BACK TO BASICS: THE SCREWDRIVER

This is so basic. It is like learning the alphabet once more. The screwdriver is a very easy drink to make. It is interestingly uncomplicated. It’s probably the first cocktail recipe I ever learned. It also has a very interesting name. People who worked in oil rigs in the Middle East would open cans of OJ(Orange Juice) with a screw driver. They would take cans and cans to cool off from the hot sun. If you are looking for that burst of vitamin C, this is the drink to go for. 

Yesterday I was feeling under the weather. Do you have those days when you are feeling lethargic, lazy and demotivated? Work seems to take a toll on you and you need a break? I was having such a day. I have learnt never to ignore that feeling. Sometimes, your body sends you a message that it is low on electrolytes and you need to recharge your batteries. I decided to fix a tall drink with a lot of freshly squeezed orange juice. Oranges have a lot of ascorbic acid and they smell fresh. This will definitely change your mood.

To make the screw driver you need

• Absolut Vodka
• Fresh Orange juice
• Orange wedge for garnish

slice the orange and cut in half to get a wedge for garnish

Procedure

• In a mixing glass pour the vodka and juice.
• Stir with a bar spoon
• Fill a highball glass with ice.
• Add the mixture
• Garnish with orange wedge

I have not written what amount of vodka to use because it depends with the individuals preferences. I put an ounce of vodka because I did not want a potent drink plus it was a weekday and some work needed to get done.

I definitely felt better and this drink gave me the motivation to finish a project I have been working on for weeks. Try it.

SNAPP AND TAMARILLO COCKTAIL

How did I end up with cans and cans of Snapp Apple? Long story…

It was a crazy week. I’ve had my share of ups and downs. By Friday evening I was tired and worn out. What I had really envisioned for my Friday night in, was to make myself a great meal, have a glass of wine and watch ‘mixology’ or ‘the 100’ under a warm blanket. I’d say ‘sit by the fire’ in a bid to sound more poetic or moving but I have no fireplace YET. When I got to my house, it was like the walls were closing in on me. I need some excitement. Some release. A simple sleepover with my pals or hanging out for an hour or two would do. We all have that friend on speed dial. That friend who you call when things go south or when you have a crisis like mine. Cate picked up the phone and said that she was bored too. And because misery loves company, I smiled when I heard that and we met in order to machinate a random plan.

Ever since my campus hey days, my desire to go for a night out in town has diminished considerably. I think we shook it all back then. Now I’m all for a good conversation, a good drink and great company. Call it growing up or growing old. We decided to go to a place in Thika Road so that we would be home early. Plus we didn’t feel the need to go to a place where kids would be yelling TGIF and listening to whatever music is in this season. We went to Saape Lounge to meet some friends then headed to 'the local' for lack of a better catchphrase which I won’t mention because their service was terrible. By 11pm we decided to head home and since we had some unopened drinks we asked for the waiter to subtract that from the bill. He went on and on about how their system does not have that provision. He told us that the only way was to exchange our drinks for canned Snapp Apple. 

I went home with cans of Snapp and I didn’t know what to do with them. On Saturday afternoon, I had a friend over and I decided to make us Snapp Cocktails. This was interesting because Snapp is already an apple cocktail and it was like making a cocktail out of a cocktail. I intended to make a fruity drink. The drink had to be potent enough to be a sipping drink and that’s where the vodka came in. The tree tomato fruit (Tamarillo was great because it added a lot of flavor, colour, plus it is nutritious). We called it the blood fruit when we were younger because of its characteristic deep red juice.

Ingredients
2oz Snapp Apple
I part Maya Green Apple Vodka
The juice of 6-8 tamarillos (With or without seeds)
Apple wedges for garnish

Procedure
Use the back of a spoon to gently push the tamarillo puree through a large fine sieve into a container Set aside. Put the first three ingredients in a mixing glass, stir with a bar spoon. Fill a glass with ice (It’s up to you whether you want to use a highball, a Collins glass, etc.). Pour the mixture on the ice. Garnish with an apple wedge, straws etc.

 

It was a splendid drink for an afternoon. It was very fruity and fresh. I skipped the ice because it was a chilly day. You can get Maya Vodka in Chandarana Supermarket and Tamarillo at the fruit vendors. I got the inspiration for this recipe here.

Enjoy.