Christmas is just around the corner so we caught up with our Head of Wholesale, and recently crowned UK Coffee in Good Spirits Champion 2018 (CIGS), Dan Fellows. We spoke about the two coffee inspired drinks that secured his victory at the CIGS championship, hosted by La Marzocco in Leeds earlier this month. His " A Message from El Salvador" drink is particularly festive, with it's notes of Christmas pudding and brandy butter.
Dan Fellows, Coffee in Good Spirits Champion 2018
A Message From El Salvador
"This drink took inspiration from two amazing producers in El Salvador – the Pola family and the Pacas family. Carlos Pola is a long-term partner whose coffee we have enjoyed year on year at Origin, and I selected the semi-washed process Red Pacamara for this drink. This coffee paired perfectly with the El Salvadorian rum, Ron Cihuatán, which is produced using sugarcane grown by Juan Alfredo Pacas and his family, who also produce amazing coffee in the area. These ingredients were paired with molasses syrup, orange-infused Grey Goose vodka, Pedro Ximenez and a spiced butter mix, served at precisely 60˚c using a sous vide circulator. This combination created a seasonal flavour profile of Christmas pudding, brandy butter and chocolate orange with a silky, buttery texture."
A selection of the alcoholic ingredients used
Caribbean Irish Coffee
"For my Irish Coffee, I took inspiration from the tropical flavours and ingredients of the Caribbean, building a drink with unique flavour notes of caramelised mango, vanilla spiced rum and butterscotch. This was achieved by combining the naturally processed Yellow Pacamara from the Mierisch family in Nicaragua with The Balvenie 14 year old Caribbean Cask whisky, which is finished in Caribbean rum casks. For sweetness, the drink featured a combination of coconut sugar to reinforce the tropical characteristics and light muscovado sugar for depth and body."
Adding the final touch
Dan will be representing the UK at the World Championships in Brazil in November 2018. To keep an eye on his pre-event preparation, follow @danfellows1 and @origincoffeeroasters on Instagram.