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Have you ever wondered how certain drinks came to be? Here we explore not only six tasty cocktail ideas, but also the surprising and often fascinating story behind each one. Get ready for an exciting journey filled with tasty ingredients, tantalizing aromas, and exciting stories. 1. The Moscow Mule: a not-so-Russian story Vodka was unfamiliar to most Americans in 1939, so John Martin, owner of Smirnoff at the time, wanted to introduce his spirit to the United States. He contacted his friend Jack Morgan, owner of a Los Angeles pub, who was also in the midst of promoting his new product: ginger beer. They partnered with Sophie Berezinski, a young Russian woman who immigrated to LA and produced copper cups. Together, they created a cocktail that is very well known today featuring vodka and ginger beer served in a copper cup! Despite holding the name “Moscow” (references vodka’s origins) and “mule” (suggesting that it would be as harsh as an animal’s kick), the cocktail originates neither from Russia nor from a Midwest ranch. Instead, it was a marketing plan from three imaginative entrepreneurs with a great idea that is still being enjoyed today. How to prepare a Moscow Mule The Moscow Mule is a very popular summer cocktail for its flavours, refreshing side and simplicity to prepare. 5 oz of Vodka ¼ oz of lime juice 4 oz of ginger beer Bitters, to taste (Angostura or ginger bitters) Put ice cubes and lemon slices in a glass, add the vodka and lime juice, mix using a cocktail spoon and top your glass with the ginger beer. Finally, enjoy the cocktail! We recommend serving it in a Moscow Mule mug. 2. The Margarita: the secrets of the legendary cocktail There are many stories about the invention of the classic Margarita, the most popular one being from Acapulco in 1948. It describes an American named Margaret Sames who went to Mexico for Christmas and got into the habit of serving her guests a refreshing combination of tequila, triple sec and lime juice. It is said to be a Mexican adaptation of the Brandy-based Daisy (Margarita in Spanish). It has since been considered a poolside afternoon cocktail and remains one of the most popular cocktails in North America. A fresh Margarita ready in a few minutes The Margarita is a classic cocktail to make and only requires a few ingredients: 2 oz of tequila 1 oz of fresh lime juice 5 oz of citrus liqueur (triple sec, Cointreau, etc.) For a frozen cocktail, you can mix the ingredients with ice in a shaker or a mixing glass. You can also add an extra touch of flavour and garnish by running a lime around the rim of your glass and dipping it in some salt. To fully enjoy all the flavours that a Margarita has to offer, we recommend serving it in Marie-Antoinette style glass or in an Old Fashioned glass. Shop our cocktail glassware 3. The Negroni: a century of Italy in one glass The Negroni is a worldwide classic when it comes to bitter and refreshing cocktails. It originated in Florence, Italy in the early 20th century. At the time, the aristocracy would meet at Café Casoni for a drink before dinner and Camillo Negroni would drink an Americano: a cocktail made of Campari, red vermouth and soda. Following a trip to London, he told his barman to add gin, a recently discovered spirit, to his classic Americano and to remove the soda to make it a stronger cocktail. This was a success, and the Negroni remains one of the best-known cocktails in the world. The Negroni, a simple cocktail that hits the spot every time The Negroni is made for lovers of bitter and strong yet refreshing cocktails. This cocktail is extremely easy to prepare: 1 oz of gin 1 oz of bitter liqueur (Campari, Amermelade, Aperol) 1 oz of red vermouth Place large ice cubes in a glass and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix using a bar spoon and garnish your glass with an orange or grapefruit wedge. 4. The Mojito: recipe and history of a classic from Cuba According to an early 16th century Caribbean legend, the English privateer and explorer Francis Drake invented the modern Mojito. Legend says that the explorer enjoyed sipping tafia, a cheap industrial rum, with crushed mint leaves between pillages. This mix was named “El Draque” in his honour, but in the 20th century, rum became a higher quality commodity and the Drake evolved. Lime was then added to the original mixture and the mojito became the emblematic cocktail of Cuban culture in 1920, with rum being Cuba’s main export. Mojito preparation secrets The Mojito is the ideal cocktail to enjoy on a patio in the summer. Its sweetness and freshness make it a cocktail that everyone loves. 