THE PERFECT SERVE
The Perfect Serve puts the sense of ritual in serving Martell at the heart of cocktail making. Easy to create, it’s the simple details that work to release even more of the flavours and aromas of Martell VSOP.
INGREDIENTS
First, chill a brandy balloon by adding ice and water, or by leaving it in the freezer. Once the glass is chilled, add the cognac and water. Finally, twist orange zest over the cocktail and serve.
Calvados is an apple brandy made in Normandy, northern France. It’s produced from distilled cider and matured in oak barrels. In Normandy it’s traditionally served as a digestif during the meal. It works well in cocktails and makes an excellent mulled cider mixed with apple juice, cider, cinnamon, cloves and brown sugar. The quality of the cider depends upon the type of soil, the type of orchard and pressing of the fruit.
Apples selected for distillation into Calvados fall into over 200 specially-grown varieties. Several varieties may be used into one brand of Calvados, ranging from very sweet apples, to tart to bitter, at various proportions. The fruit is harvested usually by hand from mid-October into December and pressed into a juice that is subsequently fermented into a dry cider.
It is then distilled into an eau-de-vie, which is in turn blended and matured for a minimum of two-years in casks. The longer the maturation, the more mellow the final product. Usually the maturation for Calvados goes on for several years.
An extract from the article by Nikhil Agarwal for Wedding Vows
1) What are the essential barware needed to set up a home bar?
A wine fridge, a fridge for beers and other mixers , a range of glassware for every kind of drink possible, a wine saver, cocktail shaker, bar spoon, strainer, bitters, muddler, ice machine and and a mini ice crusher, citrus fruits and other ingredients that go into your favourite cocktails and Triple Sec.
2) What sort of liquors should a bar stock?
There is nothing like a well stocked bar offering a range of whiskies, vodkas, beers, liqueurs and other spirits and of course a range of wines. Various age statements and styles of whiskies from different parts of the world. A couple of vodka’s, a few gins, Cognac and/or brandy, tequila etc are a must. When it comes to wine, no bar is complete with out some sparkling wine, reds, whites and rose’s. A couple of fortified wines for those after dinner drinks also works wonderfully.
3) What is the trend in home bars?
I think home bars are getting more sophisticated since entertaining at home is gaining importance and drink culture has really taken off. Also young adults have higher disposable incomes and they approach their home and their bars with a certain amount of flair.