It was an exciting event! As our contestants mixed, mulled, mingled and mashed their masterpieces, and the judges carefully considered the entries, we were all able to enjoy the fruits of some of Edmonton’s best amateur and professional mixologists.
The competition was fierce, but the winners in each category nudged ahead of their rivals, and we are thrilled to announce this season’s Winter Signature Drinks.
Winner – Non-Alcoholic Category: Winter’s Kiss
Serves 4:
1 litre good quality unsweetened apple juice;
2 tablespoons Rspberry Syrup (Italian Centre);
Orange Peel (from a full orange – preferably organic);
1/2 cup of water;
4 cloves;
Dash of cinnamon.
Steep on a hot stove for 10 minutes (don’t boil). Pour into your favorite mug, garnish with an apple slice and enjoy warm!
A real family affair, developed by the father-daughter team of Noe & Julia. Julia even read a poem dedicated to the Winter’s Kiss:
Crisp apples fall heavy, from tired trees;
Young eyes hunt for the last of the season’s raspberries;
The autumn bounty fades into the cool, dark night;
Preparing us for the first winter’s white;
Soon the cold sets in, but we venture forth in anticipation;
Enjoying the riches of the season, with our full participation;
In the cover of stars and dancing lights;
Experiencing winter in Edmonton, its sounds and sights;
Then the drink, oh the drink, like an old friend;
We are transported back to summer’s end;
The smell, the warmth, the memory, the bliss;
Felt within this Winter’s Kiss
Noe and Julia Cordeiro with Winter’s Kiss
Winner – Alcoholic Category: The Sure Thing
1.5oz Alberta Premium Dark Horse
0.5oz Medium Sherry
1oz Cold-brewed Coffee
0.5oz Stout Simple Syrup
All of the above steeped with VitalyTeas earl grey tea.
Topped with salted caramel foam and Jacek chocolate shaved on top.
Rumour has it that Chuck Elves is involved with the new Situation Brewing about to open on Whyte Ave. We can only hope that The Sure Thing is on the the menu!
Chuck Elves serving The Sure Thing to the judges.
Runners-Up
Coming in a close second in both categories was Agnieszka Wajda-Plytta, with two fantastic drinks.
Agnieszka Wajda-Plytta preparing Winter Ambrosia
Runner-Up – Non-Alcoholic Category: Winter Ambrosia
Ingredients:
1 cup of milk (dairy (Vital Green Farms) or almond)
½ to 1 tbsp homemade turmeric paste*
1 tbsp local honey
¼ tsp coconut oil
1 egg white (Sunworks Farm egg)
1 ½ tsp coconut sugar
Dash of ground ginger (garnish)
Directions:
Heat a small saucepan to medium heat
Add 1 cup of milk; allow milk to warm up
Add 1 tbsp turmeric paste, 1 tbsp honey and ¼ tsp coconut oil to warming milk
Whisk the warming mixture until all the ingredients are thoroughly dissolved
Remove from heat once mixture is warm but not boiling
Whip egg white for approximately 1-2 mins, or until soft peaks form
Whip in 1 ½ tsp of coconut sugar to whipped egg white
Pour turmeric mixture into a cup
Top with egg whites and a dash of ground ginger
*Turmeric Paste
Ingredients:
1 cup water
½ cup turmeric powder
1 tbsp cinnamon powder
1 ½ tsp ginger powder
1 ½ tsp ashwanganda powder
½ tsp freshly ground peppercorn
Directions:
Heat a small saucepan to medium heat
Combine all herbal powders, freshly ground peppercorn and water; bring to a boil
Lower the heat and simmer until the mixture turns into a thick paste
Remove from heat and allow to cool before use
Runner-Up – Alcoholic Category: Mulled Gold
Ingredients:½ cup of water
2 large slices of fresh ginger
1 tbsp whole cloves*
1 tbsp juniper berries* (dried)
2 cinnamon sticks*
¼ tsp nutmeg*
4 tbsp of local honey
23 oz. Alley Kat Scona Gold (2 bottles)
2 oz. Eau Claire Distillery Gin Rummy
*spices provided by The Silk Road Spice Merchant in Edmonton
Directions:
Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat
Combine ½ cup water, fresh ginger, spices and 4 tbsp of honey in the medium saucepan
Bring mixture to a low-medium simmer for 20 minutes, resulting in herb infused honey
Slowly add the Alley Kat Scona Gold beer to the medium saucepan
Bring mixture to a medium heat but do not boil
Add the 2 oz of Eau Claire Distillery Gin Rummy to the mixture
Remove from heat once the mixture is medium-high heat but not boiling
Pour into your favourite Alley Kat glass
It’s your turn! Give these masterpieces a shot and let us know how they turn out in the comments.