Albeit the aforementioned celebs were not part of the proceedings, it seemed the venue is a popular hangout especially on Thursdays. It also forms part of other 10 Bars in the country going head to head to create their finest Rémy Martin Sidecar for a chance to win a spot at the International Bartender Talent Academy in Cognac, France, in October this year.
And last night- at an intimate gathering of six guests- we got to experience a Rémy Martin signature cocktails that featured delicious canapés, classic is a mix of Rémy Martin Cognac, Cointreau and lemon. And of course an exclusive XO bottle.
Minenhle Kunene, Rémy Martin SA Brand Ambassador enlightened us on facts ranging from where this special Cognac originates from; to why it is growing at an alarming rate in SA, etc.
“Throughout the years, cognac has often been misrepresented as an old fashioned drink that usually gets drunk neat on a cold winters night. However, Rémy Martin is changing the way we think,” says Kunene.
The House of Rémy Martin, always striving to innovate, the decision was made to blend its rich history with contemporary trends in a competition for bartenders that would bring their story to life by reinventing the classic Sidecar.
This will culminate in Cognac, France where some of the world’s best bartenders go head to head for the title of Best Bartender at the Rémy Martin Bartender Talent Academy in October.
The first phase of this competition took place in July, Jozi where four top bars competed for victory, producing their interpretation of the perfect Rémy Martin Sidecar. In true style, guests and judges were chauffeured from bar to bar in authentic motorcycle sidecars.
The winner of the first leg of this competition was a female Nkuli Khanyile of Molecular Bars, home to some of South Africa’s great mixologists, like Evert de Jong; second runner up from the Bartender Talent Academy in France last year.
In August, the second phase of the competition is rolling out nationwide, during which a grand winner will be selected to represent South Africa alongside Nkuli at the finals in France.
Nkuli is truly a great mixologist and one of South Africa’s top up and coming female bartenders. She plans to show the world that women from Africa are a force to be reckoned with in the bartending industry.
Rémy Martin Royal Sidecar recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 part Rémy Martin 1738
- 1 part Cointreau
- 5 parts lemon
Method:
- Mix all of your ingredients into a shaker with ice.
- Shake well or until shaker is freezing to the touch.
- Then strain the liquid into your best coupe glass.
- Garnish with the zest of a lemon.
Nkulis winning Cocktail: “Back and forth from the Garden”
Ingredients:
- 1 part Rémy Martin 1738
- 1 part Cointreau infused with rosemary
- Splash of chocolate bitters
- Splash of citric acid
- Pink peppercorn solution
Method:
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a shaker with good quality ice and shake well.
- Remove the ice and shake again to achieve an aerated froth.
- Strain into the tumbler over a 5x5x7 ice block.
- Garnish with spun sugar and wax flowers as seen in the picture below.
