Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan has partnered with winners of the world’s best Irish single malt 2022, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., to create new cocktail marking International Women’s Day.
The Golden Nectar cocktail uses The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s upcoming Irish single malt release, The Donn as a base and is available throughout March.
The tipple has been created by the head of bar at Tao Group Hospitality UK, Wendy Hopkins, in collaboration with Gessica Orofino, bartender; Alessia Mandolini, head sommelier; pastry chef, Christina De Leo; and general manager, Pauline Dubord.
Hopkins selected The Donn, single malt Irish whiskey, as the base of the cocktail, whilst Orofino created a bespoke cordial inspired by fond memories of her summers in Italy, which features flavours synonymous with mimosa cake, a flower symbolic of International Women’s Day, representing beauty, strength, and resilience.
Mandolini paired Hundred Hills Blanc de Blancs 2018 to balance sweet, caramelised notes, and De Leo finished the cocktail with an expression of Hakkasan’s spiky lemon dessert with a meringue garnish.
Hopkins, said: ‘The idea for this cocktail was to create something that allowed for collaboration and showcases individual skill sets and expertise. I was inspired by my favourite cocktail concepts, the old classic cocktails, where craft and individual ingredients are big players, with elevated distinctive flavours and complexity, yet not over complicated, so even if you are at home, you can easily remake it, even if you are not a bartender.
For this cocktail we have chosen the perfect base, The Donn, Single Malt Irish Whiskey, and crafted the experience together with four women at the forefront of our bar, wine and pastry teams to Celebrate International Women’s Day and Whiskey.’
The Donn will be The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s fourth release, and its most accessible whiskey to date.
Honouring the tradition and mythology that inspired The Donn, the bottle shape is influenced by the shaping of Bull Rock Island (Tech Duinn), the mythical house of the Irish god, Donn.
Both the Golden Nectar cocktail, and a glass of The Donn, accompany signature dishes on Hakkasan’s Michelin-Starred menu, including Peking duck with Heritage caviar and charcoal grilled Japanese Wagyu beef fillet.
The Golden Nectar cocktail is priced at £24, a 50ml glass of The Donn will be available for £40 and the bottle for £550.