OnTap Magazine

LAGERITA 1 RUSTY NAIL 2 A spin on the famous Margarita, the Lagerita introduces beer to the standard combination of tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. While retaining some beer flavour, the Margarita element is lively and refreshing: a great introduction to cocktails and a perfect way to kick start a party. Most recipes call for a Mexican style lager, though I think a German pilsner adds a pleasing herbal and spicy edge. Not themost appetising name, but a good second step down the cocktail rabbit hole, the Rusty Nail is a simple combination of scotch whisky and Drambuie – the sweet, scotch based, liqueur. You will find some of the malty notes of beer from these spirits as well as some honey-like sweetness and spicy herbal notes redolent of noble hops. Depending on your ratio of scotch to Drambuie you can match the level of sweetness to your personal preference. If you are fond of lighter ales such Kölsch, golden and blonde ales then you will likely find what you are looking for in this drink. VIEUX CARRÉ 6 For fans of the Belgian abbey and Trappist styles, the Vieux Carré might be the tipple for you. Made up of rye whisky, cognac, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine and bitters, you will get malty, spicy, vinous, burnt sugar and herbal flavours, all reminiscent of the complexity of the wonderful Belgian monastic ales. NEGRONI 4 PIÑA COLADA 5 PICKLEBACK 3 MARTINI 8 DARK AND STORMY 11 MANHATTAN 7 BRANDY ALEXANDER 12 If you love classic West Coast IPAs that showcase prominent hop bitterness, citrus-like hop flavours and a crisp dry finish, then you’ll want to try out a Negroni. One of the cocktail world’s greatest hits, the Negroni is made from equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, garnished with citrus. Bitter, dry and delicate, the Negroni lends itself to experimentation so you will find many different variations – another feature it shares with IPA. If you prefer your IPAs full bodied, fruity, and low on bitterness – as the modern New England-style versions tend to be, then try a Piña Colada. To be honest, you probably already have. This cocktail is so mild and approachable you have likely already had many, either on a tropical beach or pretending to be on a tropical beach. Blending rum, coconut milk and pineapple juice, the Piña Colada is the quintessential summertime drink. WHISKEY SOUR 9 If the sour and funky Belgian Lambics or the modern American mixed culture sour beers appeal to you then you will certainly like this age old blend of American whiskey (usually bourbon), lemon juice and sugar. Bourbon showcases some of beer’s base flavours, as well as the barrel-derived and funky notes of Lambic beers. The interplay of lemon and sugar then matches the balance of the various acids which make Lambics so divisive, yet incomparable. If you are brave you could also try a variation in which a small amount of egg white is added to create a fuller texture and body. The Pickleback is a bit weird, but if you like the historical German style Gose – currently enjoying a massive resurgence – then you probably like a little bit of weirdness. A simple combination of Irish whiskey and gherkin brine, this has the maltiness, sourness and salinity you would get from a Gose. A word of warning: be careful to enunciate properly when ordering this at a bar. If you accidentally order Nickleback, expect to lose all credibility and find yourself seeking another drinking establishment. Possibly the most famous cocktail thanks to the James Bond films, the Martini has many variations, including the vodka martini immortalized by 007. The classic dry martini is a combination of gin and dry vermouth, garnished with an olive or lemon rind. Taking the variation with lemon rind, you get a wonderful interplay of fruity, vinous, spicy and herbal flavours with a sublime dry finish. A drinking experience not dissimilar to sipping a classic Belgian saison. No matter how far I proceed into the wild world of beer, I will always love the beautiful simplicity of the American amber ale. Similarly, in a world of limitless cocktail ingredients and techniques, the Dark and Stormy offers the same classic simplicity. A mix of dark rum and ginger beer, it is sweet, fragrant and lively. Take it as an easy sipper or spend some time seeking out the nuances. Like most cocktails, playing with different brands of ingredients leads to endless variations. The simplicity of the Dark and Stormy truly showcases variances in two individually wonderful ingredients which combine to produce great drinking pleasure. Ordering a Manhattan is the drinks equivalent of dressing in a three-piece suit – instant sophistication. Ordering an English bitter outside of the UK feels the same. Another thing theManhattan shares with the English pale ale is that is has balanced, approachable flavours without being boring. Made from rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters, the Manhattan is a cocktail for almost any occasion, although you’ll probably want to save it for the special ones. The Brandy Alexander is one for the lovers of sweet, chocolaty porters and rich stouts. Mixed from cognac, chocolate liqueur and fresh cream, this cocktail is deliciously indulgent and makes for a great dessert or nightcap. LYNCHBURG LEMONADE 10 Similar to the whiskey sour, the Lynchburg Lemonadeappeals to thesour beerdrinker. However, this one is milder in sourness and the flavours are somewhat toned down. Accordingly, if your preference for sour beers includes the mildly acidic Berliner Weisse then this cocktail could well be the one for you. Created using a certain famous whiskey brand based in Lynchburg, Tennessee, there are other variations that utilise different whiskeys, but most share the additional mixers – triple sec, sour mix and lemonade. Pairs perfectly with summer sunshine. ontapmag.co.za | Summer 2020 | 55