The quintessentially British brand Schweppes is championing the renaissance of adult soft drinking for the next generation, by launching a collection of cool ‘kitchen’ cocktails, with award-winning mixologist JJ Goodman.
The stylish serves combine the versatility of the Schweppes flavours with JJ’s ingenious cocktail crafting skills to offer a new audience an array of inspiring recipes to choose from – shaken in seconds!
JJ Goodman has managed to achieve the practically impossible. With nothing more than a small loan from his mother, in 2008 he opened the Covent Garden Cocktail Club, which today JJ describes as his “timeless and ever evolving” flagship bar. Since its opening, JJ has opened two more central London basement bars under the name of The London Cocktail Club. Although the flagship bar’s distinct style of decor and unique drinks including the Bacon and Egg Martini along with the tried and true favorite “The Old Fashioned” are certainly large contributors to the bars’ success, JJ says that it’s the soul and aura within it that makes it so distinguishable.
So what better pairing can there be than to partner this legendary mixologist up with legendary mixer brand Schweppes? It’s as fitting a pairing as gin with Schweppes Indian Tonic Water wouldn’t you say?!
London Cocktail Week’s just ended, but if you weren’t able to make it don’t fret. We chatted with modern London cocktail scene pioneer JJ Goodman to find out what drinks we should be whipping up to impress guests at our next party, and how the Schweppes range can be used to give each drink that added ‘it’ factor!
BATD: What should everyone keep at home to make some classic cocktails?
JJ: A great mix of base spirits is essential. If I had to pick mine I’d say Ketel One Vodka, Tanqueray gin, Bacardi eight-year-old rum, and Talisker 10 year whisky. Also a basic bar kit helps, as well as tones of ice and some iconic mixers like Schweppes Indian Tonic Water and Schweppes Bitter Lemon and new flavour, Schweppes Citrus Blend.
BATD: Any twists you can give us on the classic G&T?
JJ: Schweppes Elderflower Tonic is a lovely twist! I’d personally add at least 2 squeezes of lemon to really bring the flavour out, and a dash of Angostura bitters.
BATD: Best bars to meet clever mixologists around the world?
JJ: Haha. When I travel I ALWAYS check out barchick.com. Those guys know where to go and for what. They’ve never let me down.
BATD: Where have you been inspired by recently?
JJ: New York ALWAYS inspires me. Attaboy in the lower east side has stripped its drinks to the bone. There’s a confident honesty about it that’s addictive!
Scweppes mixology with JJ Goodman.
Schweppes mixology with JJ Goodman.
BATD: What food do you want to eat at the end of a busy shift?
JJ: I’m trying to cut that back…. But I was recently in Sweden where some friends introduced me to kebab pizza! Sounds horrible, but I now convince my local in Camden to mix one up for me. After a long shift you aren’t picky, you’re too tired to have an opinion.
BATD: For those of us trying to abstain from the hard stuff, what can we drink at your bar and still feel a part of the fun?
JJ: Non alcoholics get a bad rap from bartenders. But it takes real skill to balance a mocktail. One if my favourite nostalgia drinks is Schweppes Bitter Lemon! Shake mint, lime and a splash of sugar syrup, topped with Schweppes Bitter Lemon for a lovely non alcoholic twist on a Southside Royal. Garnish with a floating mint leaf for a bit of class!
Here are a few of our favorite cocktail recipes courtesy of Schweppes!
Schweppes Honey Appletini
25ml vodka
50ml dry apple juice
50 ml Schweppes Citrus Blend
1 lemon
10 ml honey
Add 25ml of vodka, 50ml dry apple juice, 3 lemon squeezes and 10 ml honey. Shake and pour into a martini glass. Top up with 50 ml Schweppes Citrus Blend. Garnish with 3 thin apple wedges.
Schweppes French Martini
25ml vodka
15ml grenadine
100ml Schweppes Pineapple Juice
Add 25ml vodka, 15ml grenadine and 100ml Schweppes Pineapple Juice. Shake. Pour into a coupe glass.
Schweppes Strawberry Fizz Mocktail
2 teaspoons strawberry jam
25 ml water
1 lemon
100ml Schweppes Citrus Blend
1/2 strawberry
Mint leaf
Add 2 teaspoons of jam and 25 ml of water plus 3 lemon squeezes. Shake and strain into a flute glass. Top up with 100ml of Schweppes Citrus Blend.
Schweppes is stocked in supermarkets nationwide, @Schweppes.
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