Colin’s cocktail rules – the legendary chef teaches us how to mix the perfect drink for St Patrick’s Day.
About the cocktail
In honour of the most Irish of all days, we’ve roped in one of our fave chefs (and people), Colin Fassnidge, to help us make a very special St Paddy’s Day cocktail. But first, a little bit about our pal, Colin. You’ll probably recognise Colin’s curly locks from his work on Kitchen Nightmares and My Kitchen Rules. A top chef and restaurateur with roots in Ireland, Colin is renowned as a loveable larrikin with a ‘passionate’ stove-side demeanour. When asked what cocktail he'd be, his answer was unsurprising, to say the least. "A Fireball,” Colin suggested. “Because I can be a bit fiery.” When he’s not being the “fiery” man in the kitchen, Colin loves swimming at the beach, cooking over fire and making cocktails. Armed with a fully stocked drinks trolley, a penchant for killer flavour combos, and a decidedly Irish accent, Colin was the ideal man to help us create a St Patrick’s Day cocktail. Colin’s creation is a brilliant combination of crisp apple cider, fragrant ginger and spicy Irish whiskey. It’s perfect as a pre-dinner or arvo sipper. “The cocktail I made for you guys is great. I love the combination of the Irish whiskey with the cider – it adds a lovely sweetness and fizziness to the drink,” he explains. “Plus, the sugar syrup and the cinnamon really round out the cocktail. There's a lot going on, but it makes sense.”
Watch: How to make a Paddy’s Day cocktail
Ingredients: Spiced apple syrup
300mL sugar syrup
100g young ginger, finely grated 2 limes (zest and juice) 100g Granny Smith apple, finely grated
Ingredients: Paddy’s Day cocktail
45mL Irish whiskey 30mL spiced apple syrup (prepare one day in advance)
30mL dry apple cider
Garnish: half a zested lime, cinnamon quill
Method: Spiced apple syrup
Combine all ingredients in a sealable container, stir well and refrigerate overnight The next day, pour into a bottle using a funnel and fine strainer to remove all solids – the syrup will keep for one week in the fridge or two months in the freezer
Method: Paddy’s Day cocktail
Add Irish whiskey, spiced apple syrup and a handful of ice to a mixing glass and stir well Place a large ice cube into a rocks glass, then pour in your cocktail using a strainer Top with cider and stir Garnish with half a zested lime and a cinnamon quill
Colin’s top tips
Colin’s Paddy’s Day cocktail may not be as easy as dumping a bunch of ingredients into a glass, but we promise the extra effort is totally worth it. So, aside from paying close attention to the recipe notes, here are a couple of Colin’s tips to keep in mind while making your St Paddy's Day cocktail. “Always have large ice cubes on hand. And you can make the sugar syrup by the litre, so make it in bulk and freeze. It’s great for festive periods and parties.” Finally, and most importantly, what kind of food is Colin serving alongside his St Paddy’s day cocktail? “Something with a bit of heat, like spicy pork and apple.”
