The Measure
Cosy up with a creamy dessert cocktail, English single-malt whisky and bonfire drinks
Brandy alexander
Made with crème de cacao, cream and brandy, this decadent retro cocktail makes for a luxurious after-dinner treat.
SERVES 1 | PREP 5 MINS | EASY
2 tbsp brandy
2 tbsp crème de cacao
2 tbsp double cream
grated nutmeg, to serve
1 Pour the brandy, crème de cacao and cream into a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Shake well, then strain into a coupe glass. Grate over a little nutmeg and serve.
Bartender tip
Will Rogers, SOMA
This sleek subterranean bar on Soho’s Denman Street lies underneath sister restaurant Kricket. Inside, expect pared-back, polished cocktails created by the restaurant’s head of beverage, Will Rogers, served in slinky minimalist surrounds with stainless steel bar, indigo walls and walnut furnishings. somasoho.com
What to order
The chaat – mezcal, tequila, chaat masala, kumquat and a moreish gooseberry salt – is winningly clean, zesty and saline.
Will’s best cocktail tip
Making a decent cocktail at home needn’t be complicated. One crowd-pleaser is a spicy tommy’s margarita – and to get that heat in your drink is seriously easy. Just grab a bottle of your favourite tequila, or mezcal, take one fresh chilli, split it down the middle and drop it into the bottle and leave overnight. This will infuse the tequila and give it the added kick that will elevate your cocktail to something special. Shake 50ml of the chilli infused tequila, 25ml of lime juice and 15ml of agave syrup, and pour over ice. Simple and spicy!
3 to try…
Rum
Barra Distillers Island Dark Rum
(£35/70cl, isleofbarradistillers.com)
This rum is infused with carrageen seaweed on the Hebridean island of Barra. Subtly briny, with hints of orange, coconut and spice.
Takamaka Pti Lakaz
(£40.94/70cl, masterofmalt.com)
A Seychelles rum, rounded with notes of apricot jam, soft oakiness, brown sugar and baking spice. Smooth to drink, with a long finish, it’s one for sipping slowly.
Doorly’s 14-Year-Old Rum
(£61.45/70cl, The Whisky Exchange)
A Barbados rum, rich and layered with tropical and orange fruits, cinnamon, milk chocolate, vanilla and dried fruit.
Home bar hacks
Warming outdoor drinks
It’s bonfire season and we’ve got plenty of ideas for toasty tipples on olivemagazine.com. Our hot chocolate recipes include orange- and booze-laced twists, Baileys hot chocolate and vegan hot chocolate. Coffee drinkers should try our Irish coffee and rum-spiked calypso coffee, while mulled wine fans will love our recipes for classic mulled wine, German glühwein and a fruity hot spiced cherry cup.
1 ingredient = 5 cocktails
Here we share tips for multi-tasking ingredients you’ll want to keep in the drinks cupboard. This month, with spicy Angostura bitters you can make the following five cocktails.
Old fashioned
Bourbon, sugar, Angostura bitters.
Manhattan
Bourbon or rye, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters.
Dark ’n’ stormy
Dark rum, ginger beer, Angostura bitters and lime.
Sazerac
Cognac or rye, absinthe, a sugar cube, Peychaud’s bitters and Angostura bitters.
Low-alcoholic drink
Tonic and a dash of bitters.
Drink of the month
English whisky
With 40 active distilleries spanning the country and production rapidly expanding, English whisky is booming – the result of a revival that started in 2003 with the creation of Hicks and Healeys in Cornwall (prior to this the last English whisky distillery closed its doors in 1905). In the years since, a wave of maverick distillers have created whiskies using innovative, diverse techniques and materials, from classic single malts to spicy rye whiskies. The English Whisky Guild launched this year to enhance awareness of English whisky and showcase its quality and diversity. The guild, which currently has 15 members, is also working to define the technical standards for what constitutes English whisky (its northern neighbour, Scotch whisky, is governed by a strict set of rules covering areas such as ingredients and ageing), as well as supporting producers, focussing on sustainability and creating platforms and spaces for people to enjoy English whisky. englishwhiskyguild.com
Try it: The English Whisky Co is an industry pioneer and the establishment of its St George’s Distillery in 2006 signalled the renaissance of English whisky. It recently released what it claims is the oldest English whisky publicly available for sale – a15-yearold single malt. Matured in oloroso sherry casks, it has aromas of dried fruits, alongside opulent flavours of cherries, chocolate and figs. Retailing at £295, it’s definitely a special occasion purchase but the rest of the distillery’s excellent offering comes in a range of price points. We love the creamy, smooth and highly drinkable The Norfolk Parched Single Grain Whisky (£49/70cl, englishwhisky.co.uk). Check out more English whiskies at olivemagazine.com.
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