A Winner of a Cocktail
Last week we told you about Halifax Mixologist Jenner Cormier who managed to out-mix other mixologists to win the Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year competition at the SoHo Metropolitan Hotel in Toronto. Again, we offer Jenner our hearty congratulations!
Jenner, for his part, has provided us with his winning cocktail recipe for you to enjoy at home. This cocktail, says Jenner, is called Half Mad Tea and is served in a tea cup over cedar-flavored ice. Don’t worry about where you might find such a thing. Jenner’s provided the recipe for that too. “Take food safe cedar planks or blocks”, he says, “and cover them with warm water. The amount of cedar you add to the water and how long you let the cedar steep will determine how potent the flavour will become.” The interesting part is that Jenner found that “the cedar adds a slight dry mouthfeel to the cocktail which gives a nice effect.” Tasting as you go is key here. Soak the cedar in the water until it suits your taste. Pour the cedar-flavoured water into an ice cube mould and place it in the freezer until it’s frozen solid.
Half Mad Tea
This cocktail is built in the tea cup. Take some of your cedar ice cubes and break them into shards, place desired amount into your tea cup.
Ingredients
- 1-2 dashes Bittermens Mole Bitters (I had made my own, but these would be the closest)
- 1/4 oz of Pocket Watch Cordial
- 1.65 oz Zacappa Ron 23
- 2 cups water 2 cups sweetener (I used a darker sugar, turbinado or brown)
- 1/2 cup of dates, cut in half
- 3" knob of ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice (blood orange if possible)
- 1/2 cup Fino Sherry
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 6 star anise pods
- peel from 1 lemon chopped coarsely
- 3 nutmeg (broken open and roasted for a few minutes in the oven)
Instructions
- Stir with a tea spoon.
- The drink is served with no garnish to preserve the aromatics that are already in the drink.
- Bring sugar-water mixture to a boil. Remove from heat.
- Add remaining ingredients.
- Let sit for roughly 45 minutes.
- Fine strain into a bottle and place in refrigerator until ready to use.