus NA Red.

Bel’Uva is a new Belgian producer who creates beverages based on just two things : Belgian wine grapes and a selection of herbs and botanicals. They produce a range of 3 wine-based gins (Muscaris, Pinot Blanc and Cabernet Noir), vermouth and 2 non-alcoholic vermouth alternatives (Red and white). In this case of working with natural products non-alcoholic means less than 0,5% alcohol.  

The wine grapes have their origin in de Belgian region of Haspengouw : Domain Hoenshof and Jerom Winery. The first one is no stranger for Double Strainger, we have tasted their fruity Ice Wines a couple of years ago. For this new range they try to focus on sustainability by also using the ‘Pomage’, the residue of juice and peels which remain after pressing. The same residue which is used for the creation of Marc/Grappa in typical wine-countries. 

This new aperitif can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks… or in a fruity mocktail. 

Red Grape Mocktail

Ingredients
2 parts Bel’Uva Humelus Aperitif NA Red
1 part Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic
A good squeeze of lime

Method
Build in a highball glass with lots of ice. Give it a quick stir and garnish with a wedge of lime. I got the suggestion to also add a few raspberries, but for me this was too much. The wine and lime work perfect together. 

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.