The History of Rum Explained

Rum has a long history, dating back to the 17th Century where it was enjoyed by pirates and buccaneers. The drink plays a part in the culture of most islands of the West Indies and has strong associations as the British Royal Navy’s official drink. Rum was a popular means …

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Essential Spirits and Mixers

To contain absolutely everything in your bar or drinks cabinet can prove very expensive and sometimes impossible. However, by having a few of the basics from the lists below will allow you to make your favourite cocktail at a moments notice, whether it is a refreshing Pina Colada in the …

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Essential Equipment for Making Cocktails

Blender – ideal for blending fruit and frozen cocktails, such as Daiquiris and Margaritas. Soda siphon – uses containerised water coupled with a carbon dioxide gas canister to create fresh, sparkling water. Cocktail shaker – also known as a cobbler shaker or a three piece shaker, it contains a metal …

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Cocktail Mixing Tips

Shaking When making cocktails, if you are using heavy ingredients they need to be shaking vigorously in order to be mixed. Shaking tends to create a colder and cloudier drink than just stirring alone. To mix cocktails using this technique either use a Boston or a three piece, fill the …

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Th Classic Cuban Mojito

A Mojito, championed by Hemmingway in the late 1940s is a traditional Cuban cocktail and cousin of the Brazilian cocktail Caipirinha. It became popular worldwide in the late 1980s and is still very popular today. This cocktail is sweet although refreshing with its citrus and mint taste, this tones down …

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A Sidecar Cocktail

The Sidecar was invented in a bar in Paris during World War I for a customer. The customer was an American Army captain and was driven to and from the bar in a motorcycle sidecar, hence its name. The Sidecar was first introduced to London by MacGarry, an ever popular …

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Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned was said to have originated at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky in the 1880s and invented by a bartender there. However, the popularity was due to a member of the club who happened to be a bourbon distiller; Colonel James Pepper transported the drink to the …

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Black Velvet

A Black Velvet is made using a stout beer more often than not Guinness and a sparkling white wine, often champagne. The origin of this cocktail comes from Brooks Club in London. In 1861 as people mourned the death of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s Prince Consort, this fine cocktail was …

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A Zombie Cocktail Recipe

Donn Beach, formerly known as Ernest Raymond Beaumont-Gannt created the Zombie cocktail in the mid 1930s. He made it in his restaurant for a friend before his flight to San Francisco, whereby he was served three. The name of the cocktail came about as when Beach’s friend returned from his …

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Harvey Wallbanger

Mixologist Donato ‘Duke’ Antone was said to have invented the Harvey Wallbanger cocktail in Los Angeles in the 1950s along with his other creations the Rusty Nail, the Flaming Caesar and The Godfather . The name supposedly comes from a humorous story about a Californian surfer called Harvey. He apparently …

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Great Cocktails