How To Create Your Own Home Cocktail Bar - Discover Your Inner Mixologist with the R&D Collection
Anyone who enjoys relaxing in the bar with a long drink, chilled cocktail or afternoon aperitif appreciates that the perfect drink experience is all about the shape of the glass, the right mix of flavours, syrups and alcohol, and the finishing garnish.Ever keep going back to the same bar for the amazing cocktail list?
To make your night(and keep you coming back) the bartender at your favourite bar knows how to impress you. Presenting an extensive drinks list, they make cocktail making or ‘mixology’ look like a complex secret and visual experience.
This doesn’t mean you can’t recreate this experience at home. Crafting the perfect cocktail isn’t a secret and you can impress with the same techniques and mix your favourite bar’s drinks list at home.To discover your inner mixologist, it all begins with the perfect glass, a little inspiration from a real mixologist, easy cocktail recipes and an essential guide to creating your own home bar with the R&D Collection by Royal Doulton.
Bar spoons at the ready?
IT BEGINS WITH THE PERFECT COCKTAIL GLASS...
In an eclectic mix of three stunning designs, Royal Doulton presents a new sophisticated cut crystal glassware range – the R&D Collection.
Whether you love a classic cocktail, want to sample the latest flavoured gins, or simply enjoy an old favourite, these cosmopolitan collections of tumblers and hi-balls are designed to inspire you to recreate your favourite drinks at home. Choose from three stylish, timeless designs: the diamond cut Highclere, contemporary water-drop Neptune, and the retro-modern Radial – or simply mix and match to create an instant home bar to entertain family and friends.
THE HIGHCLERE
With its diamond and wedge cut, the Highclere design typifies timeless style. Boasting exceptional clarity and brilliance, both the high-ball and tumbler glasses will add a stunning classic look to your home bar. Mix and match with any of the R&D glassware collections for a high impact look.
THE NEPTUNE
With the illusion of water drops sliding down the glass, the contemporary Neptune design has a series of tactile cuts running vertically on the glassware that’ll add a unique look to your next cocktail party. Mix and match Neptune high-ball and tumblers for a relaxed gathering.
THE RADIAL
Inspired by art-deco and architectural influences, the Radial design has sequences of horizontal and vertical intersecting cuts that help create the sharp and chic finish. Set in any environment, the retro-modern Radial glassware looks sophisticated filled with cocktails over ice.
THE HIGHCLERE
With its diamond and wedge cut, the Highclere design typifies timeless style. Boasting exceptional clarity and brilliance, both the high-ball and tumbler glasses will add a stunning classic look to your home bar. Mix and match with any of the R&D glassware collections for a high impact look.
THE NEPTUNE
With the illusion of water drops sliding down the glass, the contemporary Neptune design has a series of tactile cuts running vertically on the glassware that’ll add a unique look to your next cocktail party. Mix and match Neptune high-ball and tumblers for a relaxed gathering.
THE RADIAL
Inspired by art-deco and architectural influences, the Radial design has sequences of horizontal and vertical intersecting cuts that help create the sharp and chic finish. Set in any environment, the retro-modern Radial glassware looks sophisticated filled with cocktails over ice.
WHEN AN AWARD-WINNING MIXOLOGIST CREATES A COCKTAIL LIST, YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN FOR A TREAT...
You’ve found the perfect glasses, now you need inspiration and advice from a real mixologist so you can feel more confident in your drink mixing skills. That’s where renowned London based mixologist MR LYAN’S expert tips can help you add the right dash of this, and a touch of that to your next drinks gathering.
Winner of World's Best Cocktail Bar 2017, Best Bar Team 2017, International Bartender of the Year 2015, ES London's Most Influential, 2014, 2015, 2016 and Debrett's Most Influential Britons 2017, mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan) is at the forefront of innovation within the drinks industry and has been involved in several of the UK’s best bars for over a decade. Named UK Bartender of the year twice and International Bartender of the Year 2015 at the highly acclaimed Tales of the Cocktail, Royal Doulton were thrilled to work with Ryan to develop innovative individual cocktails that can be easily recreated at home. From the Cider Fix served over ice, to the Lemon Tree - with an added dollop of raspberry sorbet - every cocktail has been designed to reflect each glassware shape and design in the R&D collection – making your favourite drinks look truly professional at your next cocktail party.
The Mr Lyan brand includes a successful retail range of bottled cocktails and his book, Good Things to Drink with Mr Lyan and Friends. Read more about Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan) at www.mrlyan.com and follow him on Instagram @MrLyan
COCKTAIL RECIPES
SORREL COOLER feat. the Highclere Highball Glass
10g Dried hibiscus flowers
Stick of Cinnamon
Honey to taste
Watermelon and sorrel to garnish.
