Gin Cocktails Archives - Blue Light Caribbean Gin

How to make a Gin Espresso Martini

Combining two of the best drinks out there, gin and coffee, makes one of the most delicious cocktails available. And it’s one that you can easily make at home. Get ready for the best Gin Espresso Martini with a unique, island twist. The Espresso Martini has been a crowd favourite at the bars for some time now. It’s normally ordered when you need an extra kick to keep the night going. Once you try this Gin Espresso Martini you’ll be convinced this is the way you’ll want to start your night. Replacing the traditional ingredients (Vodka and Kahlua) with a Caribbean Gin and cocoa nibs creates a memorable drink that anyone can do for a tropical twist. Gin Espresso Martini Recipe What is a Martini? A martini is a popular cocktail yet very simple cocktail that contains two ingredients, gin and vermouth. The variations in Martini recipes and mixes come purely from people preferences. With words like wet and dry, dirty and straight up are all variations of the two-ingredient cocktail. What is a martini straight up? This is how most martinis come. Straight up is the opposite of ‘on the rocks’. Not many people will drink a martini on the rocks as the whole idea of the cocktail glass is to enjoy the chilled cocktail without ice. What is the difference between a cocktail and a Martini? The signature Martini glass, ideally used for the gin espresso martini is often thought to be a “martini glass”, however, the glass is actually more commonly referred to simply as a “cocktail glass”. The martini glass is slightly shorter stemmed and a little more rounded. But, for the most part, the cocktail glass and martini glass are very similar. The Martini (in all its variations) are simply one of the most famous cocktails to be served in this cocktail glass. The glass actually serves a very practical purpose. Traditional cocktails are served chilled with an aromatic quality (without ice in the actual drink). Therefore the stem keeps the cocktail cool without the drink area being touched. The wider brim allows a larger surface area for the aromatic qualities to be enjoyed by the consumer Why use Caribbean Gin for the Gin Espresso Martini? Caribbean Gin is perfect for a gin espresso Martini because of a few things: It is Caribbean Cane based (gluten-free) and incredibly smooth, so unlike a London Dry Gin it doesn’t pierce through the coffee, it blends together well Caribbean Gin uses unique, island-grown ingredients such as cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, and grapefruit peel. These real, fresh, ingredients add a nice depth to the espresso martini which gives it a unique richness The cocoa nibs for garnish tie in with the cocoa in the gin itself Why is it different from a traditional Espresso Martini More traditional espresso martinis are made using Espresso Vodka Kahlua Simply Syrup The Kahlua is a coffee liquor which is already quite sweet. So you’re getting extra, sweet coffee flavour with the Kahlua that you don’t really need if you use simple syrup and a nice quality espresso coffee. The Caribbean Gin to replace the Vodka give the gin espresso martini the extra depth of flavor with natural cocoa and island spices distilled in the gin itself. Like This Article? Pin it! Aaron SalyerGin enthusiast and Caribbean Dreamer.

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making parade cocktail with Caribbean Gin

