Hey Prepsters,
A couple of weeks ago I attended a fun little event by The Famous Grouse, aka Scotland’s favourite whisky, and participated in a friendly mixing match with other influencers and bartenders. At the event, each influencer was paired with a Bartender and we basically battled to create amazing drinks with the guidance of our partners. My partner Taoufike Zaki or Tao for short, of The Cloak Bar was super cool, and extremely passionate. Tao created two awesome recipes using The Famous Grouse.
Before the event, I actually knew little about The Famous Grouse brand, and was surprised to learn that it sold in 94 different countries. But as I worked with Tao, I actually appreciated the level of craftsmanship that went behind the Blended Scotch Whisky. What makes The Famous Grouse so special is that each element of the whisky gradually gets to know each other through a process known as ‘marrying’. This process means the spirit can avoid any harsh filtration, resulting in a whisky that is as clear and bright as the others, with a smooth round flavour that filtration can take away.
Another great thing I learned at the event was the level of dedication each Bartender had for their craft, and just to see how passionate they were about their jobs was super exciting. Tao who was my Bartender partner, moved from Canada from the Mediterranean to study design. During this period Tao fell in love along the way with the bar industry; from cocktails to bar design, distillation and everything in between. When talking about the Bartending profession, Tao stated, “I feel so grateful to pursue a career in something this fascinating. The Bartender job has always been misunderstood yet highly romanticized and talked about. We see and hear about so many different trends and different types of people tending bars all over the world. For me it all boils down to being a craftsman who likes to host and prides himself in taking care of people.” Working with Tao was dope and although we didn’t get first place in the mixing battle, I had a super fun time.
The Cocktails
The Famous Grouse is truly a great spirit for cocktails, so I thought it would be cool to share the recipes that Tao and I made for the competition.
Drink #1: Ooskavah
1 oz. The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky
1/4 oz. Laphroaig
1 oz. Ooskavah
3/4 oz. Lemon
3/4 oz. Egg White
1/3 tsp. Turbinado
Garnish: Angostura Lines & gold flake
Glassware: Coupe
Method: In a shaker pour 1 oz. of The Famous Grouse, 1 oz. of the Ooskavah, 0.25 oz of Laphroaig, .75 oz. lemon juice, .75 oz. egg whites and 1/3 tsp. of sugar syrup, dry shake, add ice and then shake again. Strain into chilled coupes, garnish with lemon peel and discard, garnish with angostura lines and a gold flake.
Drink #2: Australian Outlaws
1 oz. The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky
1 oz. Brugal Añejo
1.5 oz. coconut puree
.75 oz. Kalamansi
.5 tsp. Turbinado
Garnish: Mint
Glassware: Collins
Method: In a shaker pour 1 oz. of Famous Grouse, 1 oz. of Brugal Anejo, 1.5 oz. coconut puree, .75 oz. Kalamansi and sugar. Shake hard with 6 kold draft cubes, dirty pour into a Collins, garnish with mint, citrus leather, two straws and 5 sprays of eucalyptus tincture.
This is what the finished product for the Australian Outlaws looks like! Loved the presentation and Tao and I totally were winners in my books!
For more information on The Famous Grouse brand and where it can be purchased, please visit: www.TheFamousGrouse.com
Images: Rick Vyrostko Photography
Recipes: Taoufike Zaki, The Cloak Bar
