World Cocktail Day is around the corner (13 May), so we thought we’d share a few tips for some delectable winter cocktails. We asked AJ Snetler, barman at the Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, for some help with top cocktail tips and recipes, which will be sure to keep you warm all through the chilly season.
Tip 1: Make sure you have the key ingredients sorted
According to Snetler, winter’s must-have ingredients include darker fruits and spiced like allspice, star anise and cinnamon, with fruits such as figs, dates and naartjies. Stock up on these and you will have flavourful cocktails all winter long.
Tip 2: Spice up your warm beverage
If you’re not too keen on the heavy winter cocktails, you can do something super simple like giving your usual warm beverage an extra kick. For example, you can turn your coffee into an Irish coffee with some whiskey or add some Amarula or Kahlua to your hot chocolate.
Tip 3: Turn your dessert boozy
This is especially helpful if you are entertaining and stuck on ideas for a warm winter dessert. You can use a cream-based liqueur in your homemade chocolate mousse or simply drizzle it over a store-bought option. There is also such a thing as boozy brownies and whiskey caramel sauce that can be used with some local favourites such as malva pudding. The options are endless.
Tip 4: Add a kick to your wine
‘Even though it’s not exactly a cocktail, glühwein is a great way to spice up your red wine and kick off winter with a flavourful bang,’ says Snetler. The key ingredients for making this can usually be found in any well-stocked kitchen: a bottle of dry red wine, orange zest, sugar, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Look up an easy recipe for this winter drink and you will be well on your way to warming up from the inside.
Tip 5: Ensure that you know how to make at least one or two stunning winter drinks
The famed barman also favours the traditional hot toddy, which can be made with amazing South African Brandies, an Old-Fashioned and a spiced Whisky Sours. If you don’t know how to make any of these, Snetler has you covered with his Old-Fashioned recipe.
Bacardi 8 Old Fashioned:
60 ml Bacardi 8
5 dashes smoked apple bitters
15 ml Maple Syrup
Stirred over ice until the perfect dilution is reached and all the flavours have been blended.
Serve in a rocks glass over ice and garnish with Fabbri Amarena cherries and fresh orange zest.
If you would rather leave the magic to the master, the Old-Fashioned is one of the signature drinks at Tobago’s Bar at the Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront during May and June in celebration of World Cocktail Day.
Text: supplied
Image: Pixaby
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