If you were having coffee with me we would be hanging out with the self-styled mixologist Ashler Jaya or as she is now also known as The Beverage Whisperer. I first met The Mixologist at a small get together with a couple twimbos(that’s Zimbabweans from Twitter). As a guy who does not drink pink drinks [haha] I had never bothered much with the world of cocktails save for maybe gin and lemon tea until she transformed a regular Zambezi lager into something else using, oh only a dash of regular ingredients…
Almost two years later and Zimbabwe is being shaken into the swirling world of cocktails and The Beverage Whisperer is one to look out for, check the headlines….
B: Coffee Or Tea
AJ: Coffee
B: What cocktail would you come up… *based on coffee*
AJ: I would probably make an expresso martini or an Irish Coffee, simple but really good.
B: Whats the weirdest cocktail you did using the most unlikely things, which was surprisingly very good.
AJ: I cant really say its weird but peanuts, whiskey and cola surprisingly tastes really good, if it’s made well.
B: Oh thats weird!!! Anyway mixology, how mixology and I’ll do you even one better why mixology? *In Drax’s voice*
AJ: Hmm, I want to say I fell in love with Mixology in university. It taps into a different side of my creativity, I experiment with a lot and can come up with ideas for recipes of the top of my head. It is just so much fun. I want to say mixology chose me.
B: You definitely know your stuff, and Jameson Whiskey noticed too, how cool was that how did that come about?
AJ: Can I tell you I’m still shocked lol! It was definitely awesome getting noticed by Jameson. It just showed me hard work pays off and encouraged me to keep going. Its been great knowing I am able to start creating relationships with big brands
B: You also teach mixology 101… how is your experience with a cocktail culture and mixology community in Zimbabwe?
AJ: Cocktal culture is fairly new to Zimbabwe. It’s not something that everyone knew about or something that people used to go out of their way to enjoy. There has been a rise in the last year and people are starting to understand beverages and how fun they can be. I am looking forward to more growth.
B: Aliens arrive and they say serve us your best cocktail or else we will destroy this blue and green planet, what would you serve them?
AJ: The Summer Pink Punch, I don’t know anyone who doesnt like it after giving it a try.
B: Do you get high on your supply *laughing*
AJ: I chose to call it quality assessment lol!
B: I notice you have spiced up your menu, Cocktail Bags you don’t see that every day… walk us through this idea.
AJ: Cocktail bags is something I came up with to make the whole process of purchasing cocktails from my brand an experience. Its been fun and people love them
B: What is the sound of your favourite cocktail…, what?… The Sound of your favourite cocktail.
AJ: ……. fuuuuuu
B: You wake up queen of the world, what would be your first decree to the world.
AJ: Alcohol will be on a: Buy One Get One Free in the stores.
B: Thanks you have been awesome and if this were like live on TV who would you want to wave and give a shoutout to?
AJ: Big shout kune mufes wangu Freda. Wadii wangu.
B: Before you leave how about a quick and simple “recipe” is that what they called, that people can try…
AJ: Irish Lemonade
60ml Irish Whiskey
120ml Fresh Lemonade
Splash of Club Soda
2 Dashes bitters
Garnish with a Lemon/Min
- Pour all you ingredients into a shaker with a little ice.
- Shake and pour all contents including ice into your glass.
- Add a splash of club soda
- Stir and Garnish
** How to make lemonade: 1 cup lemon juice, 2 cups cold water and 1 cup simple syrup.
Connect up with The Beverage Whisperer Of Harare across the interwebs on various platforms
Twitter @The_Mixlogist_
Instagram The_Mixologist_ZW
Facebook TheMixologistZW
Youtube The Mixologist ZW
~B
PS Drink responsibly
NOTE: all images in this article courtesy of The Mixologist
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