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Cocktail: Spring Smash | Bartender: Violette Alaouze

I’ve been dreaming up this drink for a while…I had to wait for the most perfect deep red rhubarb of the season and the pineapple sage in my garden had to grow. I made the rhubarb sage simple syrup yesterday and let it steep for 24hrs. I love all the steps it takes to create a delicious cocktail before the actual construction of the drink itself. The initial inspiration, vision & excitement, planning & prepping, collecting the ingredients & tools and then finally the execution. You never know if it will turn out as good as you had hoped or if it will turn out even better (or worse). I have to say, for me, the satisfaction of realizing and carrying out a vision from start to finish and having it turn out better than you expected is one of my favourite aspects of mixology.

Cocktail: Spring Smash | Bartender Atlas

1.5 oz vodka
Cucumber
Pineapple sage
3/4 oz Lemon juice
1 oz Rhubarb pineapple sage syrup
A few dashes of Bittered Sling Lem-Marrakech bitters
Soda

Muddle cucumber and sage with lemon juice in the shaker glass. Slap the sage a couple of times before muddling to release it’s aroma. Add vodka, syrup and bitters. Shake what your mama gave you! Pour over ice and top with soda. Give it a stir. Garnish with long rhubarb & cucumber slices, and a sprig of sage. Cheers!!


Violette Alaouze
Born and raised by parents in the industry, Violette was made for this. “I was raised on Caesars.” As a child, after-school care would consist of doing her homework at the bar of the restaurant where her mom worked while sipping a virgin caesar, or in the office of the pub her dad managed. When she was old enough, she dove right into the service industry and hasn’t looked back since. With over 15 years of restaurant experience including 3 years of management experience and 7 years bartending, she has now launched her own consulting and special events bartending company, Wild Spirits Bartending, on the Sunshine Coast. You may have seen her rocking the tequila fountain at Science of Cocktails in Vancouver. Yeah. Tequila fountain. Did we mention her favourite cocktail is a margarita and she has spent several years living in Mexico? This girl has stories. If you ever get a chance to visit the Sunshine Coast, seek her out. Sit at whatever bar she is tending. Ask her to make you something special and to tell you a story. Tell her Bartender Atlas sent you!
Violette Alaouze on Instagram