One of the best travel tips I've ever received is to pack a few extra nips and a small bottle of bitters wherever I go. This way, whenever I'm craving a proper cocktail and things are looking bleak, I can easily fix the situation.
I recently had lunch with the fine folks from The King's Ginger Liqueur - a scotch based ginger liqueur from England - where brand development guru Karl duHoffmann tipped me off to adding nips of King's Ginger to my travel stash. Why, you might ask? Because it makes an excellent Shandy!
Paired with a refreshing beer, such as Lucky Buddha Beer brewed at the famed Thousand Island Lake in China, the King's Ginger adds a sweet and piquant kick to the beer. I love this pairing for parties as well, because it is a very simple cocktail to make (read, you will be able to enjoy your own party).
The tales of The King's Ginger offers great stories about the whimsical king Edward VII, whom the liqueur was created for, a man known for his love of the hunt, driving in an open top "horseless carriage", and luxury. Interestingly, the liqueur was to keep him warm while driving (kids, don't try this at home). Lucky Beer is also a great conversation starter - it's a light and refreshing Asian style lager that comes in charming buddha shaped bottles!
Pack a few nips in your emergency cocktail kit for a perfect shandy while on the road, or stock up with a full bottle and a few cases of Lucky Buddha for your next party - either way, you'll be happy you did.
The Ginger Shandy
1.5 oz The Kings Ginger
4 oz Lucky Buddha Beer
Fresh lime wedge and candied ginger for garnish.
Build over ice in a highball glass, top with lager. Garnish with a fresh lime wedge and a slice of candied ginger.
Cheers!
