The much-anticipated holiday season, Kentt Earl Yap – bar executive and expert mixologist – excitedly introduces memorable thirst quenchers.
In time for the Yuletide festivities, Yap concocts Bubbly Grandpa, an original brew specially dedicated to the Santa Claus of our childhood: Our Grandpa.
This invigorating fusion offers a tangy blend of Goji berry tea, lemon juice, and soda water, made extra mouthwatering with frozen strawberries.
The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (SHRIM) professor assures that the mocktail comes with anti-oxidant qualities that benefit the eyes, skin, and the immune system.
“No alcohol for this bubbly,” he notes. “Grandpa needs to stay sober so he can safely come down the chimney.”
For those who wish to make the gatherings extra exhilarating, Yap recommends a delightful marriage of tequila and red wine, which he calls Not Rudolph’s Nose.
This innovative yet mischievous mix, combined with a serving of lemon-lime soda and lemon juice, pokes fun at the famous big red nose of Santa’s much-loved reindeer. For this novel beverage, Yap opts for frozen blueberries to represent the iconic nose.
“This cocktail is ideal to be made into a punch bowl for group serving – because cocktails for Christmas are supposed to be shared,” he adds.
Yap served as the group head bartender at EPH518 Cocktail Bar Singapore and the bar executive and supervisor of Park Hotel Group Grand Park Orchard. He also extended his knowledge and skills at the Marina Bay Sands Singapore, Bazin Bistro & Bar, Mogambo Bars Singapore, as well as TGIFriday’s Heeren & Katong Singapore.
His dedication and expertise has earned him the EXSA Star Awardee title, bestowed by the Singapore Hotel Association and the Diamond Service Ambassador recognition from the Park Hotel Group.
Yap is currently the head of Training and Research and Development at Atmos Coffee Co., which recently opened in Quezon City.
Mocktail: Bubbly Grandpa
Ingredients:
30ml Goji berry tea
3 wedges Lemon juice
2 tbsp White sugar
30gms Frozen strawberries
60ml Soda water
Procedure: Muddle frozen strawberry with white sugar, squeeze three wedges of lemon juice, and add in two parts soda water and one part Goji berry tea. Serve and enjoy!
Cocktail: Not Rudolph’s Nose
Ingredients:
30ml Tequila
15ml Lemon juice
15gm Frozen blueberries
2tbsp Sugar
60ml Lemon-lime soda
30ml Red wine
Procedure: In a shaker, muddle frozen blueberries with sugar, then add in lemon juice, red wine, and tequila. Shake for five seconds. Pour into a wine glass and add ice. Top up with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with blueberries. Serve and enjoy!
