Last week I went back to school – cocktail school. Thinking I was in for a few relaxed drinks and maybe the chance to sample some delicious new cocktails created by expert mixologist Christian Ozzati, I was not prepared to be put on the other side of the bar in Chelsea’s JuJu and- to prove I had been paying attention- make the cocktails myself.
You wouldn’t necessarily associate healthy living with drinking cocktails but Ozzati has created a range of drinks which contain some seriously wholesome ingredients and are guaranteed to kick start your day. His ‘pretox’ drink includes the increasingly popular health supplement ginseng, agave syrup- a healthy alternative to sugar, and milk thistle which is said to help repair liver damage.
Other tasty innovations included the ‘Alcoholic’s Milkshake’ which would make the perfect post-skiing cocktail and the ‘Apres 8’ which would make an unusual alternative to pudding and tastes just like its solid chocolate namesake.
From January JuJu will be hosting seasonally themed cocktail lessons: chocolate cocktails around Easter and floral drinks in May for the Chelsea Flower Show. Christian is also working with Mahiki, where a range of drinks will be introduced to compliment their food menu. Called ‘Strategic Drinking’, he is creating cocktails which claim to speed up your metabolism or aid your digestion in preparation for a big night out. I’ve certainly got a few tricks up my sleeve for the next time I’m looking to add some wow factor to a party.
So, next time you’re out, don’t just order your standard tipple but listen to the barman’s recommendations; it might just make your night (and the morning after) a lot more enjoyable.