Caribbean Gin Cocktail Competition

Flavours of Grenada have been running a month-long competition using a variety of distilled spirits. For one week in July the Caribbean Gin cocktail competition provided some unique and amazing new cocktails for the world to see. With an array of locally sourced ingredients, the competitors have developed a new genre of Caribbean drink. All photos courtesy of Flavours of Grenada. Flavours of Grenada Flavours of Grenada is an organisation dedicated to producing high quality foods using local, island ingredients. They are also a platform that highlights local ingredients and delicacies on an international scale. Based on the island of Grenada, head chef and company director, Belinda Bishop has taken Grenadian dishes to various food and beverage events around the world. Eight different competitors from around the island of Grenada developed their own, unique cocktails based on the following two categories: 1. Carnival (Spicemass) 2. An ocean inspired Martini Each drink had to be made, named and create a story behind it. Competitors were supplied with a bottle of our Blue Ocean Edition Gin to perform their tasks and had one week to develop the drinks. Caribbean Gin Cocktail Favourites There were so many incredible and creative cocktails developed as part of the competition, however, we have singled out a few of our favourites to share. Stormy Seas Inspired by the hurricane season and the abundance of sea grapes growing on Grenada’s shores . I created this Gin cocktail to showcase the changing colours, just like the Blue Light Caribbean Gin . Sea grapes are always within arms reach when having a beach day and with the element of the wind and rough seas , the grapes become amalgamated with the ocean, hence my rendition of it with a sweet and salty Flavour. This is my twist on the traditional dirty martini . —- Rohanne Persaud ⁣ Ingredients Blue Light Ocean Edition Gin Vermouth Blue Curacao Sea Grapes We loved the infusion of gin with the local sea grape. The sea grape trees are staple here in the Caribbean for beach shade but not normally assosiated with cocktails. It really adds an ‘out of the box’ element to this cocktail. Parade I was inspired by the costume colours of all the masquerades on carnival Tuesday . There are always a sea of different colours and it is Spicemas after all , Grenada’s amazing Carnival , so I wanted to add the extra kick of spiciness with the peppered honey syrup. The layers of colors in the cocktail are like the layers of colours we see every Spicemas with the array of costumes . —- Rohanne Persaud ⁣ Ingredients Blue Light Blue Ocean Edition Honey Hot Pepper Lemon Juice The way that this one came together with the coloured layering is a perfect example of what we wanted to see happen with our blue gin. The mix of spicy and sweet is also a great reflection of the carnival celebrations. Crested Wave There is nothing more calming than the sound of crashing waves while watching the waves crest lap at the shores hungrily. The Caribbean Sea is Grenada’s finest jewel . One to be treasured and preserved – Rachel Findley Ingredients Blue Light Ocean Edition Gin Blue Curacao Coconut Rum Anise and Ginger Honey Garnished with a local Hibiscus flower and served on a beachfront setting. What more could you ask for out of a Caribbean Cocktail? We love the layering effect in this cocktail. Photo Highlights Here are some photo highlights from the Caribbean Gin Cocktail Competition to show the competitors in their element. The Next Competition? Watching these amazing cocktails come into fruition has inspired us to do more. There are so many inspiring and talented mixologists out there and especially in the Caribbean. With the unique flavours and versatility of Caribbean Gin, the realm of new drinks and cocktails is limitless. So, we’d like to do more cocktail competitions in the future to see what people can come up with! Aaron SalyerGin enthusiast and Caribbean Dreamer.

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The Cabroni Cocktail Recipe: The Caribbean Negroni

A simple, Caribbean twist on a classic, gin cocktail (The Negroni). Looking for something a little different to order at the bar or make at home? Something with a little island spice? The Cabroni might be for you. Why change a great, classic cocktail? The Negroni has boomed in popularity with the rising interest in small batch gins. Across the world there are Negronis being poured with gins from every background and taste. These all give their own, slight variation to the drink. But why not add variation to make a truly unique and memorable drink? Que the Cabroni. A brief history of the Negroni The Negroni came about (as legend has it) from the simple desire to modify an existing cocktail. Count Camillo Negroni asked his friend, bartender Forsco Scarselli, to strengthen his favorite cocktail – the Americano – by replacing the soda water with gin. The Gin Foundry Following the instant success of the drink in Italy (1919) the Count created “The Negroni Distillery” which is still open today. Making the cocktail stronger The Negroni came to life because of the desire to make an exisiting cocktail a little bit stronger. It’s possible that the time Count Camillo Negroni spent in London influenced his taste palate towards gin. London had already been through its famous “gin craze” years (1728 – 1794) but gin was still very much a popular drink at the time (1919). One of the ideas behind the Cabroni is that it makes the Negroni cocktail slightly stronger. Replacing Sweet Vermouth (18% ABV) with a full-strength Spiced Rum (40% ABV) takes the overall alcohol percentage up a notch. You’d be surprised how smooth the finish is. With the rum adding a slight sweetness it gives the drink a well rounded bittersweet taste. The Cocktail Evolution We’re all about growing, evolving and trying new things. Just like that day Count Negroni asked for a mix to his Americano, today we mix the Negroni with an island spice. Is it better or worse? You decide. But we love the drink. For us, it’s an evolution to highlight the Caribbean flare and island spirit. It’s what inspired the creation of Caribbean Gin in the first place. Here is the recipe breakdown with a short video to see the prices in action. Like this Article? Pin it! Aaron SalyerGin enthusiast and Caribbean Dreamer.

