FEATURES

Shaken and stirred

Cocktail man Andy Freeman doing his stuff.

KITTY KAYE gets some cocktail recipes from a 'mixologist' who hails from Perth. Cheers!

Passion Fruit Sour.

Double The Honey.

Sylk Martini.

COCKTAILS come in various versions these days, thanks to new beverage flavourings and those who mix these drinks (or "mixologists", as they are called).

If the ’90s was known for its craze for groovy disc jockeys who spun dance music in nightspots, this decade is the turn for mixologists to shine.

“What’s your poison, then?” asked Andy Freeman, a mixologist and “hospitality consultant”.

Hailing from Perth, Andy was flown in by Imperial Hotel on Jalan Sultan Ismail in Kuala Lumpur to come up with new cocktails for its bar, Pavilions Lounge.

Opening his bartending toolkit, he arranged several vodka bottles behind the bar with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.

“Right, then!” he said, as he got to work. Out came the limes and lemons as he selected a flavoured vodka. “I think this might do the trick!” I enjoyed the drink with its never-before-tasted flavours.

Below are five cocktail recipes for you to try at home.

1. PASSION FRUIT SOUR

Considered to be a “short” drink, this one has, in Andy’s words, “a surprising balance”.

At first sip, it was tangy. However, it soon turned into a refreshing drink. There is indeed a fine balance of sweet and sour. The vodka-based concoction is terrific for those who don’t like sweet cocktails.

Technically, a “short” drink is a small drink with high alcohol content. So, go easy on this one! All you need is:

- a dash of syrup
- 4 mint leaves

Mix the above in a tall and broad glass before adding in:

- 45ml of passion fruit flavoured vodka
- 10ml of lychee liqueur
- 10ml of passion fruit syrup
- 20ml of lime juice
- crushed ice

Shake vigorously all of the above for a few seconds before straining the liquid and serving it in a short tumbler filled with more crushed ice.

2. DOUBLE THE HONEY

I love the name. It is unforgettable. Sweet and annoyingly, cute.

Funny thing is, it is anything but sweet and cute. The ginger and lemongrass flavours in this one hit you first before you taste the manuka honey.

Being savoury, it is an acquired taste and one that needs getting used to.

Give it a shot. All you need is:

- 1 tsp of palm sugar
- 4 wedges of lime
- 2 stalks of lemongrass
- 2 thick slices of ginger

Mix all in a tall and broad glass. After the juices are pressed out, add:

- 45ml of Manuka honey flavoured vodka
- 15ml of honey and water mixed in equal parts
- a dash of syrup
- ice cubes

Shake them all up and serve in a tall glass.

3. SYLK MARTINI

“A purist’s drink,” Andy said with a smile.

This is my favourite of the five drinks. It is understated, yet luxurious in flavour. Although it is a delicate pink in colour, delicate is not how I would describe it. For this cocktail, all you need is:

- 45ml of Manuka honey flavoured vodka
- 15ml of vanilla liqueur
- a dash of Angostura bitters, a highly concentrated food and beverage flavouring

Simply stir up these ingredients and serve in a martini glass.

4. FRENCH PASSION MARTINI

“Do you see the foam on this drink?” Andy asked. Of course.

“That’s the result of mashing up the fresh pineapples,” he said.

It does look interesting. It’s neither sweet nor sour. The fine balance that Andy alluded to earlier is most evident in this one.

Still, why take my word for it? Try it for yourself. All you need is:

- 2 chunks of fresh pineapples

Squeeze out the juices to form pulp. Then add:

- 45ml of passion fruit flavoured vodka
- 10ml of Creme de Mure, a french blackberry liqueur
- 30ml of pineapple juice

Shake them all well. Then strain before serving it in a martini glass.

5. PINK DIAMOND

If pink needs a description, this is it! The lychee flavours welcome you first before its slightly bitter undertones tickle your palate. It’s name might be feminine-sounding, but be a man and try it out!

- 3 fresh raspberries
- 5ml of elderflower cordial

Mix these together before adding:

- 45ml of passion fruit-flavoured vodka
- 10ml of lychee liqueur
- 10ml of apple juice, preferably freshly-blended
- 3 tbs of passion fruit puree

Shake them all up before straining to serve in a martini glass.

Send to a Friend Print Article