Cocktail Experiment - Whiskies

The recently revamped Bellevue Hotel was the perfect backdrop for this month’s cocktail experiment on ‘whiskies’. We had a good line-up that included Jameson Gold Reserve, Dewar’s White Label, Bowmore Legend, AnCnoc and the Dalmore. Leading the experiment was Dan Woolley (Group Beverage Manager, Riversdale Group) and he was joined by a few of the Riversdale Group’s crew - Paige Aubort (LoFi), Kevin Peters (LoFi & the Standard) and Dean Sykes (bar manager of LoFi).

The consummate whisk(e)y educator, Woolley led the team through a tasting session that uncovered many of the wonderful characteristics, and potential cocktail styles, that each product was showing. The Jameson displayed delicate cereal notes and a light to medium body that was thought a good match to a spiced whisky sour, perhaps some agave or fig and cinnamon jam. The crew noted that the Dewar’s had a soft, creamy texture which would benefit from some orange zest or bitters - and ultimately it would end up served as a refreshing punch that incorporated tea and lemon curd.

Gary Regan - Falling in love in Jalisco

Not long ago, I wrote about inexperienced bartenders who have been creating nonsense cocktails and taking themselves far too seriously for my liking. I’ll stand by my words on that subject, but at the same time I’ve got to say that I’m so darned impressed at the innovations in the craft that I’ve seen coming from bartenders who understand how to put ingredients together in harmonious, ingenious ways.

Classic Cocktail - The Sherry Cobbler

The Sherry Cobbler, like many of the greatest potent potables, is an American invention. David Wondrich tells us in Imbibe! that a Victorian novelist by the name of Charles Reade in 1863 lists the Sherry Cobbler foremost in his list of American mixtures ahead of Gin Sling, Cocktail, Mint Julep, Brandy Smash, Sudden Death and Eye Openers. Wondrich adds: “If someone had waved Reade’s little list under the nose of the average drinking man in 1863 and made him choose one drink to stand the test of time, odds are heavy that he would’ve gone for the Sherry Cobbler”.

Classic Cocktail - The South Side

A conflicting story has it that the Southside (one word) was from New York - specifically that the drink originated at the Southside Sportsmen’s Club in the Hamptons.

Cocktail Experiment: Bitters

With Lee now heading overseas for the foreseeable future, it was a great opportunity to head down to TVR for this month’s cocktail experiment. At their creative best the team was able to whip up some cracking drinks on all but a moments notice.

Cocktail Experiment: Flavoured Vodka

Some might say that flavoured vodka has come, gone and long had its day - but after seeing some of the cocktail creations that theLoft team whipped up recently it’s obvious that a bartender’s heart can still beat for this flavoured tipple.