So today at the 99th attempt, Great Britain has all but produced her first winner of cycling’s toughest race, the Tour de France. Not only that but a British 1-2 with Chris Froome behind the man with the awesome grips, Bradley Wiggins. Chapeau. All that remains is to complete the job tomorrow in the processional final stage up the Champs Élysées. And perhaps also deliver a sixth team stage win if Mark Cavendish can win the group sprint.
So why all this on a drinks blog. Well no real linkage other than the awesomeness of the amazing feat produced by these cyclists in what appears to be the cleanest TdF in many years. Wiggins has ridden over 84 hours so far to win which is just astonishing. I’d love to see some of the massively overpaid Premiership footballers have a go at that!
So a drink is in order to celebrate. To say ‘Chapeau’ to Brad. To celebrate the highlight of a summer of sport. I can’t see what the Olympics can produce to top this.
To the ingredients.
These cyclists are amongst the toughest sportsmen in the world. They are properly nails. So as a base we are going to go with rye whiskey. A proper tough hard drinking liquor. But given the location for the race we will soften it with a little cognac. The roundness of the brandy smoothing the raw pepper edge of the rye. A combination often used in a sazerac.
Following a loose Manhattan style the obvious ingredient which must be added given the winner’s colour in the race is that other lovely French ingredient Yellow Chartreuse.
And given the sweetness of the victory we will keep our Manhattan style firmly on the sweet side with a dash of Sipsmith’s Summer Cup for something new and quintessentially British with its hints of cucumber and Earl Grey tea.
Finally for a second English twist a few dashes of Dandelion & Burdock bitters from Dr Adam Elmegirab.
Stir over ice, strain, raise and say ‘Chapeau’. Follow with a sparkling beer from the Gruut brewery in Ghent where the man was born. Well done Bradley, you made us proud.
Chapeau Cocktail
40ml Thomas H Handy sazerac rye whiskey
20ml Courvoisier VS Cognac
15ml Yellow Chartreuse
10ml Sipsmith’s Summer Cup
Generous dash of Dr Adam Elmegirab’s Dandelion & Burdock bitters
Stir over ice, strain and garnish with a lemon twist for that flash of yellow.
JUL