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Gin Mojito Recipe: Caribbean Style

Gin Mojitos are a fun twist on the classical rum based mojito. With a light and tasty flavour it is the perfect drink for an afternoon in the sunshine. We’ve got a great recipe for you to try. What is the original mojito recipe Classic Mojitos contain a blend of rum, club soda, lime, fresh mint leaves, and simple syrup. Where did the Mojito Come from? It’s one of those questions many people ask (normally when they’re a few mojitos in). While the actual history is difficult to trace, there are a few key points in the life of the mojito: It’s popularity into western pop culture really kicked off when Ernest Hemingway was living in Cuba and writing about the now infamous mojito It was a James Bond featured the drink Originally, mojitos were made with Cuban moonshine, which was replaced by rum by pirates. Wherever the mojito originated, we are sure glad that it did. What makes a Caribbean Gin Mojito different? What we do know is that the Mojito originated in the Caribbean (Cuba). The Caribbean is full of history, flavour and a great drinking culture. The Caribbean Gin Mojito is taking the classic cocktail back to its roots. Instead of a Cuban moonshine you can mix it in with a well balanced, smooth gin, made right here in the islands that started it all. Gin Mojito is also called a “Southside” The Southside cocktail comes from 1920’s around the time of prohibition. This is when many “classic” cocktails were invented. Basically, bartenders with trying to come up with cover ways to mask the horrible taste/smell of the moonshine alcohol that was available. The story with the gin mojito is that it originated at roughly the same time on the Southside of Chicago and the Southside of New York city. Original Southside is not quite the same as a Mojito While there are similarities, a gin mojito is closer to the more classic mojito we’ve all grown to appreciate. Filled with great chunks of lime and mint. The Southside has a couple of fresh mint pieces, lemon juice and sugar. How to make a Gin Mojito Gin Mojito’s are easy to make. You can either switch out the rum for gin in your usual recipe, or follow these instructions. Place mint, lime and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker and muddle. Then add gin and ice and shake well. Pour into a tall glass, and garnish with mint leaves and lime. Want to try Caribbean Gin? Made using fresh and unique island botanicals, Blue Light Caribbean Gin is famous for being seriously smooth. It might be the fact that it’s made just steps away from the beach and blended with tropical rainwater that makes it that way. So, if you’re looking for a smooth, flavourful, gluten-free gin, it’s definitely one to try! Like this Article? Pin it! Vivien DLiving in The Caribbean, Vivien loves to use local flavours to make tropical recipes. thedharmatrails.com

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Blue Light Caribbean Gin Pineapple Blue Light Gin Pineapple daiquiri

Pineapple Gin Daiquiri Recipe

If you are looking for a refreshing Summer drink, a pineapple gin daiquiri is the perfect tropical twist. Featuring smooth Caribbean gin flavours, the pineapple sweet and tangy taste, this delicious drink is blended up into an icy cool cocktail. Why We Love Pineapple Mixed With Gin Pineapples are loaded with nutrients and vitamins (with plenty of Vitamin C and manganese) They are a good source of antioxidants Can ease digestion Are low in calories (one cup has approximately 82.5 calories) It’s immunity boosting They are delicious and sweet! – Healthline Caribbean Gin? Blue Light Caribbean Gin has a total of fifteen botanicals infused through it. Featuring citrus peels, cinnamon, cacao, cardamom, nutmeg and more, it has a smooth taste with a hint of Caribbean spice. What’s even more unique, is that it is handmade in the worlds most tropical distillery. Located only a few steps away from a black sand beach our little distillery is a colourful place. It is run on solar power, and features a beautiful hand painted mural. Capturing essence of The Caribbean in every bottle, Caribbean Gin is a great way to celebrate all things tropical. How To Make Pineapple Gin Daiquiri’s Pineapple Gin Daiquiri’s are easy to make. We love using fresh pineapple in ours, but you can also substitute with pre-cut/canned pineapples. To make this fresh Summer cocktail, place 1.5 cups of pineapple in a blender, alongside 1.5 cups of ice cubes, and 4 Oz of Blue Light Caribbean Gin. Blend it until the mixture is combines, and serve in a glass. If you would like your cocktail sweeter, add some simple syrup to the mix. Garnish with a slice of pineapple and/or some fresh mint. For an extra twist, you can add a little lime juice or fresh lemon into your frozen pineapple drink. How to find Caribbean Gin Online Do you want to try the Caribbean’s own premium craft gin? It’s super smooth and full of island botanicals with a unique Caribbean Cane base, making it gluten-free! Like this Recipe? Pin it! Vivien DLiving in The Caribbean, Vivien loves to use local flavours to make tropical recipes. thedharmatrails.com

