Gordon’s Gin History

We will do this in fast forward, because we don’t want to board you with too much writing.

First of all Gordon’s is made by the British spirit company called Diageo. This brand was first produced in 1769. Now this is a drink with a history.

The first distillery that he built was in Southwark, London.

This gin was developed by Alexander Gordon all the way back in 1769. Since then things about it have changed, but never it’s original recipes.

The Tanqueray and Gordon’s family merged to create the Tanqueray Gordon & Co, the world largest gin production.

They had ups and downs in their production. Gin was popular in the 1900 but slowly losing places to another clear spirit – vodka. In this time new gin distilleries appeared so the competition was getting harder and Gordon’s gin was feeling it in their sales and exports.

Since then, Gordon’s has had a revival. New flavours were added, the elderflower one and the rose gin are one of people’s favourites.

This is all that we want to tell you about them, you can see more about the world number one best selling gin here.

In honour of this magical drink, we dedicated this month to them. We created all new cocktail recipes with all of the flavoured gins that they are heaving.

Gordon’s London Dry Gin
Gordon’s Premium Pink Distilled Gin
Gordon’s Sicilian Lemon Distilled Gin
Gordon’s Mediterranean Orange Gin
Gordon’s White Peach Gin
Gordon’s Elderflower Dry Gin
Gordon’s Crisp Cucumber Dry Gin
Gordon’s Sloe Gin

Let’s get to it.

All about gin

As other liquors, gin was first used in the medical field as a medicinal liquor. It was made by monks and alchemists and it was many present in Italy and the Netherlands(were it first appeared)

In the 17th century, Dutch sailor brought gin to England where it become very popular. the high taxes on imported wine and beer and the fact that gin was allowed to be made at home, helped the boom in popularity. Everyone was participating to the frenzy.

Gin get’s it’s name from the Dutch for of the juniper fruits. they are fermented and they are the main ingredient of this delicious drink.

Gin can be served and enjoyed on the rocks or in mixes. Gin tends to keep it’s flavour even when mixed.

You can read more about Gordon’ s gin history since we used it in most of our cocktails.

Let’s get some cocktails in to celebrate in style.

Amber sky

Ingredients

2 oz gin
2 oz orange juice
1 oz pomegranate juice
1 oz honey
1 thyme sprig
Garnish: 2 extra thyme sprigs and 1 thin cut orange wheel

Tools

Shaker
Jigger(to measure)
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Collins glass

The how to

In your glass add the orange juice and top the glass with ice
In your shaker add the gin, honey, thyme sprig and pomegranate juice
Add 5-6 ice cubes and shake well
Double strain the mix in your glass over ice.
Garnish with the extra thyme and orange wheel

The 1St of September Martini

Ingredients

3 oz orange gin
2 dashes orange bitters
1 oz dry vermouth
Half a teaspoon of edible grey glitter
Garnish: twisted lemon peel/ pickled onion

Tools

Bar spoon
Martini glass/ coupe glass
Mixing glass
Cocktail strainer
Jigger

The how to

In your mixing glass add ice to the top. Put in the vodka, dry vermouth and orange bitters.
Add your glitter and stir well. (about 30 seconds)
Starin you mix in your glas with no ice
Twist the orange peel on top if the glass and run it around the rim. You can drop it in the glass or add the pickled onion

Autumn tonic

Ingredients

2 oz gin
1 rosemary sprig
1 oz lime juice
2 oz apple juice
Tonic water
Ice
Garnish: 1 extra rosemary sprig & 1 dry apple slice

Tools

Shaker
Tea strainer
Cocktail strainer
Balloon glass
Lighter

The how to

Flame the rosemary sprig and blow out any flames. Let it smoke and cover it with your shaker for 30 minutes.
Add the rosemary sprig in and pour over the gin, lime juice and apple juice
Add ice and shake well
Double strain the mix over ice and top the glass with your favorite tonic water
Add an extra, fresh rosemary sprig and a dry apple slice as garnish

You can read more tasty recipes on out blog

Extra partnerships for your location

Extra partnerships equals extra money

Now this might not work for every particular location but all locations and establishments can have something extra to make some money.

You can use your actual location, the walls of your establishment too can make some money.

