It’s all well and good avoiding alcohol during Dry January, but finding interesting and creative alternatives can be something of a challenge.
Well, at least until now that is… From his base in a quiet corner of the Surrey Hills, in the leafy village of Gomshall, drinks dynamo Dean Hart has spent the past couple of years concocting some of the most unusual cordials around.
An exciting step up from your average elderflower, his marvellous mixes include everything from Raspberry & Basil, Pineapple & Peppercorn and Cardamom & Vanilla through to Pea & Mint, Carrot & Coriander and even Mushroom & Thyme.
“It all started when my wife, Kate, and I were putting on a drinks party for her catering company, Hilly’s,” says Dean, who has himself worked in hospitality for the past 20 years.
“We wanted to offer something a little bit different, but found that there was very little available in terms of inspiring soft drinks.
“So, I locked myself away in the kitchen, and a few weeks of trials, tribulations and a lot of mess later, we had created our very first cordials.
This soon expanded into our savoury mixes, too, which have proved very popular as well, and the rest as they say is history.”
Today, their artisan drinks company, Bubble & Twist Alchemy Services, produces up to 20 different syrups in a mouth-watering range of flavours, depending on what’s in season at any given time.
All fully vegan, the ingredients are also sourced locally whenever possible.
What’s more, while the cordials mix perfectly with spirits and make great additions to cocktails, being non-alcoholic they are also ideal for this time of year.
Simply serve over ice with a splash of sparkling water and finish with a fruit garnish.
“With more and more people doing Dry January, this has now expanded into people wanting to continue for the whole year,” says Dean.
“However, until recently, there has been very little to excite people in the way of soft drinks. We hope to help change that.”
Currently sold mainly through local farmers’ markets and food festivals, these artisan beverages are also available online (bubblentwist.com).
In addition, Dean and Kate often attend local events with their trademark cocktail bar, handmade from reclaimed scaffold boards, and all their drinks served from compostable ‘plastic’ cups with paper straws.
They have also collaborated with a number of local businesses, including Albury Vineyard, Distillers of Surrey and The Salt Box, and recently did a residency at the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden near Dorking.
Now, on top of all that, the couple are just in the process of opening their own tearoom in the historic village of Shere. Located in the old greengrocer’s, Hilly’s Tea Shop will offer a traditional range of coffee, teas and cakes – not to mention, of course, an alluring array of Bubble & Twist’s thirst-quenching tipples.
“We’re really excited about our new café, which will have a vintage sort of a vibe, and we’ve already had a very warm welcome from the people of Shere,” adds Dean.
“This will also be a perfect opportunity to come and sample some of our unusual cordials for yourself.” Suddenly, Dry January isn’t looking quite so bad after all…
- This article originally appeared in Local Food Britain's monthly Meet the Producer food and drink column in Surrey Life magazine.
Tags: drinks
