5 Tips & Tricks for drinking @Jer’s Bar

5. When the bartender is slammed, resist the powerful urge to order a slightly-dirty, very-dry, in-and-out, super-chilled half-and-half martini with a lemon twist.

Limit orders to beer, simple shots and 2-part / 3-part cocktails.

4. Get the bartender’s attention with eye contact and a smile.

3. If you can’t afford to tip, you can’t afford to drink in a bar.

 Go to Nakumatt or ‘The Container’!

2. NEVER complain about the quality or brand of a free drink.

And most importantly,

1. If you’re going to hit on a member of the bar staff, 

make sure you tip well before and after, regardless of his/her response.

How would you handle it??

I just read this post on a blog i follow [http://baradventures.tumblr.com/],

I am genuinely confused about how i would handle this situation. I’ve only been legal for about a month now, so for a while now i have been going out in Nairobi, to events and such underage. I have had my fair share of rejections and some have stung way more than others.

A week to my birthday, i got tickets to a Heineken event.

I was so excited because i thought, ‘Oh my gosh,this is my opportunity to show my face and amazing personality to some people who could actually have some effect on my career!’. I had absolutely no interest in drinking.

Anyway, i reach there, all decked out, and, they refused to let me in! I was hurt and furious because they just brushed me off like some random fan girl.

I asked, ‘One week?! One Week! How much more could i possibly mature in one week?!’

What exactly is the drinking age based on?

Is it a question of maturity? Or is it just about a number?

What do you think?

Chelsea Dry Gin vs Beefeater Dry Gin, Is there really a difference?

While i was shopping for gin month, the Kenyan in me just said, “opt for the cheaper option”. 

It occurred to me that, when drank straight up, there is a difference in quality and sometimes subtle tastes between bottom shelf liquor and top shelf liquor. However, in a cocktail, with all its mixers, is it relevant? 

According to http://cocktails.about.com/od/mixology/Mixology_The_Art_of_Mixing_Cocktails.htm,a Martini made with a $5 bottle of gin would be very disappointing in comparison to one made with a $40 bottle. That there is a ‘significant’ difference between top shelf and bottom shelf liquor.

Now, I’m not about to break the bank just yet, but i am curious. I’ll go out and by something mid-range and see for myself. To be honest, I was really disappointed with the martini I made the other day and thought to myself, ‘Is this the legendary Dry Martini?’

PS. Apparently Gordon’s London Dry Gin is bottom shelf gin?! Costs almost the same as top shelf in Kenya!

Cocktail Party Woes

Trying to organize a cocktail party and just as i was about to post the event on facebook etc, my friend calls to tell me the venue is unavailable. For as big as Nairobi is, it does not offer as many options as you would expect for a chilled out, Sunday cocktail party for a few people. 

Wish i could do it in my apartment but it’s hardly inspiring… 

What to do now? The original place i had in mind, my friends apartment block, would have been so ideal, with a bar setup and a swimming pool.

Looks gorgeous in pictures. This was at my friends Art Exhibition in the venue.

Have to find a place ASAP, though i have this “0” many ideas right now…

Kaskade will help me cope though. The Grand.

Gin Tropical

Another simple recipe…

-> 8-10 ice cubes

->1 1/2 measures gin

-> 1 measure fresh lemon juice

-> 1 measure passion fruit juice

-> 1/2 measure fresh orange juice

-> Soda water

-> Pineapple chunks to garnish

Put 4-5 ice cubes into a cocktail shaker, pour the gin, lemon juice, passion fruit juice and orange juice and shake well.  Put 4-5 fresh ice cubes and the pineapple chunks in a glass and strain the cocktail over the ice. Top up with soda water, although, i did prefer topping it up with passion juice, and stir gently. 

The Clover Club

This cocktail recipe is pretty basic but with some simple variations makes for some beautiful summer cocktails.

-> 4-5 ice cubes

-> 1/2 teaspoon of Sugar Syrup / Grenadine[for pink] / Ribena[for purple]

-> 1 egg white

-> 3 measures gin

-> Slice of lime to garnish

Put the ice cubes into a cocktail shaker. Pour the lime juice, Sugar syrup / Grenadine / Ribena, egg white and gin over the ice and shake till frost forms. Strain into a glass and garnish with slice of lime. Serve and enjoy :D

Litchi Blossom

Litchi’s are one of my favorite fruits and the juice is even better. This is why I chose to substitute Orange Juice with Litchi juice for this cocktail which is traditionally known as Orange Blossom. 

-> 1 measure Gin

-> 1 measure Sweet Vermouth(I use Cinzano Rosso)

-> 1 1/2 measures Litchi Juice

-> 1-2 ice cubes

-> Cherry and Mint for garnishing

Pour the gin, sweet vermouth and litchi juice in a cocktail shaker and shake. Put the ice cubes into a glass and pour the cocktail over it. Garnish with the cherry and mint.

Not quite what I had expected as far as taste, perhaps a dash of Angostura Bitters should be added but lovely all the same.

Enjoy :D

Cocktail for breakfast?

Originally, the cocktail was considered a morning eye-opener. Some speculate that’s how it got its name — a metaphor for a rooster (cock) heralding the light of day.*

So, Imagine waking up to this…

JIZZ!

*usatoday.com

Sweet Sixteen

For most people, their sweet sixteen is a bitter sweet occasion as is the traditional Sweet Sixteen cocktail. However, for others, it is a bitter occasion filled with expectations and disappointments. I opted to make a version for the latter, which, is not anywhere near disappointing, but is on more of the citrus side.

-> 6-8 Ice cubes

-> 2 measures Gin

-> Juice of 1/2 lemon

-> 2 dashes of lime cordial

-> 1 teaspoon Sugar syrup

-> Bitter Lemon to top up

-> Lemon to decorate

Put half the ice cubes in the cocktail shaker. Pour the gin, lemon juice, lime cordial, and sugar syrup over the ice and shake until frost forms. Place the remaining ice in a highball glass and top up with bitter lemon. Cut up an slice of lemon and drop it in the drink.

:D