2 oz of white rum ¾ oz of simple syrup or 2 tsp of sugar Fresh mint leaves, crushed Lime wedges, crushed Soda First, crush your mint leaves and lime wedges in a shaker using a muddler. Follow by adding the ice, rum and simple syrup (or sugar). Shake vigorously, pour in a glass and top it with soda to taste. Finally, for an elevated presentation, garnish your glass with a lime wedge. 5. The Pisco Sour: a South American cocktail that divides A traditional and national recipe in Peru and Chile, the Pisco Sour is a cocktail born in the midst of a nationalist feud between the two countries. Chile and Peru each claim to have invented Pisco, and therefore the Pisco Sour. This eau-de-vie produced by the distillation of grapes, like Brandy or Cognac, generally does not undergo any ageing in casks, which leaves it colourless and lacking the woody aromas of its European cousins. Whether Chilean or Peruvian, Pisco remains a high-quality alcohol made from grapes, satisfying brandy lovers in South America. The cocktail was first mentioned in 1928 during the promotion of the Morris Bar in Lima and in the 1934 novel "La Chica de Crillon" by the Chilean Joaquin Edwards Bello. These two nations clearly cannot agree on the origins of the best cocktail south of the equator! A perfectly prepared Pisco Sour The Pisco Sour is a simple cocktail to make, using unique ingredients which may not normally come to mind, like egg. 5 oz of pisco 1 oz of lemon juice 5 oz of simple syrup 1 egg white Angostura bitters To prepare a good Pisco Sour, vigorously shake all the ingredients except the bitters with some ice in a shaker. Strain the mixture into a glass preferably a wide bottom one like the Norlan whiskey glass. Add the bitters and a lemon zest garnish before serving. Find the perfect ingredients for your cocktail 6. The Martini: behind the cocktail that has conquered the world The most common theory on the origin of the Martini comes from the town of Martinez, California. According to historians and locals, the cocktail was invented in the mid-1800s during the gold rush era. A miner, wishing to celebrate his luck in his search for gold, is said to have asked for champagne at a local bar to mark the occasion. The barman, not having any, insisted on creating a cocktail with the ingredients available at the time: gin, vermouth, bitters, maraschino liqueur and lemon. Other theories point instead to the beginnings of the Martini&Rossi brand, a vermouth that is still popular today and presumably helped popularize the cocktail in the 19th century. It has evolved over the years and had its heyday in the 50s and 60s during the Mad Man era, when workers consumed it generously during their business dinners. Fortunately for our health, it is now more common to consume it after a workday or on weekends by the pool. A simple cocktail recipe Usually served very cold, the martini is a cocktail that can be enjoyed on the patio on a hot day. It is quite simple to make and doesn’t require any mixology background. 5 oz of dry gin ¼ oz of dry vermouth (white) Olive brine (for a dirty martini) Ice cubes 2 green olives Preparing a martini simply requires adding all ingredients in a martini glass and mixing with an appropriate spoon. It should be noted that James Bond, the famous British secret agent from Ian Fleming’s novels, is known for enjoying his martinis prepared in a shaker, which cools and dilutes the cocktail quicker. Shaking a cocktail creates small air bubbles in the mixture, which can be useful for milky cocktails like a Pina Colada, frothy cocktails like a Pisco Sour, or fruity cocktails. On the other hand, it is not as ideal for a Martini, where the predominant ingredients are alcohol and bitters. Cocktails, recipes and stories There you have it, 6 classic cocktails and a little bit of their history to inspire you to make them at home. We hope you found these cocktail ideas and their stories as interesting as we did. Syrups, bitters, glasses, bar tools: At Vinum Design, we have all the accessories you could need for your cocktail making, whether you are a professional or novice. Visit one of our wine and spirits accessory shops in Montreal and Quebec City or our online store to make the cocktail kit you've always wanted.

