Summer is here, and there’s no better way to enjoy warm days and balmy evenings than with a refreshing drink in hand. The Get It team joined award-winning mixologist Richie Nahkala for a cocktail masterclass at Alchemy to learn what makes the perfect drink…
Richie has been working behind a bar since he was 19 years old. Bartending started as a way to save money and travel, but what he didn’t realise when he first started out was that his work would lead him on adventures around the world. While travelling across
Asia, he bartended as he went, spending time in India, Thailand and Cambodia.
During this experience, he learnt skills that have since allowed him to embark on a career that he loves. Originally from north London, Richie has been in South Africa for almost three years. “I decided to come over here to pursue new opportunities,” he says. “It’s been the greatest move! It’s beautiful here.”
Alchemy has given Richie a platform to really elevate his career, and he says he has learnt a lot from being part of the team and having so much creative freedom. Although he isn’t formally trained in mixology, Richie says he has been able to pursue a passion. “It’s more than just putting things into a shaker,” he laughs. “There’s a technical side to it
too. When it comes to making the ingredients and understanding flavour, there’s a lot of science and chemistry that goes into the process. I really like that aspect. I love engaging both of my passions – mixology and the social aspect of drinking – and this
lets me fuse them together.”
Richie comes up with new and interesting cocktail recipes himself and says he enjoys this creative process. “I can’t draw or write very well, so my creative outlet is making cocktails,” he says. “Often, I’ll just have a zen moment of clarity and see something that inspires
me. Sometimes, I’ll just wake up with an idea and I’ll want to see how it goes. It’s a lot of trial and error.”
To get us ready for our own masterclass, Richie set us up with everything we would need to learn some skills and create some tasty drinks – a shaker, Hawthorne strainer, fine strainer, stirring spoon and jigger. He guided us through the step-by-step process of making three different cocktails – a refreshing grapefruit mocktail, a spiced lychee sour and a spiced cassia daquiri.
your drink must look, smell and taste good
When it comes to whipping up the perfect cocktail, Richie says there are a few things to consider – first, your drink must look, smell and taste good. And, it’s all about balancing sweet, sour and alcohol for a flavour that’s just right. His suggestion for making cocktails at home is to always try and invest in good quality ingredients. “Your cocktail can only be as good as your worst ingredient,” he says. Richie gave us plenty of tips and tricks along the way, but his key message was simple: making your own cocktails should be fun. “Don’t take it too seriously,” he says. “At the end of the day, if you enjoy something, drink it and keep playing. Don’t feel like there are really strict rules that you have to stick to.”
Details: Alchemy, Ballito Lifestyle Centre; www.alchemybar.co.za; 032 648 0032;
richie@ blackstrapcraft.com; IG: @alchemyballito; @mixwithrichie
A VIBEY RIDE
We got to our cocktail masterclass and
back safely by catching a ride with
Vaai Pozi. To book one of their tuktuks, WhatsApp 063 5442581 or look out for theirQR code in most of Ballito’s bars.
Richie’s three recipes we made and thoroughly enjoyed!
NON-ALCOHOLIC GRAPEFRUIT
Ingredients
• 50ml fresh grapefruit juice
• 25ml honey syrup
• 25ml sustainable lemon juice
• Rosemary sprig
Method
1. Place all ingredients into a shaker.
2. Fill shaker with ice.
3. Shake
4. Pour through a strainer into your glass.
5. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary
SPICED LYCHEE SOURS
Ingredients
• 50ml Ginsala Gin
• 25ml lychee syrup
• 25ml lemon juice
• Spoon of lemon zest and rosemary
infused olive brine
• Vegan foam
Method
1. Place all ingredients into a shaker.
2. Fill shaker with ice.
3. Shake
4. Pour through a strainer into your glass.
5. Garnish with a slice of dry lime.
CASSIA SPICED DAIQUIRI
Ingredients
• 50ml Blackstrap Cassia Rum
• 25ml brown sugar syrup
• 25ml sustainable lime juice
Method
1. Place all ingredients into a shaker.
2. Fill shaker with ice.
3. Shake
4. Pour through a strainer into your
glass.
5. Garnish with a slice of dry lime
Text: JENNIFER CAMPBELL
Photographs: KIM STEINBERG
