An American in Beringen

The end of summer is near, autumn is just around the corner, but we still try to catch those last rays of sunlight and combine them with delicious highball cocktails. Slightly lower in ABV and very refreshing. 

This recipe is a variation on one of Italy’s most famous bitter aperitifs, the Americano, with a base of Pinguino vermouth. This is a local product made in Paal-Beringen (Belgium) by Chef Wim Schoofs. 

For this recipe I’ve experimented with several measurements. For my personal taste this 30/30 mix had the best result. As said before in another blogpost, Pinguino is a premium vermouth, made with herbs and spices from all around the world. It’s just perfect in a highball with tonic. But when you use it as an ingredient for a real cocktail, in my opinion it develops deeper flavours more like an amaro. What I concluded from my experiments for this drink is that if you use maximum 30 ml you will keep the leash on it and it adds everything you expect from a super-premium vermouth. When you add more than 30 ml the ‘amaro-style’ horsepower starts to break loose which is a totally different experience. In this drink I really wanted the best possible vermouth-flavors I could get from this bottle. Compared to the original Americano, it just needed a little extra punch, which I added by swapping the soda water for Pink Pepper tonic. 

An American in Beringen

Ingredients
30 ml Pinguino vermouth
30 ml Campari
Schweppes Premium Mixer – Pink pepper tonic

Method
You can serve this drink in many styles. Negroni-style in an old Fashioned glass, aperitivo-style in a highball or … why the hell not, Spritz-wise in a big Coppa-glass with lots of ice. 

Add both Campari and vermouth to your glass with lots of ice. Give it a few stirs to mix. Add tonic and give it just a few more very gentle stirs. You don’t want to remove the bubbly. Garnish with a wedge of orange. Enjoy !!!

P.S. Next month, for a limited time, this drink will be on the suggestions menu at Paal 26 Grand Café in Beringen. 

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. This blogpost is a paid partnership with Paal 26 Grand Café.

After Dinner Martini for real coffee lovers

It’s rather unusual for this season, but this summer I’ve seen several new bottles hitting the shelves. Today I’m combining two new Belgian products in a delicious after dinner cocktail.

Insurgent Cold Drip : Imagine roughly cut coffee beans and ice cold water. It takes 18 hours to create cold drip coffee, drip by drip. The caffeine level is almost double from normal coffee but all the rough edges are gone. 70% less sours and bitters. 100% clean and natural in every single drop.  

Pinguino Vermouth : Seasoned Chef Wim Schoofs shared this project with me almost a year ago. It took until now to prepare for the launch. Wim has spent many years finetuning the recipe for this premium vermouth, made with herbs and spices from all around the world. It’s absolutely refreshing in a highball with tonic. But when you use it as an ingredient for a proper cocktail, in my opinion it develops very interesting flavors which are more like an amaro. But just to be clear, Pinguino is wine-based just like any other vermouth. Very special product that really changes in taste when sampling it neat, with ice, with water or with any other mixer. 

No, this cocktail is not your average Espresso Martini. I’ve seen similar recipes before with very herbal amari, but never with a vermouth. The flavors and aromas of the vermouth absolutely take the lead. The coffee undertones define the type of drink. This recipe will not create a thick and creamy foam layer like a classic Espresso Martini. In the taste it will highlight raw and pure tones instead of the silky softness you’re used to. It’s really another type of drink, but very tasty. I dare to state this is a coffee cocktail for real coffee enthusiasts. 

After-dinner Martini for real coffee lovers

Ingredients
50 ml Filliers Grain Vodka
30 ml Pinguino Vermouth
25 ml Resurgent Cold Drip coffee
10 ml Honey syrup

Method
Add everything to a shaker with lots of ice and shake for 10 to 12 seconds. Strain into your glass. It works pretty good in a tumbler with fresh ice, but you can also serve it as a Martini. I don’t really need garnish on this one, but when you serve it to your guests maybe add a few coffee beans just as you would do with an Espresso Martini. 

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.