Happy Hour
When you look at this Cellar Magazine, picture yourself in spring, when these bottles hit our shores… and what goes well with spring? Cocktails! We invite you to try new ways to enjoy your spirits as we expand our selection this year.
The Cardinale Toscano
Try this Tuscan take on the classic Negroni with Winestillery’s Cardinale Toscano, a cocktail that incorporates London Dry Gin, Bitter and Dry Vermouth.
Ingredients
- 1 oz (30 ml) Winestillery London Dry Gin
- 1 oz (30 ml) Winestillery Tuscan Bitter
- 1 oz (30 ml) Winestillery Tuscan Dry Vermouth
- Orange peel to garnish
Method
In an old fashioned glass, stir the London Dry Gin, Tuscan Bitter, and Tuscan Dry Vermouth with ice. Garnish with the orange peel.
The Tuscan 75
Ingredients
- 25 ml Old Tom Gin
- 125 ml freshly pressed lemon juice
- 1 dash of simple syrup
- Lemon peel to garnish
- Altadonna Ororosa Spumanté Brut Rosé to top
Method
Pour gin, lemon juice and simple syrup into a shaker with ice, and shake. Strain into a flute glass (without the ice). Top with spumante and garnish with lemon peel.
Club Warwick’s ‘Old Fashioned’
Ingredients
- 4 oz (120 ml) Uitkyk Pot Still Brandy, Ten Year Old Grand Reserve
- 4 tsp brown or white sugar
- Juice and zest of 2 oranges or clementines – the zest taken off in large pieces
- 4 oz (120 ml) Campari
- 8 dashes of bitters (or to taste)
- Large ice cubes or ice balls, to serve
- Extra orange or clementine segments, to serve
- Soda water (optional)
Method
- Muddle the Uitkyk Pot Still 10 Year Old Grand Reserve Brandy, sugar and orange or clementine zest in a mortar and pestle (alternatively use a small bowl and the end of a rolling pin).
- Scrape into a 500 ml glass jar, or a vessel large enough to mix the rest of the cocktail in. Add the orange or clementine juice, Campari and bitters. Stir through and adjust the orange juice and bitters to taste.
- Ready your glasses with your preferred ice shape and garnish with a twist of citrus, and segments if desirable.
- For a long drink, top up with soda water.
Summer Spumandy
Where Tuscan Spumante meets South African brandy. Enjoy this cocktail when the warm weather is at your doorstep.
Ingredients
- 3 large fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 oz (15 ml) simple syrup
- 1/2 oz (15 ml) aged refined Uitkyk Brandy
- 1 oz (30 ml) white wine, like Chenin Blanc
- 3 to 4 oz (120 ml) Altadonna Orarosa Rosé Spumante
- 1/2 oz (15 ml) fresh squeezed lemon juice, to taste
Method
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle strawberries, simple syrup, and lemon juice, if using.
- Add brandy and white wine, and top shaker halfway with ice.
- Shake well for 15-30 seconds.
- Strain in large cocktail glass.
- Add the Tuscan magic touch: Altadonna Orarosa Rosé Spumante.
Brandy 101
There are three ways to enjoy your brandy: neat, on the rocks and in a cocktail.
NEAT
Consume straight without any ice cubes. Pour your brandy in a snifter,also known as a brandy glass or bowl. Hold the glass in your hand and let your hand warm up the spirit. This will release the aromas of the brandy. This is the preferred method for high-end brandy aficionados.
ON THE ROCKS
To refresh your palate, add a few cubes of ice in your glass.
IN A COCKTAIL
To discover the hidden side of brandy. Depending on the cocktail, you can bring out different aromas in brandy, to showcase fruity, oaky, and even smoky aromas.