All your favorite cocktails are available in non-alcoholic variants, not to mention some original creations! Whether you’re looking for a refreshing drink for those hot summer days or a thirst-quenching alternative for evenings out, these easy mocktail recipes will surprise you with their uniqueness. Here are 5 inspiring ideas for delicious non-alcoholic cocktails, featuring local products and non-alcoholic spirits. These mocktail recipes are just as tasty as your favorite classic cocktails! Seedlip Spice 94 and ginger ale syrup: a non-alcoholic alternative to the Gimlet Seedlip’s Spice 94 is a non-alcoholic spirit that mimics gin to perfection. Its aromatic blend of distilled spices, citrus peels and barks can work wonders in mocktails. Add ¾oz ginger ale syrup and a little lime juice before topping it off with soda for a simple and refreshing mocktail! Best served on ice in a Tumbler glass. 50ml Seedlip Spice 94 15ml Ginger ale syrup (3/4oz brand) 10ml lime juice Topped off with soda Sprig of rosemary and cucumber slice for finishing. FIND THE PERFECT INGREDIENTS FOR YOUR MOCKTAIL     Borrago Paloma Blend 47, for a non-alcoholic variation of the classic mojito Popular around the world for its refreshing taste, the mojito is also easily reinvented. Start by replacing rum with Borrago Paloma Blend 47, a very versatile non-alcoholic spirit. Lemon juice, Les Charlatans lime and pepper syrup, mint leaves, cucumber and soda round out our signature version of the alcohol-free mojito, served on ice. 50ml Borrago – Paloma Blend 47 20ml lemon juice 20ml Lime and pepper syrup (Les Charlatans) 10 spearmint leaves and 1 cucumber slice Topped off with soda Lemon and Grove 42: a simple and elegant non-alcoholic cocktail idea Seedlip’s Grove 42 is perfect for flavorsome citrus drinks! Its aromatic bouquet of oranges, lemon zest, and Japanese sansho will bring complexity and depth to your mocktail. We recommend combining it with Monsieur Cocktail’s lemon syrup for an effortless and elegant result, especially when served in a martini glass. 30ml Seedlip Grove 42 30ml lemon syrup (Monsieur Cocktail) Lemon peel to garnish Topped off with soda The non-alcoholic Caesar: a mocktail with a kick Not only is this mocktail idea alcohol-free, but it also contains vitamins! Choose the Cesar booster by Prosyro for an all-natural, Canadian product. Add clam and tomato juice and a drop of Dashfire Sichuan Bitters if you’re the spicy type. Garnish your glass, and you’re ready to go! 180 mL (3/4 cup) tomato and clam juice 1 dash of Sichuan bitters (Dashfire) Salt rim Garnish with a shrimp and lime skewer Garden tonic: no gin, no problem! The Garden tonic offers an original and tasteful alternative to gin lovers. With Seedlip Garden 108, you can give free rein to your desires! We recommend adding a little KWE forest tonic syrup to your mocktail: the result will be astounding. All that’s left to do is perfect the whole thing by serving it in a gin glass. 50ml Seedlip Garden 108 30ml forest tonic syrup (KWE) 4 slices of cucumber and a sprig of thyme Topped off with tonic Vinum Design, your partner for quality non-alcoholic cocktails Non-alcoholic spirits, syrups, bitters, glassware, bar accessories: At Vinum Design, we have everything you could possibly need to make your non-alcoholic cocktails. Feel free to contact us or come visit us in one of our stores in Montreal and Quebec City if you need advice on mixology: our passionate team will be happy to help you.

