Inspired by Palm Trees

^{Sponsored post in partnership with Sailor Jerry.}

The Nana Colada was inspired by one of the great summer holiday classics - the Pina Colada. It is a world-renowned drink which takes the consumer away to foreign lands with blazing sunshine, white sandy beaches, coconut oil and hula skirts. It is undeniable a drink to pack your troubles away and start dreaming. It was first created in the 50's in San Juan, although the dispute over its first creator has never been resolved. The Pina Colada translates from Spanish as 'washed pineapple' and is a concoction of the tropical flavours found on the island of Puerto Rico.

The Nana Colada came about to me through the same ideology of transporting the consumer to the tropical islands of the Caribbean, which is also where Sailor Jerry rum originated. It is a blend of Caribbean rums and spices inspired by the tattoo art created by Norman Collins whilst he was working in Hawaii. To me, the idea behind my drink and the use of Sailor Jerry was a perfect match.

STIR IT UP was the first major competition that I entered and it was a great place to start! It was a lot of fun from the creation of my drink to winning a place in the London final with Sailor Jerry and taking part alongside bartenders from all over the country. It was a fantastic experience and is one that started off my love for participating in cocktail competitions. Since then, I have entered a few more competitions and won my way to the Shetland Reel gin final in London in June, as well as a couple of other smaller wins.

I really enjoy the initial research part of competitions as every brand and brief is different so it is a great way to learn about the product you are using, ultimately improving your brand knowledge as a bartender, which you can then on to consumers and colleagues. To me, the story behind the drink is as important as its taste and presentation and I love being able to tell the folklore or pieces of family history that have been passed down through the years and are now tied with certain brands. The brand behind Sailor Jerry, for example, is heavily tied to tattoo art, pin-ups, fun tiki drinks and the laid-back lifestyle of the Caribbean.

The building where I work at The Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh dates back to the late 1800's and has been a variety of hospitality venues throughout the years. It became The Voodoo Room as an independent venue in 2006 when all the original décor was restored, adding the Voodoo Rooms signature golden touch and an underlying fun tiki theme to leave layers of history and many stories - if the walls could talk! It is a great place to work alongside some very talented people and, of course, serve lots of Sailor Jerry - we are a rum bar after all!

You can find more information about Sailor Jerry here. Click here to place an order online now, or here to request an account with us; and don’t forget we’re here to support you with everything you need to ensure that your cocktail range is a success.