Student ‘tails: November
This month I’m going to be doing what every retail worker wishes they could be doing and ignoring the fact that Christmas is just around the corner. I thought I’d give winter a chance to stand on its own two feet (plus, I can’t do TWO Christmas cocktails, but I’m getting ahead of myself). With November comes Proper Winter; with Proper Winter comes cold, and that’s snow joke.
So, I thought we’d all need a drink to warm us up, just like how the emissions increase from using the heating helps to slowly warm up the atmosphere. Not to forget how standing next to a Bonfire on Bonfire night warms up your face! So, what could come to mind but the charcoal taste of whiskey?
But what of the cocktail aspect? I didn’t want to betray the twos of people in my life partial to a classic Jack and Coke, so a simple winter-fruit twist seemed in order (not to mention I couldn’t resist being able to call this drink a Blackberry Jack).
And I’ve got to say, I really like this one, ‘cause it adds that bit of sweetness I’m left wanting with whiskey drinks. Please do remember, though, these measurements are just a guide, so adjust the amount of blackberry syrup to the needs of your sweet tooth, or the amount of whiskey depending on how bad your day was.
You will need:
For the Blackberry Simple Syrup:
15,cl water
125g Sugar
200g Blackberries
To make (1) Blackberry Jack:
2,cl Jack Daniels Whiskey
2,cl Blackberry Simple Syrup
Lime Juice of one lime wedge
Coke to top it up
Method:
For the Blackberry Simple Syrup:
Put all ingredients in a saucepan over a medium-high heat and bring to boil for about 5 minutes. Once cooled a little, you can mash up or blend the mixture or just leave it, I’m not your mother. It can be sealed and put in the fridge to be used for up to two weeks.
For the Blackberry Jack:
Pour ingredients over ice. Garnish with a spare blackberry and/or wedge of lime. Hope you don’t get death threats for ruining a classic whiskey-mixer combo.
And that’s it! A winter-inspired drink made to warm you. Easy-peasy, wedge-of-lime squeezey.
By Jessica Collins