Fans of the cocktail might be aware of the Bacardi Legacy Competition, a hunt for uncomplicated, uncontrived cocktails that can stand the test of time.
All cocktail entries to the competition are original creations, and while I’ll leave the scoring details to the judges, these new cocktails must be simple and easily replicable in any bar, and therefore able to take on the mantle of a modern classic. Of course, being a Bacardi event, all the cocktails must have rum as its base spirit. Bacardi Carta Blanca or Carta Oro are recommended- white or gold rum.
The finals of the 2016 edition was held in San Francisco in April, and we’ll are very glad that Singapore had a representative: Bannie Kang of Anti:Dote. Bannie earned her slot by beating all the other contenders in Singapore with her creation, Hwachae. The accolades are well deserved; I’ve had the cocktail a couple of times myself, both at Anti:Dote and at Sugarhall, and I never hesitate to recommend it to friends every single time. Yes, it is that tasty.
Kang is of Korean descent, and her cocktail, Hwachae, shares the name of a Korean-style punch made with fresh fruit, herbs or flowers. The drink itself is indeed heavily fruit influenced, and befitting a rum cocktail, is a huge dollop of fun. The unusual ingredient list might be hard to believe at first, but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts in this case.
Fruit? Alcohol? Curious mix of ingredients? Of course, I had to give it a go myself.
- 2oz Bacardi Carta Blanca
- 40g Watermelon
- 30g Pineapple
- 1/2 oz Maple Syrup
- 1/8 oz Lemon Juice
- 1 1/2 oz Beer
- Blend the first 3 ingredients in a mixing glass
- Add the maple syrup and lemon juice to the blended mixture
- Add ice and shake vigorously for 10-20 seconds
- Add beer into a coupe glass
- Double strain the mixture into the coupe glass
- Garnish with a slice of dehydrated pineapple or a lemon twist
Use a hand blender if you can, it makes things easier- though a regular blender will do. The finer the blending, the better the texture and smoother the drink.
Lastly- which beer to use? The general consensus is some sort of bitter, hoppy IPA beer to balance out the sweetness of the fruit and add depth. Having experimented with quite a few different styles (lager, IPA, pilsner) , I found the best match for my taste to be a Hoegaarden White Beer. The Belgian style witbier’s citrus and wheat flavours complement the fruit and maple syrup in the cocktail beautifully- a double dovetail is the holy grail for me. The bitterness is somewhat subdued compared to a good IPA, so the drink overall will be a mite sweeter. You can, of course. use whichever beer you prefer.
I find Hwachae to be delightfully refreshing. The watermelon and pineapple bring out a tropical freshness, which combined with the light sweetness from the maple syrup, provide a welcome respite from the scorching heat. The best part is that all the ingredients are so cheap and readily available in Singapore, making it easy to shake up at home.
All the true hallmarks of a true modern classic. I’ll be making this for many long hot afternoons to come.
