Inspiration behind PROMENADE Cocktail
You never come here just to shop. Such a utilitarian errand would only require a common grocery store. No, you come here to experience. To see and be seen. There is an energy to a market that is a beautiful concoction of community, romanticism, and a slight touch of chaos. It demands that you give yourself over to the moment. The wonderful bouquet of exotic ingredients from each stall striking with beautiful mosaics and tantalizing smells. The laughter that rings through the cacophony of sounds and the smiles amidst the wash of people. It’s here, at the cross-section of cultures, traditions, and livelihoods that life is happening in one of its purest forms. Who would want to spend their afternoon shopping and miss all this?
Espresso and tonic is a massively underrated duo, especially on a hot summer day. We take that concept and give a spirited twist by highlighting a playful flavour from Four O’Clock® Espresso Chai.
I spend many summer Sundays walking through local farmer’s markets with my partner. There is something so mentally nourishing about walking through a market, it feels incredibly grounding and stimulating at the same time. I wanted to capture that sunny afternoon stroll through a market while paying homage to one of Montreal’s (Four O’Clock® ’s birthplace) most famous markets: Jean-Talon. Located in the Little Italyneighborhood, this market is not just one of the most famous markets in Montreal, operating for almost 100 years it’s one of the oldest.
Cynar, an Italian bitter, is made from smoked artichokes and provides a rich base, emulating the essence of smoked meats and earthy garden vegetables.
Alternatively, for a lighter and more herbaceous option, you could substitute Strega, a yellow Italian liqueur, featuring flavours of mint, juniper, hints of fennel and saffron. The Espresso Chai, which blends black tea, espresso, and spice notes perfectly, will tie this drink together in the form of a cordial. A cordial is similar to a syrup but usually with the addition of acids and sometimes salts. Using a cordial can be a great way to impart both body and acid to this drink without layering too many flavours on top of one another. Recipes for cordials can be adjusted to suit the needs of the drink. You’ll see the recipe for this cordial uses significantly less sugar than a classic 1 to 1 sugar-to-water syrup ratio. This is because both Cynar and Strega already have a fair amount of sugar in them.
You’ll also notice this cocktail is low in alcohol, which is meant to match the crushable, easy-going style of this drink. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon!
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