Hot shots at vodka school
Lessons and new concoctions pep up launch of Dutch brand
CAPE Town got schooled in the art of vodka last week — at the launch of Ketel One, a premium brand from the Netherlands.
At the function at Dear Me restaurant in the CBD, bloggers, foodies, schmoozers and drinkies mingled and clamoured for the free cocktails, Dutch Mules and Ketel One Rickeys.
Upstairs, an alchemist’s table of ingredients greeted groups of 25 at a time, among whom were Media24’s food editor Amy Rankin and Heart FM DJ Tracey Lange. Guests could choose from fruits, vegetables, juices, vodka and a variety of implements to make their own Bloody Marys.
A veritable farmers’ market lined the passage to the room, with wooden floors and chandeliers, where global brand ambassador Justin Smythe was to lead a master class.
Marketing manager Avukile Mabombo told the crowd: “You were chosen as the first to experience this. Get your hands dirty and find out why it’s No 1.”
Smythe had the crowd taste other brands for comparison, the One coming out on top.
Terms such as “sweet aroma” and “aromatic fragrance” were bandied about, creating the verbal atmosphere of a wine tasting. Glasses were brought up to noses and “flavour and feel” were encouraged when tasting the product.
One guest, Eileen Cruise, who runs a food website, coughed and wiped tears from her eyes as the crowd was reminded that the “giggle juice” was 40% alcohol.
Then it was on to making cocktails. Smythe urged the crowd to roll, not shake, their jars, to preserve the flavours of the fruit.
As lemons were spritzed and ginger was grated, participants rushed to finish up so they could name their drinks.
After a frenzy of mixing and Instagramming, the winner was Jim Willicott, whose Birthday Surprise contained apple, ginger, nutmeg and lemon, a pinch of salt, tomato and carrot juices and two shots of vodka.