Add 1 litre of boiling water to the hibiscus
and cinnamon and infuse for 5mins.
Sweeten with honey.
Strain into a bottle or jug and chill
Serve in a Highclere Highball glass
Garnish with watermelon and a sprig of sorrel
CIDER FIX feat. the Neptune Tumbler Glass
40ml Amaretto liqueur
20ml Fresh lemon juice
2 Dashes of angostura bitters
1 lemon
Dry Cider
Radishes
Shake the liqueur, lemon and bitters with ice.
Fine strain over fresh ice into Neptune Tumbler and top with dry, tart cider.
Garnish with a lemon twist and serve with radishes.
LEMON TREE feat. the Radial Tumbler Glass
15ml Vodka
30ml Italicus (Bergamot liqueur)
20ml Fresh lemon juice
5ml Lemon thyme
1 Egg white
2 Lemon thyme sprigs
Sorbet
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker except sorbet, shake first without ice (dry shake). This fluffs up the egg white, then add ice to the shaker and shake again!
Put one scoop of sorbet in the middle of the tumbler and then fine strain the cocktail over this.
Place a few lemon thyme leaves on the top of the sorbet and serve.
LITTLE DEVIL SMASH feat. the Highclere Tumbler Glass
20ml London dry gin
20ml White rum
20ml Triple sec
20ml fresh squeezed lime juice
15ml sugar syrup (1 Tablespoon)
4 Thai basil leaves (If you can’t find these, use normal basil and put a tiny drop of absinthe in)
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, fill completely with ice and shake hard until the outside is very cold to the touch
(You want to obliterate the basil)
Fine strain (Use a hawthorn strainer and tea strainer, the Hawthorn isn’t as important as the tea strainer, it’s there just to make things easier, so if you don’t have one don’t worry)
Serve in an R&D tumbler with fresh cubed ice and garnish with some basil leaves.
GARDEN TONIC feat. the Neptune Highball Glass
40ml Columbo gin
125ml Tonic water
Tarragon
Parsley
Add ingredients to an R&D highball, including the herbs.
Top with ice and stir vigorously to move the herbs throughout the drink. Top with a little more ice.
Garnish with some more leaves.
DOG'S NOSE FLORADORA feat. the Radial Highball Glass
40ml Gin
15ml Ginger syrup (Monin make a good one!)
20ml Fresh lemon juice
5 or 6 Raspberries
100ml Guinness
Add all ingredients except Guinness to a cocktail shaker, fill completely with ice and shake hard to break up the raspberries.
Pour the Guinness into your R&D highball glass and then fine strain the rest of the ingredients from the cocktail shaker. It will froth up a bit, so do it slowly!!
We used dehydrated raspberry powder as a garnish, but you can just gently place a fresh raspberry on the top. Put a large sprig of mint in there as well, remember to gently smack the mint to release the aromas before adding.
SORREL COOLER feat. the Highclere Hi-Ball Glass
10g Dried hibiscus flowers
Stick of Cinnamon
Honey to taste
Watermelon to garnish.
Add 1 litre of boiling water to the hibiscus and cinnamon and infuse for 5mins.
Strain into a bottle or jug and chill
CIDER FIX feat. the Neptune Tumbler Glass
40ml Amaretto liqueur
20ml Fresh lemon juice
2 Dashes of angostura bitters
1 lemon with leaves if available
Dry Cider
Shake the liqueur, lemon and bitters with ice. Fine strain over fresh ice into rocks glass and top with dry, tart cider.
Garnish with a lemon twist and serve with radishes.
LEMON TREE feat. the Radial Tumbler Glass
15ml Vodka
30ml Italicus (Bergamot liqueur)
20ml Fresh lemon juice
5ml Lemon thyme
1 Egg white
2 Lemon thyme sprigs
Sorbet
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker except sorbet, shake first without ice (dry shake). This fluffs up the egg white, then add ice to the shaker and shake again!
Put one scoop of sorbet in the middle of the cocktail glass and then fine strain the cocktail over this. Place a few lemon thyme leaves on the top of the sorbet and serve.
LITTLE DEVIL SMASH feat. the Highclere Tumbler Glass
20ml London dry gin
20ml White rum
20ml Triple sec
20ml fresh squeezed lime juice
15ml sugar syrup (1 Tablespoon)
4 Thai basil leaves (If you can’t find these, use normal basil and put a tiny drop of absinthe in)
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, fill completely with ice and shake hard until the outside is very cold to the touch.
