Last week, on my birthday to be exact, the lovely ladies at L’Oreal invited me to attend the fragrance launch for Viktor & Rolf‘s SPICEBOMB for men. I have to give it to the ladies, they know how to create an ambiance, everything was very reflective of the essence of the fragrance.They had tons of delicious food, essences from the fragrance and a decor to boot. Once I smelled the fragrance I knew that I couldn’t wait to smell this on a man, it has one of those make you weak in the knees scents, that would definitely make you stop in your tracks if you crossed a man who wore it.
To top off the launch the ladies had two gentleman from Toronto Institute of Bartending teach us how to make two cocktails inspired by the SPICEBOMB fragrance. We actually got a chance to get behind the bar and make them ourselves, not to mention it was my birthday so they made sure I had plenty. The drinks were so good I needed the recipe to make them at home, thought I would share with you so we could all impress a few of our friends.
SPICEBOMB by VIKTOR & ROLF is in stores in March.
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb ‘Smokin’ Gun’
Glass: Martini glass
Garnish: Thin Lemon twist
Ingredients:
• 1.5 oz Patron Silver Tequila
• 1.5 oz Tobacco/Lemongrass/Elemi Honey Syrup*
• 1 oz Freshly squeezed Lemon Juice
Method: Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass that is filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into the chilled martini glass. Garnish with a thin lemon twist.
* Tobacco/Lemongrass/Elemi Honey Syrup
250 ml water
12 tobacco leaves (3‘x1.5’ size)
3 1’ pieces lemongrass
75 ml sugar
75 ml honey
3 drops pure Elemi oil
Elemi
Elemi is a tree that excretes a honey like resin that is pale yellow in colour. It is turned into an essential oil by steam distillation and has a sharp pine and lemon like scent.
Tobacco leaf
There are 70 different species of tobacco. It has a very, woody, herbaceous aroma and taste. When consumed, it also spicy and dry on the palate.
Add water, tobacco, lemongrass, and sugar into a pot and simmer on medium head for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove from heat and stir in the honey and the pure Elemi oil. Place in container and chill in the fridge
Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb ‘Fire on Ice’
Glass: Martini
Garnish: Flamed orange twist
Ingredients:
• 1.5 oz Crystal Head Vodka
• 1.5 oz Freshly squeezed Lime Juice
• 1.5 oz Simple Syrup*
• 0.5 oz Egg Whites
• 2 mists of Bergamot/Vetiver Syrup**
Method:
• Add all ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with flamed orange twist.***
* Simple Syrup
• Mix one cup sugar into one cup of hot water and let dissolve. Place in the fridge to chill.
** Bergamot/vetiver syrup
100 ml Crystal Head vodka
1 drop pure Bergamot oil
1 drop pure vetiver oil
75 ml simple syrup
1 large orange rind
Bergamot
Bergamot orange, is a fragrant fruit the size of an orange, with a yellow colour similar to a lemon. (hydrid between a seville orange and a vietnamese lime) Citrus bergamot is a native hybrid of and commercially grown in Calabria, southern Italy, where more than 80% are found.The juice tastes less sour than lemon, but more bitter than grapefruit. The distinctive aroma of the bergamot is most commonly known for its use in Earl Grey tea.
Vetiver
Vetiver is a perennial grass native to India that shares many characteristics with other fragrant grasses such as lemongrass, citronella, and Palmarosa. The scent of vetiver oil is described as deep, sweet, woody, smoky, earthy, amber, balsam.
*** Flamed Orange Twist
• Hold the thick orange peel between thumb and forefinger. Hold the fire from a lighter near the rind side of the orange and allow to warm up for 5 seconds. Using your thumb and forefinger bend the peel sharply to release the oils into the flame, landing on top of the finished cocktail.
photo credit George Pimentel
