Cocktail culture has come home, helping to drive growth in spirits worth a whopping £108m to the supermarkets [Kantar Worldpanel 52 w/e 19 June 2016].

Much of that growth is the result of spirits brands luring former beer and cider drinkers with premium branding and low prices. 

How can beer and cider fight back? By playing the spirits players at their own game, that’s how. Here are two so-called ‘hoptails’ from Hobgoblin, just in time for Halloween. 

Hobgoblin, vermouth & ants

Pour all the ingredients over the ant ice cubes in a tall glass and top with soda water and stir gently and garnish with lemon wedge. Best to use wood ants foraged fresh from Kent! 

  • 50ml Beer
  • 50ml Vermouth
  • 25ml lemon juice
  • 15ml sugar syrup
  • Top with soda water
  • Ant ice cubes (frozen in Hobgoblin Gold Beer)
  • Garnish with a lemon wedge

 

Hobgoblin, rum & malt

Combine all ingredients in shaker and shake hard, strain into a rocks glass, top with the ruby and garnish with grated nutmeg. 

  • 25ml dark rum
  • 25ml Hobgoblin Ruby Reduction
  • One whole egg
  • 25ml vanilla syrup
  • 25ml cream
  • Top with Hobgoblin Ruby
  • Garnish with grated nutmeg

 

 

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