Patrick's Sour

 

After a long and exhausting day — alarm going off at 5:15, running on autopilot ever since — it suddenly hit me: it’s Saint Patrick’s Day. 

And if there’s ever a good excuse to shake something up, this is it.

On days like these, I don’t overcomplicate things. I go back to the roots. The classics. The structures that never fail. Yes… a sour it is.

But today, we give it a playful, slightly rebellious twist — something green, something bold, something that feels just right after a day like this.

Patrick’s Sour 🍀

A cocktail that sits perfectly between familiar and surprising. Bright citrus, smooth gin, and that unmistakable tropical note that gives it its festive green glow.

Recipe:

• 50 ml London Dry Gin

• 30 ml Pisang Ambon

• 25 ml fresh lemon juice

Shake it hard with ice until well chilled. Strain into a coupe or over fresh ice in a rocks glass.

No fuss. No overthinking.

What you get is a vibrant sour with a soft banana sweetness, balanced by fresh acidity and carried by the botanical backbone of the gin. It’s unconventional — and that’s exactly why it works.

Some days ask for complexity. Days like this? They ask for something that simply delivers.

And this one does. Sláinte. 🍀

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

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. 

Happy World Cocktail Day !!! - Green Martini

I’ve always been very much into everything retro and vintage. These days, my 70s childhood is already considered vintage too… and I have to admit I love it. The furniture and drinks from the 60s and 70s were fabulous. Even until the early 80s each bar served these flashy drinks based on Blue Curacao, Safari, Malibu, Passoa… and the liquid rockstar of every bar : Pisang Ambon. Even back then you could buy much better Banana liqueurs (e.g. Crème de Banane), but everyone wanted a flashy green drink. 

This week we also received a new bottle of gin. Drebbel Gin is a handcrafted London Dry gin from Holland. Distilled alcohol from French corn. Juniper from Macedonia, Orris Root from Italy, Coriander seeds from Morocco, Angelica root and fresh lemons from the south of Spain. Ginger and Liquorice from India and vanilla from Madagascar. Like any good London Dry gin you can enjoy this one neat, with a cube of ice or with a nice bitter tonic. I used it as the supporting spirit in this vintage Martini from my youth.  

For this years #WorldcocktailDay, let’s get nostalgic and hitchhike back to the 70s. Throw on some Abba or Beach Boys music on high volume and spin that disco-ball. I started from an old vodka cocktail recipe and adapted it for this boozy holiday. 

Green Martini

Ingredients
40 ml Drebbel Gin
40 ml Pisang Ambon
20 ml Lime juice
Vanilla aroma. 

Method
Add Pisang, gin and lime juice to a shaker with lots of ice. Shake for 10 seconds and fine strain in a Martini glass. Carefully add two drops of vanilla aroma on top. Garnish with a cocktail 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.

This is not a banana split (70s disco style cocktail)

I’m still not sure what it is exactly, but something in this Spytail Ginger rum reminds me of something I tasted during my teenage years. This inspired me to mix up a real tacky 70s disco-style drink. And you know what? I actually loved it. Think Saturday Night Fever, Beach Boys, Donna Summer... Shake that booty and have one of these.

The base for this drink is Spytail ginger Rum, but I’ve added some vodka to lift it up a little. I have split the banana liqueur (pun very much intended) to get this special result. 

This is not a banana split

Ingredients
40 ml Spytail Ginger Rum
10 ml Belvedere Vodka
20 ml Fresh lime juice
7,5 ml Giffard Banane du Brésil (Modern style banana liqueur with a hint of cognac)
7,5 ml Pisang Ambon (70s disco style banana liqueur, based on an old Indonesian recipe)
1 dash of chocolate bitters

Method
Bring everything together in a shaker with lots of ice and shake it for at least 20 seconds. Double strain in the most ‘70s disco’ glass you own. Add a sticky cocktail 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.