Cocktail: Firm Handshake | Bartender: Josh Lindley

I have been fortunate to be invited by Sprits of Italy to visit a bunch of Italian Distilleries in the last year. The most recent trip had me making a cocktail (which happily ended up being more like 50 cocktails) at Beer and Food Attraction.

The parameters of what I had to do with the drink were simple enough; make a cocktail using ingredients made by the sponsors of this (awesome) trade show.

We were in southern Mexico at the time and so didn’t really have access to a lot of the sponsor products. However there was lots of fresh fruit and a well stocked liquor section in the local grocery store.

I love tropical drinks. Creating a balance between sweet and tangy fruit and bitter, spicy liqueurs is what I find most interesting about them. After looking through the (awesome) list of products that I would have access to at the show, A Firm Handshake is what i came up with.

For those unfamiliar, a Toronto Cocktail is like a Manhattan with Fernet in place of vermouth and that’s where I started here, to represent my hometown while overseas. But as mentioned, I wanted something juicy and tangy to really showcase some of the things on offer at the trade show.

30ml Rye Whisk(e)y
25ml Fernet Branca
30ml Passionfruit Pulp
25ml Grapefruit Juice
10ml Simple Syrup

Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin. Add ice and shake hard for 10-12 seconds. Strain into a collins glass. Top with soda OR if you have access to a really bright, citrusy wheat beer, try that out too.

Josh Lindley

Co-Creator at Bartender Atlas

Josh Lindley began his spirits quest in 2006 after short stints in the broadcasting and music industries. He has worked behind bars at notable Toronto establishments like Bar Isabel, Chantecler and Civil Liberties. He also worked as brand ambassador for an unusual gin. In 2016 he and life partner, Jessica Blaine Smith, created Bartender Atlas, a worldwide online directory of bartenders. Together they travel the globe tasting exciting cocktails made by the most passionate bartenders. They are also co-creators of Toronto Cocktail Conference and execute events for bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts all over the world. Josh currently hosts the Branching Out Podcast. In 2023 he made a Spirited Awards Top Ten Nominated Podcast called The Blackbird and in 2024 he made a sequel called The Shaft which was a top 4 finalist for The Spirited Awards. His preferred style of drink is “bitter and stirred” and his preferred style of music is “desperate”.

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