Now let’s see how we can make that happen.

1. Make a Show

A stand up comedy show, some live music, poetry, presentations or even live reading sessions, a book reveal.

Make sure you organize an event that fits your location type.

If you are having a bar organise a show of live music or stand up. If you have a cafe, organize a poetry day, a live reading session some live music might work as well.

The options are multiple and you can also use your imagination to organize something special.

Now, the way you make money is either from the event itself, this will bring more people in, you can give the table by reservation only, you can make a fixed menu that has to be bought, you can leave it for free and this way pack your place with new guests.

You can charge the artists, though I am not a fan of that because this is a way for them to make money as well. Let them put an entrance fee or to be able for them to have a donation box so they can get something in return as well and like that you will not have to pay them.

Use local artists, they will appreciate the chance.

Now lean back and let them bring you extra guests.

2. About art

Use your walls to make some money, rent them. A lot of locations have their walls full of pictures or paintings that guests can buy.

Again, I am still opposed to bill the artists. The way you can make extra money with this move is to market the exposition, make it known and this will attract all the art loving people in your location.

3. Trainings

Now this might not be for everybody but you can also use your location after or before your working hours.

Rent your bar and offer people a place where they can organize a training for new bartenders, waiters or even something else that just needs your location.

Pretty easy!

Go get the money!

Hogwarts Houses Inspired Cocktails

We love magic around here. Magic is inspiring and the land of mystery and magic born tasty recipes.

If you are over 18 and still into the Harry Potter universe we got this for you. After 3 drinks you will feel like you are in another universe.

If you feel overwhelmed by the techniques or terms that we are using check out the free course on bartending.

Let’s get to it!

Gryffindor

Ingredients

50 ml whiskey
25 ml Campari
2 dashes orange bitters
50 ml red orange juice
Ice: cubes and big rock for serving
Garnish: sugar syrup, chilli flakes, dry orange wheel

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Rocks glass

The how to

First we prepare the glass. Add the sugar syrup to the rim to make it sticky. Go with the rim through the chilli flakes. We want it spicy.

In your shaker add the whiskey, Campari, orange bitters, red orange juice and ice. Shake well. Double strain in your glass over the big ice cube. Add the dry orange wheel on top of the ice.

Hufflepuff

Ingredients

50 ml rum
30 ml pineapple juice
30 ml mango juice
10 ml lime juice
10 ml grenadine syrup
Ice
Garnish: lemon wheel, pineapple triangle

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Collins glass

The how to

In your shaker add the rum, pineapple juice, mango juice and lime juice. Add ice and shake well. Double strain it in your glass over ice. Add the grenadine syrup to the glass, do not stir. Garnish with the lemon wheel and pineapple triangle as your imagination dictates.

Slytherin

Ingredients

25 ml vodka
30 ml absinthe
7- 8 mint leaves
15 ml lime juice
70 ml green apple juice
Ice
Garnish: mint leaves, thin apple slice

Tools

Shaker
Cocktails glass
Tea strainer
Collins glass

The how to

In your shaker add the vodka, green apple juice, mint leaves, lime juice and ice. Shake well and double strain in your glass over ice. Add the absinthe in your glass. Add the mint leaves and the apple slices to your glass as garnish.

Ravenclaw

Ingredients

50 ml Empress gin
25 ml blue curacao
25 ml lime juice
15 ml Sprite
Ice: cubes and crushed
Garnish: 3- 4 blueberries, mint leaves

Tools

Shaker
Cocktails glass
Tea strainer
Rocks glass

The how to

In your shaker add the gin, blue curacao and lime juice. Add ice and shake well. Double strain it in your glass over the crushed ice. Add the sprite on top of the glass. Sprinkle the blueberries and the mint leaves as garnish.

The Future of Hospitality

This is an interesting subject that needs more attention.

This week I attended the “future of tourism and hospitality” conference and I am here to share with you what we discussed.

There were a lot of keynote speakers and it was an amazing experience.

Let’s start with what I learned and let’s see what the future trends will be in this industry.

1. Sustainability

This has two focus areas: your business and the society around.

If you are interested in how to be sustainable in your business, we covered this subject at large here and this is a summary.