Cocktails are a popular trend these days, meaning that every bar is equipped with different accessories and good quality ingredients used to create tasty and well-balanced drinks. Whether you are more of a “free pour” type or you’d rather precisely measure every centilitre of your drinks, our team at Vinum has selected the essential cocktail tools you’ll need to create mixology kit worthy of the greatest bartenders! Bar accessories that compose a mixology set The first thing you need to do when creating a mixology kit is to choose bar accessories that you are comfortable using. Remember that what makes a good cocktail is above all a bartender who can use their tools correctly. Let's review the essential bar tools to assemble your mixology kit. A good shaker: an essential cocktail tool The shaker, also called a cocktail shaker, is the signature tool for a successful cocktail. It is used to mix the ingredients while chilling them (a good amount of ice is essential for a well-chilled drink). What makes for a good set of cocktail shakers will depend on the person using it. There are 2 main types of shaker: the Boston shaker and the Cobbler shaker. Boston shaker The Boston shaker is made of two interlocking components, one made of metal and the other of glass. This is the most popular type of shaker, because of its large volume capacity and ease of handling. However, this shaker must be completed by a strainer. Cobbler shaker The Cobbler shaker is a classic three-piece shaker. It is the shaker most commonly seen in the James Bond films and is therefore associated with the history of martini in popular culture. It is easy to use, as it doesn't require an additional strainer and already has a filter built into one of its three parts. It will be very useful for those who want to make do with the minimum, as in most cases it has a measure in the smallest part of the shaker. Use a jigger for good measure Nothing beats the consistent pouring of the famous cocktail jigger to ensure a perfectly balanced cocktail. If you have a Boston shaker (which does not have a built-in measuring device), we recommend purchasing this essential cocktail tool to complete your mixology kit. A jigger will allow you to measure the exact volume of spirits you need for your cocktail. Shop Our Bar & Cocktail Accessories A cocktail jigger is very easy to use: the smaller cup holds one measure, the other holds twice that amount. Available in gold, copper or steel, there's something for everyone, and if you don't have time to buy one, a kitchen scale or shot glass will do the trick. Mixing glass and bar spoon: the perfect combo Not every cocktail is made to be shaken. For example, adding sparkling water to your cocktail is best done with a gentle stir. You can "shake" the mixture without the sparkling water and then add it back in, or you can take the easy way out and use a mixing glass and bar spoon. Cocktail strainer for straining ice cubes and seeds The strainer is an essential cocktail tool for any self-respecting bartender. There are two different sizes: the Julep strainer and the Hawthorne strainer. The first is more practical when using a mixing glass while the second is easier to use with a shaker. In any case, this helpful tool will give an impeccable finish to your drinks. Other essential tools for a home cocktail kit For those who want to spare no expense, you can complete your mixology kit with these tools that will help you make your cocktails even better. Pick up a citrus press or a zester. They can be useful to easily collect the juice and zest of your fruits and vegetables. An ice tapper will be your best friend when you need to make 10 mojitos in the shortest time possible. Essential ingredients for a cocktail kit Without going into too much detail about the ingredients available for great cocktails – since we could go on for hours! – there are a few must-haves that should be mentioned. Cocktail syrups Cocktail syrups are all the rage, with more and more local craft companies coming up with delicious artisanal syrups! Syrups will add flavor as well as sweet notes to the cocktail. Simple syrups and bar mixes are must-haves when it comes to cocktail creation. The first is a portion of sugar dissolved in water, with citrus juice (lime or lemon) added to create the second. Simple enough to make, these syrups are even better fresh. For tonic syrups or syrups with a more distinctive taste, visit our Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto locations to discover the different flavors, ranging from bitter to sweet, sour, herbaceous and fresh. Bitters Bitters are ingredients that enhance the different flavours of your cocktails with just a few drops. You can almost think of them as liquid spices. In fact, you can also use them for cooking! With a wide variety of flavours, ranging from hibiscus and mocha to citrus, cardamom, rustic spices and smoky aromas, it is a world to discover! Originally used as medical infusions, bitters have developed over time to take the world of cocktails by storm. Despite their often high alcohol percentage (around 50%), bitters are not considered as alcoholic beverages since they are usually only used in small quantities. They are therefore available over the counter in Quebec. Come visit us in one of our stores to taste our different bitters and find out which are your favourites! Build the perfect cocktail kit with Vinum Design Now that you know how to make your own cocktail kit, you can get creative and have fun with it! Experiment with different flavors and cocktail ingredients to find the perfect combinations. And don't forget the accessories - a stylish cocktail shaker or cocktail glass can really enhance your mixology experience. With a little practice, you'll be able to create delicious cocktails that will impress your friends. Cheers! Shop now