Become a Bartender in your own home

QUARTERPAST Classic Cocktail Mixers make entertaining at home a breeze.

A few years ago, at a work Christmas party, when I was younger and slightly more naïve, I was asked by one of my colleagues to make her up a cocktail – specifically something ‘yummy.’ Having very little experience with drinking cocktails, and even less so making them, I attempted to mix alcohol with fruit, and any mixer I could find; to say it was unbalanced would be an understatement and to call it following a recipe, ambitious. The overwhelming aroma of alcohol alone was enough for my colleague to rescind her order.

Several years, and many cocktails later, I’ve become a lot more clued in to what actually makes a good cocktail. But even so, there is still a gap between knowing what a good cocktail tastes like and actually making one, which is where QUARTERPAST’S Classic Cocktail Mixers come in.

QUARTERPAST’S tagline is: “QUARTERPAST, a better way,” with the idea being that their products make it possible to enjoy quality drinks at home, and their mixology bases prove it. The super concentrated fruit base that replaces sourcing and squeezing citrus, and muddling fruit, makes it easy for you to enjoy your bar favourites at home. Really though, these products shine when enjoyed with friends and family, they’re a complete game-changer. They make entertaining at home incredibly simple, and make you look like an absolute star host as you transform into a bartender before your guests’ very eyes. But before I potentially embarrassed myself as I had done all those years ago, I had to try them for myself.

In the Classic Cocktail Mixers box, you receive four mixology bases; Triple Peach, Tahitian Lime & Mint, Crisp Apple and Cranberry & Lime; a jigger; and a mixology book with handy cocktail and mocktail recipes for you to try. At 500ml each, the mixers are not only large but super concentrated, so you’re guaranteed to get plenty of use out of them.

Flipping through the mixology book, there were a few recipes that caught my eye – the only thing left to do was to give them a whirl.

Tahitian Lime & Bitters made with Tahitian Lime & Mint – non-alcoholic

As soon as I opened the bottle of Tahitian Lime & Mint, my nostrils were teased with a subtle fragrance that invited you to relax and enjoy the flavourful ride that was about follow.

The mocktail itself was straightforward to make, and once I had a sip, there was no way I wasn’t going to finish it. It was so crisp and refreshing, with just a delicate hint of the Tahitian Lime, but it made all the difference. It may have been alcohol-free, but it had the complexity of flavour that make cocktails exciting, I instantly felt a relaxing sensation while drinking it, I could practically taste the blissful sunshine of Tahiti. On the other hand, it’s probably a good thing that there was no alcohol because I could imagine sipping on one of these all day long in the height of summer.

Peach Shrub made with Triple Peach – non-alcoholic

As previously stated, my experience with making cocktails leaves much room for improvement, so doing something as seemingly simple as peeling an orange skin to garnish this mocktail actually presented a small mental hurdle for me. But the mixology book gave clear instructions down to the garnish, and I surprised myself by making light work of this little task.

The Tahitian Lime & Bitters may have drawn me in with its inviting aromas, but the Triple Peach, as its name implies, multiplied that sensation three-fold. The sweet smell was so incredibly addictive, I was tempted to drink it straight from the bottle.

My senses firing on all cylinders, I hastily mixed it with the other ingredients, and I was not disappointed. Despite it obviously being liquid, the Peach Shrub felt more akin to biting into a fresh piece of fruit that was bursting with juicy flavours. I’m salivating now just thinking about it!

Apple Pie Martini made with Crisp Apple – alcoholic

I love apple pie, but I can’t say I've ever drunk one before. Nevertheless, if my earlier creations were anything to go by, I was in for a treat. And again, I was treated from the moment I opened the bottle. Much like the Triple Peach, it smelt like the sweetest, juiciest apple I've ever eaten.

Making this cocktail was quite the experience in itself, given that I’ve never used a Boston shaker before. But like Mr. Bond, I’ve discovered that I also like my martini’s shaken, not stirred... maybe I could even say the same about my apple pies.

The martini was indeed like apple pie, scrumptious, yet cool and refreshing. And juicy to the point where I felt like I could almost chew it. I’ve used the term lip-smacking in my writing many times before, but on this occasion, I genuinely did find myself smacking my own lips, lest I miss even a tiny fraction of this flavourful drink.

Spider made with Cranberry & Lime – non-alcoholic

It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a theme park, but this mocktail took me right back to my childhood. The mocktail, at first fresh and zingy, then creamy provided somewhat of its own rollercoaster of taste, zig zagging in all directions, taking your tastebuds on a wild journey before coming to a subtly smooth stop and leaving your mouth with a silky cream coating. My inner child was screaming to go again, again, again!

I thought making your own cocktails and mocktails would feel laborious, but as someone who enjoys cooking, I found the process to be very entertaining, and made that much more enjoyable by QUARTERPAST’S range of delicious mixers and their fabulous recipe book. Their Classic Cocktail Mixers kit made everything so easy, to the point where I felt like I really could be a bartender in my own kitchen. This was indeed ‘a better way’ to enjoy a drink at home.

By some strange coincidence, if I were to ever run into my old colleague again, I would happily make amends for my failed cocktail with one of these ‘yummy’ options. Until that day, however, I plan on entertaining my friends and family with these delicious drinks, which I know will become very handy over the holidays, and it may become my Christmas gift to them, so that they can treat me to a cocktail or two when I come to visit. These Classic Cocktail Mixers were made to be shared after all.

Order your QUARTERPAST Classic Cocktail Mixers now from www.quarterpast.co.nz  

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