DJ and radio presenter @MarvinHumes and @SmirnoffGB_IRE team up for #YOURSFORTHEMAKING

Marvin Humes has teamed up with Smirnoff to turn his hand from mixing records to mixing drinks. The DJ and radio presenter has created a selection of bespoke Smirnoff cocktails, as part of the ‘Yours for the Making’ campaign.

Marvin is encouraging the people of Northern Ireland to get creative and experiment with cocktail making – using everyday objects and experiences as inspiration. Drawing on his interests, passions and memorable moments such as holidaying in the Caribbean and his love of hot chocolate, Marvin mixed together flavours and ingredients to create a range of creative cocktails, and is calling on NI cocktail lovers to do the same.

Marvin Humes says, “I’ve enjoyed many visits to Northern Ireland and had a cosmopolitan or two in Café Vaudeville, Belfast – the Northern Irish love their cocktails.

“Taking inspiration from everyday life means you can create drinks that you may not otherwise have thought of. It has been fun going down memory lane and thinking about the most important things in my life to spark creativity, and the result has been some fantastic drinks! My favourite creation has to be my ‘Rochelle Sundae’, which is inspired by my love for Rochelle and reminds me of when we first met. I’ve found my creative flare working with Smirnoff and realised that all it takes is a little inspiration. I want to encourage everyone in NI to have a go and see just how easy it can be to create delicious tasting cocktails.”

Marvin’s top tips for successful cocktail making:
1. Be more experimental – never would I have thought to put jam in a cocktail before yet it tastes so good!

2. Think outside the glass – cocktails don’t have to be served out of traditional glasses. When you’re finished with your jam jars, keep them for parties! Not only are they perfect for shaking cocktails in, but they add a twist to the ordinary.

3. Get inventive with ice – jazz up your cocktail with shaped ice cubes, crushed ice and even molded ice that can be used to decorate your drink. Check out my Inventive Smirnoff cocktails including my ‘Rochelle Sundae’ at http://uk.thebar.com/OutsideTheGlass for some inspiration….

As a flawlessly pure vodka, triple distilled to ensure it is of the highest grade, Smirnoff is the perfect blank canvas. The latest serves from Smirnoff, Apple Bite and Apple Bite Gold, take their inspiration from the humble apple – combining fresh apple juice, lemonade and Smirnoff No21/Smirnoff Gold.*

Emma Sherwood-Smith, Smirnoff Marketing Manager Western Europe says; “We’re thrilled to be working with Marvin on this campaign and seeing these cocktails come to life from just a spark of inspiration. Everyday items such as jam jars and teapots are currently on trend and, as we’ve seen, have already started to be used in bars across the country. We’re encouraging the UK to get creative – all you need is a little bit of inspiration and drinks can be easy to make yourself!”

Genius man. Genius drink. Read more of the Moscow Mule's history in today's Shortlist, & here: http://t.co/OKuyyHibWz pic.twitter.com/vT59QjHYFO

— Smirnoff (@SmirnoffGB_IRE) November 21, 2013

From the copper mug that inspired the Moscow Mule to the coffee cup, Smirnoff has always thought ‘outside the glass’ – visit http://uk.thebar.com/OutsideTheGlass for fun Smirnoff recipes and ideas.

Action shot! With @SmirnoffGB_IRE and @MarvinHumes #YoursForTheMaking pic.twitter.com/eeYSRKZfjw

— GolinHarris UK (@GolinHarrisUK) November 6, 2013

Great drinks are #YOURSFORTHEMAKING.

Marvin Humes Inventive Cocktails

Lychee Lovin’

Ingredients:

Smirnoff No21 – 35ml

Lychee Juice  – 50ml

Elderflower Cordial – 10ml

Ginger Ale – splash of

Slice of orange – for garnish

Add the Smirnoff, Lychee juice and Elderflower Cordial to a shaker (or Jam Jar if you don’t have a shaker) and shake up with some ice, then strain the liquid through a sieve into a Martini Glass and top with a splash of Ginger Ale.

Inspiration:

Marvin first discovered the Lychee Martini at Shoreditch House and this is now one of his favourite cocktails as it’s sophisticated and perfect for any occasion. This particular drink is inspired by his love of sweeter cocktails – in particular the Lychee Martini – and his new found love for table tennis. The Lychee garnish bears a close resemblance to a ping pong ball, reminding him of nights out playing table tennis at Bounce and Shoreditch House.