Make sure all of these points are included in your business plan so your location will have a sustainable vision: order from local farmers/shops or make it your own, no single use supplies, transport of products and probably the most important make an assessment of your current situation.

It is also important to teach society around you the importance of sustainability. You can be smart about it and make some money on the side as well, though this is not the important thing about this message

2. Be open to change

This is the hardest thing to do because people have a gag reflex every time they hear that things are about to change.

A lot of owners are fearing technology, although the use of it will decrease cost and attract more customers.

If you can include in this area the use of alternative types of energy it will increase your profit as well as your reputation and number of customers. You can make sure the take away drivers are using electric bikes instead of cars for example.

This subject will be the foundation of the future in your evolution as a business. The way you react to change will pave the way to success. We need to seek to evolve and be better as fast as we can.

3. Focus on locals

After 2020 we saw how unpredicted events can change the way we do things. Traveling is changing and you should be on the side of change. A lot of bans will be implemented, airlines affected and the way we are traveling now it will drastically change.

One thing that remains the same are your “locals”. The traveling will change more towards “inside your own borders”, domestic traveling. Even if your location is in a touristic area and in the past you were focusing your location on tourists now it is the time to change that, focus your products and prices on the local community.

4. Last minute bookings

Be opened to this concept. Usually people are planning their trip and what to see and where to go, what to eat and where to drink. Unfortunately this is changing because of these uncertain times. People will start traveling spontaneous so make sure you are open to last minutes bookings and longer visits.

5. Virtual hospitality

The prediction of the conference is that travel will change so drastically in the future, a new pandemic might happen as well, there will definitely be a recession so we need to adapt and this is where technology comes in handy. Multiple streams of income, this should be your focus and the virtual space is just another place where you can get that.

We can help you figure out what you need, check our services.

A bonus tip

Use worlds that attract people like “bucket list”. After all of those “staycations” people will be looking for adventure.

F•R•I•E•N•D•S Inspired Cocktails

The title says it all!

Let’s get to it.

If you feel overwhelmed by the techniques or terms that we are using check out the free course on bartending.

Chandler – Blue margarita

Ingredients

50 ml tequila
50 ml blue curacao
50 ml lime juice
100 ml lemonade
1 teaspoon Sweet and sour salt
Lime wedge
Ice

Tools

Margarita glass
Blender

The how to

First we are preparing your glass. Take the lime wedge around the rim of the glass with the wedge lime and then put it through the sweet and sour salt.

In your blender add the tequila, blue curacao, lime juice and the lemonade. Blend until smooth and pour it in your glass without touching the rim of the glass.

Monica– Rum old fashioned

Ingredients

50 ml rum
2 dashes angostura bitters
2 dashes orange bitters
Ice cube
Twisted lemon peel

Tools

Rocks glass
Bar spoon

The how to

In your glass add the rum and the bitters, add the big ice cube and stir. Squeeze the oil from the orange peel on top of the glass and dump it in the glass.

Ross- The romantic fizz

Ingredients

50 ml gin
50 ml rose water
25 ml lime juice
1 egg white
Ice
Garnish : rose petals

Tools

Collins glass
Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer

The how to

In your shaker add your egg white, gin, rose water and lime juice. Shake well without ice. After that, add ice and shake again. Add the petals in your glass and double strain the mix over ice.

Phoebe- Jolly dolly

Ingredients

50 ml Empress gin
50 ml orange juice
10 ml lime juice
Ice
Garnish: dry lime wheel

Tools

Collins glass
Spoon

The how to

In your glass add the ice and orange juice. Stir to cool the juice. Pour in the lime juice and wait two seconds. Add the gin and garnish with the dry lime wheel.

Joey- spicy GT

Ingredients

50 ml gin
Half a chilli pepper
2 orange wheels
Tonic water
Ice

Tools

Balloon glass
Spoon

The how to

In your glass add the ice, orange wheels and the chilli pepper, pour the gin and the tonic and stir.

Rachel- Boujey all the way

Ingredients

25 ml cranberry syrup
Pink of gold edible glitter
100 ml champagne
Garnish: a branch of red currants

Tools

Flute glass
Spoon

The how to

In your glass the champagne, the syrup and the glitter. Stir and garnish with the currants.

