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Make Mine A Mojito...
I don’t care what the weather is doing; my calendar says
that spring is officially here, so it’s time to start thinking about lingering
summer evenings sipping long cool cocktails. It is fortuitous then, that Vacu
Vin have launched this funky new range of bar side paraphernalia just in time
for us all to start shaking our way to cocktail cloud nine.
The Vacu Vin set
includes a Shaker (£14.95), Recipe Sticks (£7.95), Muddler & Tools (£12.95) and Party Friend Purple Ice Cube Tray (£5.49),
in other words everything you need to make your own fruity and alcoholic
concoctions, and all at a very affordable price.
The hefty glass shaker with its pliable lid and inbuilt
strainer makes preparation a breeze (a Sea Breeze, if you’re really lucky... Or
maybe a Bloody Mary, Amber Mist or Mojito). Measurements in millilitres and
fluid ounces are clearly marked to help avoid the need for guesstimates – the
enemy of all would be Cocktail Maestros – while the strainer removes the faff
of messing around with an external filter, creating fresh, smooth drinks
without the lumpy telltale signs of the novice.
I love the lingo that comes with mixing your own cocktails –
where else do you get to play with tools with such wonderful names? Shaker,
Muddler, Jigger... They are almost onomatopoeic, so perfect are they for their
purpose, and ideal for the inebriated mind; ‘can you pass me the... the ... you
know... the jigger, darling?’ The Vacu Vin Muddler, Jigger and Special Tongs
are designed for use with tall glasses, allowing you to bruise, squeeze and
generally abuse your ingredients into submission without too much mess or fuss
and can be used alone, or in conjunction with both the shaker and the Recipe
Sticks.
A clever little idea, Recipe Sticks, and one that I’ve
somehow not used before. Ideal for single servings, each stick holds a sliding
rubber cap which clasps the lip of any tall glass and uses notches to mark the
measurement of each ingredient. The pack contains guides for six of the most
popular dinks and should be enough to fuel any party.
And finally, the ice cube tray. I must admit that this is my
inner child’s favourite part of the set. The silicone mould isn’t the easiest
thing in the world to handle when full of water, but the ‘Party Friend’ shapes
are great and will bring a smile to even the most serious of cocktail drinkers
and kids love them... Obviously minus the alcohol. But the best part for me is that it’s
multifunctional and can also be used for jellies, chocolates and even baking
cakes, so offers hours of potential fun. Silicone is ever such clever stuff!
The Vacu Vin cocktail pieces are widely available from all
good cookery retailers and online at www.amazon.co.uk.
For more information visit: http://www.vacuvin.nl.
© Purple Peccadilloes
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