Sip happens!

Claiming Mixologist

Picture the scene…

Nine intrepid Rebellers, each more fabulous than the last, gathered around a table groaning under the weight of booze, mixers and enough citrus garnish to sink a small ship. The Eurovision Song Contest blazed from the telly, glittering with sequins, key changes and questionable choreography. Yes, the Leicestershire Rebellion had a cocktail party on Saturday- and it was fabulous! 

Cheers! 

We gathered together to make a selection of cocktails and mocktails. Some went down better than others and a great night was had by all. 

I created Cocktail cards for the drinks we and enjoyed (some more than others) and also for a couple I made for myself either at the party or at home and here I will add a brief history of each cocktail. 

There are various stories surrounding the Cosmopolitan’s creation. One popular story attributes its birth to Cheryl Cook, a bartender in South Beach, Florida, who is said to have experimented with a vodka, lime, and cranberry drink in the 1980s. Another claim points to Toby Cecchini, a bartender in New York City, who is credited with introducing the cocktail to the Odeon bar in 1987.

The release of Absolut Citron vodka in 1988 is also seen as a contributing factor to the Cosmopolitan's popularity, as it provided a lemon-flavored vodka that could be used in the drink.

The Cosmopolitan's popularity soared in the 1990s, fuelled by its appearance in various bars and clubs, and further cemented by its prominent display in Sex and the City.

The Gin Fizz, a refreshing and popular cocktail, has a history rooted in the late 19th century. It's a variation of the "Fix," a drink popular in the first half of the 1800s. One of the first mentions of the Gin Fizz in print was in a newspaper in 1879. The Gin Fizz, with gin, lemon juice, sugar (later simple syrup), and soda water, became increasingly popular towards the end of the 1800s.

The White Russian, a creamy cocktail with vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream, has a history rooted in a simpler drink called the Black Russian. The Black Russian, a blend of vodka and coffee liqueur, is thought to have been created in Brussels in 1949. The White Russian emerged later, with cream added to the Black Russian. While the drinks are named after their base spirit, vodka, neither is of Russian origin. The White Russian saw a significant rise in popularity thanks to its prominent role in the 1998 film "The Big Lebowski," where the character "The Dude" frequently enjoyed the drink.

The Espresso Martini, a caffeinated cocktail made with vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueur, emerged in the late 1980s. Initially called "Vodka Espresso" and later "Pharmaceutical Stimulant," the drink was created by Bea Bradsell. Bradsell's original recipe was a response to a patron's request for a drink that could both wake them up and get them drunk. The drink gained popularity in the 1990s, becoming a menu staple at Match EC1 in 1997, and eventually spread globally. The name "Espresso Martini" solidified due to the V-shaped glass it was traditionally served in.

The Negroni's history is generally traced back to Florence, Italy, in 1919. It's believed to have been created by Count Camillo Negroni who asked his bartender to strengthen his favorite drink, the Americano, by replacing the soda water with gin. The bartender, Fosco Scarselli at Caffè Casoni (now Caffè Giacosa), added an orange garnish, completing the Negroni as we know it today.

The Bramble cocktail's creation is credited to Richard Bradsell, who supposedly made it in the mid-1980s while working at Fred's Club in London. He wanted to create a British cocktail and drew inspiration from his childhood memories of blackberrying on the Isle of Wight. Bradsell's cocktail features gin, lemon juice, Crème de Mûre (blackberry liqueur), and fresh blackberries, creating a tart and sweet drink. The name "Bramble" refers to the blackberry bushes themselves, as well as the winding way the blackberry liqueur trickles through the crushed ice.

In 1833, a drink consisting of rum, sugar, lime and mint appeared in the book El Colera en la Habanaby Cuban author Ramon de Palma. Called the "El Draquecito”, often associated with Sir Francis Drake, it's clear to see the ancestry of the mojito in this drink. Over time the Draque, as it became known, was refined until it became the mojito that we know and love today.

I made my mojito at home, with help from Pawkins (Leicestershire Rebellion’s mascot). 

I’ve muddled, shaken, brewed, and stirred my way through the mixologist badge, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to trying Advanced Mixologist some time in the future. 

Cheers! 

Take care

E x

The squeezed citrus bowl was overflowing! 🤣