3 Cocktails to help you deal with kids

After a full day of work and taking care of the house everyone needs to unwind. Add that on top of taking care of kids. We created 3 mixes that will help you enjoy your “me” time!

Enjoy our 3 mixes!

If you feel overwhelmed by the techniques or terms that we are using check out the free course on bartending.

Let’s get to it!

Peach mimosa

Ingredients

2 oz peach juice puree
2 ½ oz prosecco
Garnish: orange wheel

Tools

Wine tumbler/flute

The how to

In your glass add ice and the orange wheel.
Add the already cold peach juice and prosecco

Sparkles

Ingredients

3 ½ oz white wine
1 ½ oz fresh lime juice
1 oz peach syrup
2 oz peach soda/ peach flavoured sparkling water
Ice
Garnish: dry peach wheel

Tools

Wine tumbler
Spoon

The how to

In your glass add the lime juice, peach syrup and peach soda.
Give it a stir.
Add ice and the wine and stir again.
Put in the garnish as you wish or take a big sip as it is, this will be delicious.

Jalapeno- strawberry Margarita

Ingredients

2 oz tequila
2 oz triple sec/orange liqueur
2 oz strawberry syrup
1 oz lime juice
1 jalapeno (cut in slices)
Ice
Lime wedge
Lime zest and salt
Garnish: 2 strawberries/ lime wheels/ jalapeno

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Wine tumbler/ margarita glass
Jigger

The how to

First we prepare your glass. With the lime wedge make sure you go around the rim of the glass to make it sticky. Tap the rim in the pile of lime zest and salt.
In your shaker add everything except the garnish. Add ice and snake well.
Double strain in your glass over ice. Garnish with the strawberries or lime wheels

Uniforms- What to think about them?

Such a tasty and controversial topic. Are uniforms good or bad? Are they useful? Are they a must?

Well my response is: it depends! Let’s answer these questions.

Uniforms- good or bad?

Neither.

They can serve multiple purposes. They are definitely part of your identity. A unique image will leave a long lasting impression on guests. Is like a logo for a website. This creates a sense of unity.

On the other side, uniforms are limiting self- expression. And I find this to be true as well. I had to wear a uniform 5 days out of 7 and I found myself sad that I couldn’t have a fashion show every time I was coming to work. In the two days that you are free you are too tired to do anything and the only clothes you are using are pyjamas. You can save some good money working having to wear a uniform.

Another minus that I give for this apparel is that it is not evolved enough , but here is mainly society’s fault. The majority is not open enough to see boys wearing dresses and feeling good about it or seeing girls that are wearing a 3 piece suit and rocking it. Unfortunately it is the other way around, girls are getting stuck in a dress or skirt because “it is girly, it accentuates your natural forms “ and boys have to wear pants cuz other way their penis will fall off and their voice will suddenly be high pitched. Now, isn’t this stupid…? Make it unisex everybody is wearing pants. End of story.

Although , if you want to be a trendsetter let them choose what they want to wear. Have your team choose and make sure you can protect them. Make it so that your guests are aware of the house rules, kick them out if they are being negative towards one of your employees. You will create a good image for your business and you will attract people from different crowds without having negative energies from people that have a lower acceptance rate than Stanford University with their candidates.

Are uniforms useful?

I usually ask this question with yes.

I do think in this business, employees should have a uniform. The level of elegance is adjustable. It can be a shirt or a T-shirt, suite pants or jeans. They create the idea of unity. They can build your identity. They can work for you in the sense that people will remember your location as being elegant, serious, well maintained.

Excellence stays in details. You can add a name tag that has not only the employee’s name(real or fake) but also your location’s name/logo. You can add an apron that brings your uniform together, it can be part of it. I consider aprons important because they can be changed easily and they help you look clean and put together. Also, if they have pockets they are a good place to store objects.

Shoes should fit the style of your location and uniform. But most importantly they need to be comfortable.

Are they a must?

I will say yes to this one as well but I will add this.

It really depends on your business team on what level of sophistication you will go with your uniform. I found the Bavarian dresses as uniform visually appealing and they also help with the history of the place. I also find a neat black T-shirt and an apron working as well.

Tip:

Invest in your uniform. This is an investition in your image!

