Young and Geronimo’s Pubs have done it again with their whisky personality events throughout London this winter. While I haven’t been able to attend each of the whisky personality events, I did get down to Young’s Burger Shack and Bar in Wimbledon to attend the Four Roses Cocktail Masterclass on the 16th of February.
At this funky Young’s pub we were greeted by the friendly staff and Four Roses Brand Ambassador Benji Purslow. While sipping on our welcome cocktail which contained Four Roses Bourbon, ginger beer, bitters and a slice of lemon we learn about the history of Bourbon and Whisky, the American Prohibition and how Bourbon was made. It was all incredibly interesting. I certainly didn’t know that to call a Bourbon, a Bourbon it has to be made in America… otherwise it’s just Whisky.
Learning about Moonshine was also very enlightening and how it lead to the heavy regulations of today’s spirits and liquors. Four Roses has and fascinating history dating back to the 1888’s and as one of the only legal bourbon makers during the prohibition, they have definitely undergone and seen some major changes in their time.
After learning about how Four Roses Bourbon is made and the creator Paul Jones Jr, we were taught how to make two famous Bourbon cocktails. The Mint Julep and an Old Fashioned.
The first cocktail we made was the Mint Julep, typically consumed at the Kentucky Derby this is a popular drink I missed out on trying the last time I visited America.
Mint Julep
Four roses Small Batch Bourbon
8 Mint Leaves which were smacked to release the flavour,
2 teaspoons of sugar syrup
4 drops of bitters
Add crushed Ice and stir
Add more crushed ice
Garnish with a small Forest of mint.
I wouldn’t have thought Mint and Bourbon went together before trying this drink so was pleasantly surprised at how nice this was! It was quite refreshing and I can definitely see why it’s so popular in the South on a hot summer’s day.
The second cocktail we made was the Old Fashioned. This was my friend’s drink of choice for the evening as she is more of a whisky drinker than I am.
Old Fashioned
Yellow label four roses
3-4 angostura bitters
1 tsp sugar syrup
3-4 cubes of ice and stir
2-3 cubes of ice and stir (until ice and liquor matches the same level)
1 ice cube to serve
To garnish add a twisted orange peel
To complete our evening we were allow to taste test the three bottles of Four Roses Bourbon, Yellow Label, Small Batch and Single Barrel. The Single Barrel was our favourite! So smooth. Before we left though guests were treated to a Four Roses gift bag containing a mini bottle of Four Roses and a gorgeous little cocktail glass. It’s hard to believe this session only costs £10. There’s still more Whisky Experience Sessions available so for more information about the other events, read our previous post http://onin.london/whats-your-whisky-personality-ride-the-whisky-tide-wave-at-youngs-pubs-and-geronimo-inns/ and for tickets to each event are available from www.youngs.co.uk/events and www.geronimo-inns.co.uk/home/whatson or pop into your local and purchase direct.
While it wasn’t associated with the Whisky Tasting, it would be wrong to not mention that we just had to try Burger Shack and Bar’s Six nations Burgers. I went with the French Burger, while my friend tried the Scottish Burger. Now the French Burger was amazing. Who knew Brie and Cranberry Sauce complemented a beef patty so amazingly. This one is definitely in my top 5 burgers I’ve tried in London. My friend absolutely loved the Scottish Burger. She thought the introduction of Haggis was genius. So make sure you visit during the Six Nations events to try these innovative and delicious burgers.
Reporter: Tegan LeBon
Twitter and Instagram: @toogs1
Burger Shack and Bar
http://www.burgershackandbar.co.uk/
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