Cocktail Blog

At first the British were little interested in India, but much like the Portuguese and Dutch before them, were all interested in spices of Spice Islands (Maluku Islands). Unable to dislodge the Dutch from Spice Islands in 1610, the British chased away a Portuguese naval squadron, and the East India Company created its own outpost at Surat (now in the state of Gujarat), and this became the company’s first headquarters town. This small outpost marked the beginning of a remarkable presence that would last over 300 years and eventually dominate the entire subcontinent. Originally chartered as the “Governor and Company...

Tanqueray Ten Gin is a new western style gin with less juniper berries than others to allow more of a spotlight to other botanicals such as the fresh citrus consisting of lime, grapefruit and orange. In my cocktail you find that lime, grapefruit and orange played a big role in its creation. Tea was introduced from China to Europe in the 17th century, but, as a luxury item, was not transported in significant quantities until the 19th century. When the British crown broke the trade monopoly of the powerful British East India Company back in 1834, it opened up the...

Inspired by a Viking army who left the raids in France and entered the Muslim realm Emirates of Córdoba which is now Portugal and Spain. They were sadly defeated and fled back to sea. Aquavit is Scandinavian and Port wine is originally from Portugal and espresso is African from which the Muslim rulers conquered on route to Córdoba. The Recipe 0.75 oz Okanagan Spirits Vodka peppercorn infused0.75 oz Okanagan Spirits Aquavit0.50 oz Maverick Estate Port1.00 oz espresso0.50 oz Roasted spiced pumpkin brown syrup 2 dashes Bittered Sling Arabica Coffee bitters Serve in a tea cup and saucer. Garnish with dehydrated...

When we were on a barge on the Okanagan lake with yachts and boats passing by, I thought it was fitting to name this drink after one of the famous tea clippers of the past. Tea clippers were designed to be fast, so they could transport goods like spices, teas and other items like silk from Asia much quicker. The Cutty Sark was one of the last ever built and one of the fastest as well. This ship was named after the nickname of the witch Nannie Dee in Robert Burns 1791 poem, Tam O’Shanter. The Recipe 1.00 oz Legend...

Portugal and India had a long history together dating back 5 centuries. The Portuguese were the first to discover India around the 1500. Vasco da Gama was the first European to reach India by sea landing in Calicut which is now called Kozhikode. His initial voyage to India (1497–1499) was the first to link Europe and Asia by an ocean route, connecting the Atlantic and the Indian oceans and, in this way, the west and the east. He later had a city in the state of Goa named after him and held the title of governor of Portuguese India. Da...