Cocktail Corner

To celebrate 30 years of Aspen Waite, there’s no better way to get the party started than with some colourful cocktails. So how about having a go at designing your own special Aspen Waite Purple Creation?

You will need something blue and something red to make your purple and then mix and match other ingredients to your taste. Here are some pointers (all measurements are for a single cocktail)… Start with a tall glass and half fill with ice. Then pour in:

Ingredients

• ½ tbsp. blue curacao (or maybe a blueberry liqueur or gin – as long as it’s blue in colour)

• ½ tbsp. grenadine (or you could try crème de cassis, sloe gin, or cherry brandy – anything red)

• 2 measures (50ml) vodka (or gin, white rum, even tequila!

Method

You could also experiment with flavoured spirits, just make sure they are clear and not coloured. I have tried it with rhubarb gin and that was very nice.

• Top up to taste (and/or to get the shade of purple you want) with lemonade, soda or tonic. [Remember, lemonade = sweet, soda = neutral, tonic = slightly bitter.]

• You can also squeeze in some lime or lemon juice – whatever – be creative!

• Stir well, top up with more ice and enjoy. Oh and don’t forget, if you make something that hasn’t been made before, you get to name it!

Purple Rain

This recipe serves 4 people.

Half-fill a 1.5-litre jug with ice, then pour in: 75ml vodka, 75ml gin, 50ml blue curacao, 50ml lime juice, 50ml lemon juice and stir well. Top up with 200ml soda water, 100-150ml grenadine and more ice, then stir again.

Half-fill four highball glasses with ice, pour in the cocktail and garnish with slices of lime.

Purple Viking

To make one cocktail…

Half fill a highball glass with ice and add: 25ml (1 measure) Southern Comfort, 25ml blue curacao, 25ml blueberry liqueur, 25ml sloe gin, splash lime juice, splash sour mix*. Stir well then top up with a splash or so of soda to taste.

* Sour mix can be bought in supermarkets, or you can just use sugar syrup (also available in shops) and mix in some citrus juices.

Ballynahinch

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Paul Waite, Editor in Chief

Sam Waite, Editor

Ross Curry, Design

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