(You want to obliterate the basil)
Fine strain (Use a hawthorn strainer and tea strainer, the Hawthorn isn’t as important as the tea strainer, it’s there just to make things easier, so if you don’t have one don’t worry.)
Serve in an R&D tumbler with fresh cubed ice and garnish with some basil leaves.
GARDEN TONIC feat. the Neptune Highball Glass
40ml Columbo gin
125ml Tonic water
Tarragon
Parsley
Add ingredients to an R&D highball, including the herbs.
Top with ice and stir vigorously to move the herbs throughout the drink. Top with a little more ice.
Garnish with some more leaves.
DOG'S NOSE FLORADORA feat. the Radial Highball Glass
40ml Gin
15ml Ginger syrup (Monin make a good one!)
20ml Fresh lemon juice
5 or 6 Raspberries
100ml Guinness
Add all ingredients except Guinness to a cocktail shaker, fill completely with ice and shake hard to break up the raspberries.
Pour the Guinness into your R&D highball glass and then fine strain the rest of the ingredients from the cocktail shaker. It will froth up a bit, so do it slowly!!
We used dehydrated raspberry powder as a garnish, but you can just gently place a fresh raspberry on the top. Put a large sprig of mint in there as well, remember to gently smack the mint to release the aromas before adding.
AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR OWN HOME BAR
If it’s your turn to host an all-night drinks evening, a cocktail brunch or a small dinner party with friends, the best way to create a memorable experience is having a well-stocked home bar.
But, how do you get started? The key is to Invest in the right glassware, spirits, tools and garnishes - and soon enough you’ll find that happy hour at home can be just as fun as any bar in town.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN HOME COCKTAIL BAR (THAT’LL IMPRESS YOUR GUESTS)
1 | Invest in quality glassware
Different styles of glassware have evolved to make drinks taste better and release its aromas. To serve a drinks experience at your guest’s request, ensure you have the right mix of short and long glasses. A hi-ball is often an elegant way to serve many types of mixed drinks, like those served on the rocks and mixer drinks like gin and tonic. Tumblers look amazing filled with big ice cubes and fresh garnishes and have a solid base – perfect for drinks to be ‘muddled’ or liquors poured neat.
Why not mix and match highball and tumbler patterns from all three R&D Collections to add authenticity to your home bar.
2 | Stock up on essentials
Having a home bar is a fun opportunity to learn how to experiment with spirits you might not try on a night out. For simple drinks, you need to have the essential bases like vodka, gin, a light rum, tequila, bourbon, blended scotch whiskey and brandy – along with mixers like tonic and elderflower waters.
For nearly every cocktail you’ll need to combine three main ingredients for the perfect balance: alcohol (base), a sour ingredient (think lemon or lime) and a sweet ingredient, such as a syrup. Flavoured vodkas and gins are also popular for modern cocktail recipes. Fresh sour and sweet ingredients include limes, lemons, oranges, salt, pepper, sugar syrups and fresh herbs like basil and mint. Keep in mind, these ingredients are perishable so buy them fresh.
3 | Select the right tools
You don’t need to rush out and buy every drinks gadget out there but start with these essential items on your must-have list. Once you’ve mastered these tools your friends will want to ditch the crowded bars and come to your place.
- • A Boston or simple cocktail shaker
- • Bar spoons – mixing and layering liquids
- • A jigger – your go-to measuring tool
- • A Hawthorne strainer – strains fruit pieces or ice
- • A wooden muddler – releases flavours of herbs and fruits
- • A cutting knife and chopping board - to slice your fresh ingredients
Another vital component of perfect cocktail making (which often gets overlooked) is plenty of ice, so make sure your ice bucket is full.
4 | Practice makes perfect (drinks)
As with any skill, drink mixology is a blend of knowledge – reading books, blogs and watching online videos – and putting it into practice. Don’t forget to experiment too, because the experience should be about what you love to drink: make it personal. Soon you’ll discover your inner mixologist.
Now, invite some friends over and start mixing.
Maybe mixology isn’t for you, but maybe you know someone who’d love a barware gift to discover their inner mixologist. The perfect gift for birthdays, weddings, celebrations, congratulations and thank you’s, all glassware products from the R&D Collection come as a pair packed in a beautifully presented printed box.
Why not mix and match highball and tumbler patterns from all three R&D Collections to add authenticity to your home bar.
Enjoy the pleasure in giving a gift that can both initiate or enhance a home bar.
