Cocktail Hour

Mixologist, Grant Collins at work.

Cocktail wizz, Grant Collins, from Gin Lane whips up some deliciously tempting cocktails to indulge in this festive season.

Tahiti Passionfruit & White Chocolate Rum

I wanted to create a “Tiki” style Polynesian drink based on the rum and passionfruit, and white chocolate flavours with the Tahiti recipe. I redistilled some barrel-aged rum with the new Magnum Tahiti ice cream. This created an amazing soft silky Rum with pronounced tasting notes of passionfruit and white chocolate.

I mixed the distillate with pressed vanilla pods, white chocolate syrup, pressed passionfruit, pineapple cordial and pineapple skins. Finishing the drink with a dusting of cinnamon, nutmeg and pineapple frond as a garnish - it takes you straight to Tahiti!

Ingredients:

45mls Spiced Rum 10mls Vanilla 10mls White Cacao 80mls Passionfruit juice 60mls Pineapple juice Pineapple chunks (garnish) White chocolate (garnish) Cherry (garnish)

Recipe Pour 45mls of Spiced Rum and 10mls of Vanilla into a shaker. Add 10mls of White Cacao into your shaker with 80mls of Passionfruit juice and 60mls of Pineapple juice. Add ice and shake well. Pour into a tiki mug or a tall glass over ice. Garnish with a tropical umbrella, pineapple, grated white chocolate and a cherry.

Pairing - Pair your cocktail with the new Magnum Destinations Passionfruit White Chocolate ice cream inspired by Tahiti.

Glass & equipment: Tiki mug (or tall glass), shaker, and ice.

Drink notes: A decadent Polynesian Tiki explosion of tropical flavour served in a tiki mug.

las vegas bellini

This recipe was inspired entirely by Las Vegas, the party capital of the world. I wanted to create an experiential drink which showcased Las Vegas all in one glass.

With so many first attempts of tasting, it just was too sweet. So, I created my own citrus-based Gin with five botanicals then redistilled it with the new Magnum Las Vegas ice cream with a Schik Rotvavpor. The results were exactly what I was looking for with a healthy splash of Tequila, Lillet Blanc and charged with Prosecco.

The flavour notes contain a hint of light, rich chocolate on the first sip, followed by a long dry, caramelised cane cookie finish. When biting into the new Magnum Las Vegas ice cream, the drink accentuates the caramelised chocolate flavours with its dry, rich finish rather than making it overly sickly sweet.

Ingredients

15mls Vodka 15mls White Cacao 10mls White Chocolate Syrup Sugar syrup Sparkling wine or champagne Lemon (garnish) 90% cacao chocolate (garnish)

Method

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice, pour all ingredients into glass 2. Stir well to incorporate all ingredients 3. Strain into Martini glass

Glass & equipment Champagne flute, shaker, strainer, and ice.

Drink notes Inspired by the world’s party capital, nothing gets a party started better than vodka and a charge of champagne.

Made with Australian spring water, Dash Water reduces food waste by using not quite right fruits to create a delicious sparkling water. Dash sparkling waters are the perfect summer drink on their own, or as a mixer for your favourite cocktails and mocktails! dash-water.com @dashwater

Glenfiddich presented by MR PORTER is a beautifully complex limited edition of 1,500 bottles worldwide curated by MR PORTER Creative Director Ben Palmer, under the expert guidance of Glenfiddich Malt Master, Brian Kinsman. mrporter.com Tia Maria has launched a brand new creamy liqueur with a delicious Japanese twist, Tia Maria Matcha. This fresh and indulgent liqueur with the distinctive flavours of Japanese green Matcha. This new product sees the brand expanding its portfolio adding tea liqueur to join the popular coffee liqueur. tiamaria.com

Drink Me

Twists on old classics, an exclusive fashion collaboration and Italian aperitifs, there are no shortage of options for the festive season.

The limited edition Bailey’s Apple Pie blends the delicious flavours of homemade apple pie, with the creaminess of vanilla ice-cream and Baileys Original Irish Cream, topped with hints of cinnamon and spices, creating a taste indulgence like no other. baileys.com @baileysofficial

Hotel Starlino, a new range of relaxed and elegant Italian Aperitifs has officially arrived in Australia. Crafted in Turin, Italy the all-natural flavoured range offers three sessionable aperitif products, a Rosé Aperitivo, Orange Aperitivo and Rosso Vermouth. Oozing with elegance, these versatile beverages are best enjoyed with tonic, soda, sparkling wine or appreciated for their simple deliciousness on the rocks. thestarlino.com Luigi Bormioli is a world leader in the art of glassmaking. Founded in 1946 in Parma, Italy the company is committed to great design, traditional Italian craftsmanship and new-age glassmaking technology to create beautiful glassware of the highest quality. Diamante features an intricate design for a dazzling effect. Made from SON. hyx a superior lead free crystal for an ultra clear glass that will remain sparkling even after 4,000 industrial dishwasher cycles. bormioliluigi.com

Independent seltzer brand, SAINTLY Hard Seltzer has launched a new range of cocktail inspired seltzers for those looking to quench their thirst without the calories. Launching with four flavours influenced by favourite cocktails, there is bound to be something for everyone. saintlyhardseltzer.com @saintlyhardseltzer

*Editor's Pick*

East Imperial is a world-class collection of New Zealand made tonic waters and mixers that has officially launched down under. While new in Australia, East Imperial has been loved by Kiwis for almost a decade and is served in some of the finest bars, hotels and restaurants around the world! Its premium products are defined by heritage, tradition, high quality and authenticity. eastimperial.com @eastimperial