Just a short post about the up coming Finlandia challenge. Before my emergency leave, I told the folks of our supplier MMi to participate, today the ladies of Finlandia (the brand manager and two other ladies...) where here.

As they came quite early, I have to admit, that I wasn’t really good prepared to mix. The information before was, that they just wanted to pass by to get to know me...

However everything went well. The objective was to prepare one long drink with Finlandia vodka and one quick mix. So I made one Tangerine Dream, a quite sweet long drink with chili as long drink.

The quick mix was a for me new idea. They gave me some covered cards to choose - first of all I had to choose one card for the vodka (so the options were Finlandia clear, Finlandia Mango, Finlandia Cranberry and Finlandia Lime Fusion).

I took the card for Finlandia Mango.

Then I had to draw 3 card for juices/mixers. I’ve drawn grapefruit juice, cranberry juice and half and half.
Next were “spices”, which discovered as rosemary, fruit preserve and something I already forgot (sorry). Third were three cards with condiments with included lemon juice...

The objective was to use the drawn vodka and use from all ingredient categories one.

I came up with a Midnight Fusion (sorry for the name, but for that, I am not really creative).

MIDNIGHT FUSION

4 cl Finlandia Mango Fusion
1,5 cl Lemon Juice
1.5 cl Cranberry Juice
20 g Black-currant Preserve

Toss the black currant preserve into a pre-chilled Boston glass. Add other ingredients and dissolve the preserve in it. Fill the Boston glass with ice cubes and shake virtuously. Double strain into a cocktail saucer and garnish with a flamed lemon twist.

I tried a bit, and I have to say, that it was not bad at all. However I would prefer gin. Despite the fact that it was surprisingly balanced, there were also for me too many distracting flavors for my taste - but what do I know...?

For your reference also the recipe of the Tangerine Dream:

TANGERINE DREAM

4 cl Finlandia Mango Fusion
1.5 cl Honey
1.5 cl Rose Syrup (Monin)
1 medium Red Chili
8 cl Fresh Mandarin Juice

Half the chili and discard all seeds. Roughly chop the lower half and put it into the glass. Add honey and muddle carefully. Add all other ingredients except of mandarin juice and dissolve honey. Fill with crushed ice and add the juice. Stir!
Add more crushed ice and garnish with the rest of the half chili, a mint sprig and a wedge of a mango.

This is a really sweet cocktail - however the fruitiness of the mandarin juice and the spiciness of the chili put it into great balance.

It is a new taste experience - try and tell me your thoughts...