Wi Jammin’

Ingredients:

Smirnoff No21 – 35ml

Blackberry Jam – Tea-Spoonful

Pineapple juice – 100ml

Bitter Lemon – topped with

Pineapple slice – to garnish

Add the Smirnoff, Blackberry Jam, Pineapple juice into a Jam Jar, stick the lid on and shake with some ice inside. Remove the lid (watch the pineapple juice doesn’t explode out) top up with some extra cubed ice and top to the top with bitter lemon. Garnish with a pineapple slice, sit back and enjoy.

Inspiration:

Marvin’s holiday in the Caribbean where he had a ‘jammin’ session on the beach while watching the sunset and the surf froth up. He had been listening to Bob Marley at the time and feel this cocktail represents that, it also incorporates his love of jam, making it a perfect summer sizzler.

Pop Choc

Ingredients:

Smirnoff No21 – 35ml

Chocolate milk – 100ml

Chocolate popping candy – Teaspoonful

Build this cocktail over cubed ice in a good coffee mug pouring the Smirnoff in and mixing with the chocolate milk. Top off with some chocolate popping candy (which you can pick up in most large supermarkets)

Inspiration:

Marvin’s love of hot chocolate – the only hot drink he enjoys. Whilst he loves the smell of coffee he doesn’t like the taste of it and found this was the perfect alternative to a hot chocolate in the evening (whether it’s hot or cold outside)

Old Fashioned Christmas

Ingredients:

Smirnoff No21 – 35ml

Apple juice -15ml

Cranberry Sauce – Teaspoonful

Cinnamon powder – Pinch

Orange zest or peel – to garnish

Star Anais – x1 to garnish

Stir the Smirnoff, Apple juice and spoonful of cranberry sauce along with some orange zest or peel, with some ice in a small rock/whisky glass . Add a pinch of cinnamon and a star Anais on top for that added spice

Inspiration:

Christmas, snow and festivities. The Old Fashioned Christmas combines Marvin’s love of sweet and spicy flavours along with his thoughts of Christmas at home.

Rochelle’s Sundae

Ingredients:

Smirnoff No21 – 35ml

Cherry juice – 100ml (can get this in any large supermarket)

Elderflower cordial – 10ml

Fresh strawberries – x 2 – 3 Fresh Strawbs (or a squeeze of Strawberry Puree instead)

Lime

Pour the Smirnoff, Cherry Juice, Elderflower cordial and the fresh strawberries into a cocktail shaker (or Jam Jar if you don’t have a shaker) and lightly shake up and pour over cubed ice into  a tall sundae glass. Finish by squeezing a splash of fresh lime on top and a slice of strawberry for garnish.

Inspiration:

Rochelle! The cocktail combines all ingredients that Rochelle loves and is inspired by Marvin’s love for her. The sundae glass reminds Marvin of when they first met and enjoyed a drink together – the Rochelle Sundae cocktail would be perfect for sharing….

His and Her Cocktails

Palm Bay

Ingredients:

Smirnoff Gold – 35ml

Palm Sugar x2 teaspoons

Lime Wedges – x4 Limes (muddled)

Garnish with crushed ice and edible gold flakes

Muddle 3-4 fresh limes into the bottom of a rock glass along with some Palm Sugar (you can pick this up from any large supermarket). Add some crushed ice (you can crush your own ice using a rolling pin to smash cubed ice inside a tea towel if you don’t have an ice crusher) then pour over the ice your Smirnoff Gold, stir lightly then garnish with some edible Gold Leaf for some added ‘bling’.

Palm Beach

Ingredients:

Smirnoff Green Apple – 35ml

Palm Sugar – x2 teaspoons

Lime wedges – x4 limes (Muddled)

Apple Wedge/Slice – to garnish

Muddle 3-4 fresh limes into the bottom of a rock glass along with some Palm Sugar (you can pick this up from any large supermarket). Add some crushed ice (you can crush your own ice using a rolling pin to smash cubed ice inside a tea towel if you don’t have an ice crusher) then pour over the ice your Smirnoff Green Apple, stir lightly then garnish with a slice or wedge of apple.

Inspiration:

Marvin’s visit to Florida and his love of sweet cocktails. Palm Bay with its gold flakes draws on his memories of the sunrise over the crystal water. Palm Beach is inspired by all the fresh fruit he had, whilst soaking up the rays next to that clear sea.

Great night with @SmirnoffGB_IRE thinking outside the glass & creating some pretty cool drinks #YOURSFORTHEMAKING #sp

— Marvin Humes (@MarvinHumes) November 6, 2013