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Cari B Jenny: The Gin Bloody Mary

Looking for a gin alternative to the the Bloody Mary? This gin cocktail is perfect for a brunch with a twist! The best part is you can get as creative as you want with the decorations. Why have a Bloody Mary Alternative? It’s said that the Bloody Mary was invented in 1921 by a French Bartender. It’s also said that it was created in a Bar in NYC & also by a comedian in 1934. The great thing about the digital age is that you can create something and record it, instantaneously. We wanted to create something new, live and relevant to the worldwide gin-craze! Why’s it called a Bloody Mary? The origin of the name is up for as much debate as the creator. Here are the options for where the name came from: Queen Mary I of England (it was her nickname) A waitress in Chicago (named Mary) who worked at a bar Called ‘Bucket of Blood’ One of the patrons in a Parisian bar who met a girl in a Cabaret called ‘Bucket of Blood’ Either way, there’s some reasoning in there. Need a ‘Gin for Breakfast’ Attitude Somehow it has become OK over time to have an elaborate Vodka based cocktail for breakfast/brunch. You can doll it up all you want with decorations. But it’s really just Vodka and Tomato Juice. Kind of healthy? Yeah, sure. In moderation. So why not have a Gin alternative? What’s in a Cari B Jenny? Like the Bloody Mary it’s essentially a spirit and juice based drink. The Cari B Jenny Ingredients Drink Caribbean Gin (1.5 part) Carrot Juice (4 parts) Ice Fresh Ginger (0.5 parts) Lime (0.5 parts) Garnish Coriander leaf/Cilantro Celery/ Sugarcane Stick Coco Nibs Why those ingredients? A Bloody Mary is sweet, savoury and has got a kick to it. The Cari B Jenny is no different. The sweetness of the carrot juice is levelled with the lime juice and given an extra kick with the fresh ginger. The garnish should always be fun The garnish could be a celery stick, because why not? It’s not owned with the Bloody Mary… how many cocktails garnish with a lemon or lime… However, if you are in the Caribbean, specifically Grenada (where this drink is originating), it seems only right to replace the celery with a stick of sugarcane. A couple pieces of cilantro/coriander leaf help to add the savoy effect while the coco nibs add in some local, island ties to the amazing coco industry of Grenada. Where did the name Cari B Jenny come from? Every cocktail has to have a story. This one is no different. Originating on the small West Indies Island of Grenada is us, Blue Light Caribbean Gin. What makes Caribbean Gin different? We use locally grown ingredients and botanicals here on the “isle of spice”. There are lots of different types and styles of gin around the world. The most famous is the London Dry Style (Beefeater, Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire, Sipsmith). While these are London Dry style, they are not neccerily made in London. Caribbean Gin has not been (until now) defined as a style. So, we (making our unique gin the Caribbean) have developed what we call our own style – Caribbean Gin. Cari B? What or who is Cari B? If you haven’t picked up on it yet, the Cari B comes directly from our roots here in the “Cari B-bean”. What is Jenny? This is our favourite part. Just off the north of the island of Grenada (where our Caribbean Gin is made), is the infamous underwater volcano called “Kick’em Jenny”. That’s right Kick ’em Jenny is an active submarine volcano! It last erupted in 2015 and is known locally as a place to be aware of. Where the Caribbean Sea Meets the North Atlantic Sea The reason there is an active underwater volcano off the island of Grenada is that it where two tectonic plates (earth’s shifting land masses [Caribbean Plate & South America Plate]) meet. The primary danger of Kick ‘em Jenny is its unknown capabilities. www.geology.com What are the capabilities of Caribbean Gin &/or the Cari B Jenny? It’s still unknown at this time. All we know is celebrating the melting point from the North Atlantic (where carrots would have originally crossed) and the Caribbean Sea (where Caribbean Gin is currently made using locally grown spices) is something we wanted to try. Enjoy a Cari B Jenny for brunch! We recommend the Cari B Jenny as a great brunch drink. Make a jug of it, top it off with your craziest, tropical garnishes possible. We will start adding the most creative Cari B Jenny decorations to our page as they come in. Aaron SalyerGin enthusiast and Caribbean Dreamer.

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