Friday 21 March 2014

Cocktail Kit

Of course, I should have known better than to try and show off to a friend with a bit of "reverse encapsulation" having only done it once before myself. It did not go well. It was an extremely embarrassing failure but it did leave me determined to conquer the technique. What's the use in these chemistry qualifications if I can't get to grips with a bit of "Molecular Mixology"? 

"Molecular Mixology" kit - cosmopolitan themed
Not withstanding the mixology label (a word I loathe), and of course the potential for mortification, these kits are great fun. I had much more success with making a foam to top my cocktail and I can see myself using this technique in many creations, from cocktails to deserts. The solution from which you make the foam does need to be strongly flavoured though otherwise the unpleasant taste of the soy lecithin comes through and that does not add anything fun to to the cocktail experience.
 
Cosmopolitan with a grapefruit foam
I did also manage to make some cosmopolitan "caviar" which The Husband devoured. I need to tweak it a little bit to ensure they pop in the mouth to a greater extent but these could actually be great to start a party with, as either a cocktail or as part of a starter (though realistically I'd probably only do this if I was 10-15 years younger).

Cosmo caviar
I liked this kit immensely and I think it would make a great present for anyone interested in cocktail making. I do have some little quibbles. I would like to rewrite the instruction manual to make it clearer and better convey the underlying principles rather than just how they apply to a cosmopolitan. I also think there could be more of the key ingredients (soy lecithin, sodium alginate and calcium lactate) included in the kit. There is only enough for couple of goes and by the time you feck it up a few times you have run out. 

I don't think I would use the kit every time I want a cocktail. I tend to have pretty pressing alcohol needs and the prep time required here would be too much for me to bear in such a situation. I'd happily get use it to play with when I had friends over; as long as I got to have a simple cocktail first. Although alcohol is unlikely to improve my reverse encapsulation skill level.

Disclosure: I was provided with a molecular mixology kit by http://www.creamchargers.org.uk/ for review purposes. My opinions are my own and I have not been paid to give them.