DIY bartending; The Basics #1

For many the cocktail enthusiast, who doesn't get to step behind a professional bar set up every day, making cocktails can seem like a daunting task, one that involves spirits you've never heard of, fancy fruit twists and chemical processes that ought to come with a hazard sign. Here at PDS, I'm here to prove you wrong. You don't need to be behind the bar to become a bartender. This post serves to prove that whatever your skill-set or budget, you too can take a stab at being a bartender, and make bloody good drinks.

So if you're going to set up bar at home, there's a simple list of essentials that you'll need to fool your friends into thinking you know what you're doing, so here's the rundown:

• Something to shake; A Boston tin & glass/ two piece cocktail shaker
• Something to measure; marked jiggers/measuring cups
• Something to pour; spirits and pourers
• Something to cool
• Fruits and edible delights
• Fancy bar tools

Now this is by no means an exhaustive list, if you intend to entertain 20 people with a full-blown molecular mixology session, you're going to want to invest in dry ice, pressure cookers and the such; but if you just want to make a few casual, but delicious drinks, it's just the basics you'll want. Let's do this!

To Shake

Budget: Basic Boston Tin £5.40

Any bartender, professional or amateur should start with the basics. And it don't get more basic than this, your Boston tin and glass. Fill the glass with your chosen poison, add ice, hit the tin on, shake. For me, you can't really go wrong with this combination.

Mid-Range Set £24.99

 If you're a home bartender, who's yet to master the Boston tin/glass combination, then this little set is your guy. The Cobbler shaker works exactly the same, remove the lid, add your ingredients, replace the lid and shake.The Cobbler is inbuilt with a strainer, meaning you don't have to buy another bit of equipment, making your bar-tending a little less fussy. It also comes in a fancy looking wooden box and looks pretty darn good on any home bar.




Premium: Electric Shaker £45

Now if you're out to impress, or simply love drink-related gadgets, this is the ticket. It does exactly what it says on the tin. Pop your chosen drink in, lid on and with the press of a button your drink is shaken, leaving you hands free to flair, play with fire, do a card trick, or whatever party trick you choose.

So there you have it, the first step to becoming your own home bartender. If you're on a shoe-string budget, or planning your own home bar build, we've got the good to help you make delicious drinks. Next up we'll be getting onto the real fun stuff, cold, hard, liquor. Keep your eyes peeled!

DIY; Syrups #1

Please Don't Shake DIY is gonna be a series of recipes and inspirations for cocktail enthusiasts and amateurs alike to spark new creations. From syrups to home-made purées, spirit infusions to flavoured salts and sugars, I want to inspire you kids to make god-damn beautiful drinks!

For the first DIY I've decided to put a twist on the classic combination- G&T; The stark bitterness of a Gin & Tonic isn't to everyones' taste, some people like it a little sweeter, and that's what this twist will bring out. With combinations of juniper berries and botanicals, Gin pairs perfectly with floral teas such as Earl Grey, cutting through the bitterness of wormwood found in the spirit. Ladies and Gentlemen I introduce to you; Gin & Tea. This Earl Grey syrup is ridiculously simple to make, smells delicious, and makes just about any Gin based cocktail infinitely better;

Earl Grey Syrup

4 cups water
4 cups caster sugar
8-10 Earl Grey teabags
the whole 'cup' measurement is very American I know, but I find it easier to pick up the nearest rocks glass/tumbler and throw it all together, who needs measurements.

Boil  the water, simmer it, chuck the tea bags in and brew for about 6 mins, get rid of the tea bags and dissolve the sugar, stir and reduce the syrup, cool it, and Bob's ya god-damn uncle; Earl Grey Syrup complete.

I've already got this chilled and ready to make Earl Grey Martinis this weekend, happy drinking!

DIY; Infusions #1; Bacon Vodka

Bacon.. and vodka?! I hear you say. The cure and the cause of the hangover all in one bottle? Yes, you heard right. When I started this, even the biggest of bacon enthusiasts gave me horrified looks. But here at PDS experimentation is the fun of it all, and with savoury cocktails becoming a big hit in the most popular of cocktail bars, we thought we'd give it a go.

Now this vodka can be made so many different ways it's crazy, from the technique of infusion you choose, to the vodka base you use, to the flavouring you include; but we decided to keep it simple, so here's what you'll need:
70cl of choice vodka (the basic vodkas work best here)
6-8 rashers of smoked bacon
a sealed jar/container
cheese cloth, and a Brita filter.


Fry the bacon up nice & crispy, set aside and cool, put the bacon into the jar and 1-2 teaspoons of the bacon grease, add vodka, shake and seal. Leave this jar in the fridge for about 5 days to a week, shaking once or twice a day. Remove the bacon and pour the mixture through cheese cloth or a coffee filter until
all residue has been removed. We then chose to pass the vodka through a Brita filter, just to purify it that one last time. And Bob is your Bacon flavoured Uncle, you've got Bacon Vodka.

Keep your eyes and tastebuds peeled for PDS' own Bacon Bloody Mary's and other pig-related drinks to follow.

PDS Mulled Wine

It's that time of year, and mulled wine is unavoidable. It's a simple drink, and with so many high street shops selling pre-made bottles for as little as £4 you may grab a bargain. But if you make it from scratch with your favourite bottle of red, you'll feel Oh So Festive. Trust me.

1 bottle of your favourite red; I use Toro Loco, but any good Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot would be good too.
A good handful of cloves
1 or 2 cinnamon sticks
A dash of fresh OJ
A pinch of hot chocolate.

Stir it all over a low heat, adding the hot chocolate and OJ right at the end to taste. Serve straight away with fresh orange slices and cheesy Christmas music.

The Limonada Cubana

Continuing this week's rum fun! This is the drink I entered into the 2013 Las Iguanas bar challenge and won second place. The Limonada Cubana is a Cuban twist on cloudy lemonade, perfect for long summer days, or trying to forget about the long rainy ones we have to suffer through winter!

50-60ml Havana 3yr (it's better stronger)
25ml Martini Extra Dry
50ml fresh lemon juice
4 bar spoons passion fruit syrup.
Shake long and hard with cubed ice and double strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist, squeezing the oils into the drink and rubbing around the rim of the glass. Serve, enjoy.