Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Spotty showersChristmas cocktails
Christmas cocktails
BY ANGELA KELLY22/12/2006
WHEN it comes to cocktails, Manchester is playing cosmopolitan
"catch-up" on cities like Sydney, according to Nathan
Williams.
Nathan, a 30 year-old from Auckland, New Zealand, is head bartender
in Harvey Nichols' Manchester store and his bar experience spans
the globe.
"Manchester is still catching up, really," he says.
"London, of course, has the gg edge but other countries have mixed
cocktails far longer."
From the customer's perspective, the secret behind becoming a fan
of cocktails is a willingness to "experiment with tastes", he
believes.
And when it comes to making them, as Nathan explains: "It's a
matter of using different flavours. You probably have 10 basic
cocktails and then you build on those with various
ingredients.
"People often say, `Well, I don't like whisky because I had a bad
experience with it when I was younger'," adds Nathan.
" But I usually offer them the chance to have it with, say,
raspberries and limes. I tell them if they don't like it, I'll
drink it! It's a good line, and they usually like the drink
anyway."
One of his favourites is raspberry honeycomb, macademia nuts and
Caprioska (vodka).
Mixing skills are important, he states, but coming up with new
ideas and flavours to mix is the way forward.
"We have about 30 different cocktails at Harvey Nicholls at
present," he explains.
Typical cocktail fans currently are professional types, aged 25-40.
"But," Nathan insists, "cocktails can appeal to all ages."
Got an opinion you want to share?| Card | BT Fee |
| Virgin Credit Card | 2.98% |
| Capital One Low Rate Balance Transfer | 1.7% |
| Capital One Low Rate Platinum | HASH(0x2b5ffea02690) |
| Capital One Fixed Rate Card | 0.0% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Lloyds TSB | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
5.50% |
|
PRINCIPALITY BS e-SAVER |
5.35% |
|
ANGLO IRISH BANK Easy Access Account Issue 2 |
5.25% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
2.75% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER Online Tracker |
4.75% |
|
BRADFORD & BINGLEY eSavings 6 |
4.60% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
3.50% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER eSaver - Issue 2 |
5.00% |
|
POST OFFICE Instant Saver |
3.75% |