You can make some money with it. Make it so that people can buy it if they want. Maybe they want an apron like they saw on your employees. From my own experience, this happened to me, people asked me if they can buy an apron like mine while working in a coffee shop, unfortunately the location didn’t have any extras, but you can make some side money with it.

3 Tasty Mezcal Cocktails

What is Mezcal and why is it so special?

Mezcal is a distilled spirit made from the agave plant, like tequila, but there are 3 major differences between the two: they’re produced in different regions, made from different varieties of agave, distilled differently.

If you feel overwhelmed by the techniques or terms that we are using check out the free course on bartending.

Let’s get to it!

Watermelon mezcal

Ingredients

50 ml Mezcal
25 ml lime juice
5- 7 watermelon chunks
10 ml sugar syrup
3- 4 ginger slices
Ice: cubes and a big cube for the glass
Garnish: watermelon triangle

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Rocks glass

The how to

In your shaker add mezcal, lime juice, watermelon chunks, sugar syrup and the ginger. Add ice and shake well. Double strain it over your big ice cube in your glass.

Pineapple delight

Ingredients

50 ml Mezcal
25 ml lime juice
75 pineapple juice
10 ml rosemary simple syrup
Garnish: rosemary branch
Ice

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Coupe glass

The how to

In your shaker add mezcal, lime juice, pineapple juice, rosemary syrup, ice and shake well. Double strain in your glass with no ice and garnish with the rosemary branch.

JS mezcal margarita

Ingredients

75 ml Mezcal
50 ml lime juice
5 jalapeno slices
2 strawberries
Salt
Lime wedge
Ice: cubes and crushed
Garnish: strawberry(cut it in half and stick it on the rim of the glass/ cut it like a fan)

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Rocks glass

The how to

First we prepare your glass. With the lime wedge we make the rim of the glass sticky and with that we put the rim of the glass trough salt. In your shaker add mezcal, lime juice, jalapeno slices, strawberry slice, ice and shake real good. Pour the mix over your crushed ice in your glass taking care that you do not touch the rim and garnish with your strawberry.

3 Vintage Vodka cocktails

This month is all about Absolut vodka. You can find out more about this drink here.

Even though we love making our own recipes, we like to share with you some classic, vintage old vodka cocktails.

You might be surprised by what you will find here. You might know these cocktails already, you should be surprised by how old they are.

Let’s get to it!

Bloody Mary

Ingredients

50 ml Vodka
25 ml fresh lime juice
Tabasco (3-5 dashes)
Tomato juice
Salt and pepper
Ice
Garnish (lime wedge and a celery stuck)
Worcestershire sauce*(optional 3 dashes, I don’t use it)

Tools

Bar spoon
Collins glass

The how to

You can build this in your glass, or roll it between two(for this example I will build it in my glass). For this I like to add my ice first then add the Tabasco, salt, pepper and the lime juice(if you wanna use the Worcestershire sauce this is the time to add the nasty). Stir and make sure the ingredients are mixing. Top the glass with tomato juice and stir some more. Garnish with what will probably be the first vegetable of the day for the person who is ordering this. Throw a lime wedge in there if you feel like.

Pro tip: Make sure you are not saying this name at midnight three times in a mirror ;).

White Russian

Ingredients

50 ml Vodka
25 ml coffee liqueur
Sweet cream(liquid whipped cream)
Ice (crushed)
Garnish( 3-4 coffee beans)

Tools

Rocks glass

The how to

You can build this in your glass. Make sure your glass is full of ice. Add the vodka and the coffee liqueur. Slowly float the cream and you will see that the liquids are layering. Garnish with your coffee beans. I like serving it like that and serve it with a small straw so the consumer can stir it and appreciate my work.

Cosmopolitan

Ingredients

50 ml Vodka
25 ml Triple sec
30 ml cranberry juice
25 ml fresh lime juice
Ice
Garnish (lime wheel)

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Martini glass

*because we double strain like a professional

The how to

Add all your ingredients (fluids) in the shaker. Add ice after to keep dilution to a minimum. Shake like is your business. Double strain in a martini glass with no ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.

I would personally serve it in a coupe glass and garnish with an orange twisted peel, cuz’ I am fancy like that.