Fun and fizzy Christmas drinks to enjoy this holiday season

JUST in time for all the holiday celebrations, bar executive and mixologist Kentt Earl Yap introduces two new thirst quenchers: Bubbly Grandpa and Not Rudolph’s Nose.

Bubbly Grandpa is a non-alcoholic drink that is a tangy blend of goji berry tea, lemon juice, and soda water, made even better with frozen strawberries. The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management professor assures that the mocktail comes with antioxidant qualities that benefit the eyes, skin, and the immune system.

For those who wish to make the gatherings extra exhilarating, Mr. Yap recommends the marriage of tequila and red wine, which he calls Not Rudolph’s Nose. This combines a serving of lemon-lime soda and lemon juice, with frozen blueberries to represent Rudolph’s iconic nose.

“This cocktail is ideal to be made into a punch bowl for group serving – because cocktails for Christmas are supposed to be shared,” he adds.

Mr. Yap served as the group head bartender at EPH518 Cocktail Bar Singapore and the bar executive and supervisor of Park Hotel Group Grand Park Orchard, and worked at many other Singaporean bars and restaurants. He earned the EXSA Star Awardee title, bestowed by the Singapore Hotel Association and the Diamond Service Ambassador recognition from the Park Hotel Group. Mr. Yap is currently the head of Training and Research and Development at Atmos Coffee Co., which recently opened in Quezon City.

BUBBLY GRANDPA
Ingredients:
30 ml goji berry tea
3 wedges lemon juice
2 tbsp white sugar
30 g frozen strawberries
60 ml soda water

Procedure: Muddle frozen strawberry with white sugar, squeeze three wedges of lemon juice, and add in two parts soda water and one part goji berry tea. Serve and enjoy.

NOT RUDOLPH’S NOSE
Ingredients:
30 ml tequila
15 ml lemon juice
15 g frozen blueberries
2 tbsp sugar
60 ml lemon-lime soda
30 ml red wine

Procedure: In a shaker, muddle frozen blueberries with sugar, then add in lemon juice, red wine, and tequila. Shake for five seconds. Pour into a wine glass and add ice. Top up with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with blueberries. Serve and enjoy.