#BrumHour was invited to All Bar One with Ikoyi Chapmans.

By Dave Massey twitter.com/BrumHour

A cocktail masterclass with
Ikoyi Chapmans

Warwickshire based Ikoyi Chapmans has launched a ready to drink bottle in the UK, and this a Nigerian inspired drink from the childhood of Mike and Garry Robinson has been available for about a year.

For #BrumHour’s website I was invited to join a masterclass to taste this lovely drink and to see what it mixes with. Now in general cocktail masterclasses are not really my thing, as I prefer a skilled bartender or mixologist to demonstrate their skills whilst I sit and watch. But I’m happy, from time to time, to check out new drinks especially if they are new to the UK market.

We arrive at All Bar One in Birmingham Brindleyplace and our bartender offers an arrival prosecco mixed with Ikoyi Chapmans. It’s refreshing and reminds me of summer afternoons!

Aperol Spritz – Aperol – Prosecco – Ikoyi Chapmans and and orange wedge

The summer drink of 2018 is given a 2019 twist with Ikoyi Chapmans, I enjoyed mixing and this drink, attempting my shaking skills and then obviously the most important part was tasting. I’m about halfway through when we are invited to create our second cocktail (Third drink). Bring it on!

Smokey – Single Malt Whisky – Lime Cordial – Ginger Cordial – Ikoyi Chapmans and ice

I’m not “really” a whisky drinker, as someone who has been drinking since the 90s I’m more of a Rum or Vodka person, BUT this was unexpectedly delicious! As I’m repeatedly told by Amy Seaton from Birmingham Whisky Club, there’s a whisky for everyone. I’m starting to believe this using the tried and tested format. For this drink we use a Talisker.

I’ve now drunk half my Smokey and nearly all of my Aperol Spritz! It’s 7pm on a Thursday, Welcome to Birmingham! But I did finish my welcome drink so I feel proud.

The Guy of Warwick – Rum – Lemon – Ikoyi Chapmans and Ice

Rum! I’m feeling pretty happy! And worrying that my photos are becoming blurry. I often think of adding fruit to drinks as needless garnish so its useful to see the difference adding a quarter of a squeezed lemon to the Rum and Ikoyi Chapmans added to the taste rather disrupting it.

Ikoyi Chapmans

Sensibly our lovely PR offers me a bottle of Ikoyi Chapmans to drink there and then. I’ve had three cocktails and a prosecco. I needed it, orange and fruity the taste makes me want more! I was given two bottled of Ikoyi Chapmans to take home. One is in the fridge for another day!

Find out more about Ikoyi Chapmans here: ikoyichapmans.co.uk

This isn’t a sponsored post.