Bronislav ‘Bronik’ Imrich, Head Bartender at SIX, The Varsity Hotel and Spa, mixes sweet and smoky in an original creation.
The Varsity Hotel and Spa is a luxury, independent hotel embedded in the heart of Cambridge. Here, boutique chic meets classic since launching in 2011, creating the perfect destination for holiday-makers and travellers wanting to experience the city in style.
The riverside location, rooftop terrace, outstanding restaurant, full-service spa and the modern
décor come together to place this hotel amongst the most luxurious and well-appointed in
Cambridge.
The top two floors feature floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing guests to enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding area from the comfort of their room. The most awe-inspiring feature of The Varsity is its spectacular roof terrace, complete with a bar, which looks out over Cambridge and provides unparalleled views of the University’s world-famous architecture.
In the early evening, The Varsity rooftop becomes the most romantic spot in the city, watching the sunset whilst enjoying a champagne cocktail, or a gin and tonic.
This luxurious hotel also offers a beautiful bar and brasserie, SIX, situated – as you could imagine – on the sixth floor. At SIX, guests can enjoy high-quality food and drinks while enjoying the stunning landscape from the alfresco balcony.
It’s here that the magic that brought us this month’s New Creation happens. The Head Bartender, Bronislav ‘Bronik’ Imrich, has come up with a beautifully thought-out cocktail, named ‘Honey & Smoke’, which combines the flavour profile of mezcal with the sweetness of honey.
Bronik is 26 and raised through the ranks at SIX. He started out as a kitchen porter, before moving to front-of-house and becoming a waiter. He started to discover his passion for beverages by experimenting and developing his skills as a barista.
Noticing his flare and attention to detail, he was quickly moved to the bar where he kept nurturing his passion under the previous Head Bartender. Through hard work, dedication and skill, Bronik continued to impress and took the opportunity to step up to his current role, leading the team of skilled bartenders at SIX.
ABOUT THE COCKTAIL
Bronik shares how he came up with the Honey & Smoke cocktail and explains a little bit about the flavour to expect from this original tipple.
He says: “This cocktail was inspired by a blog post from @bygabriella. It features a little play with the smoker and some extra zest. Mezcal is one of my favourite spirits to use in cocktails; although it is less established than tequila, it lends itself nicely to a lot of different mixes. I have seen and tried it in a lot of twists on fruity cocktails and it works really well in a berry mojito, as well as a take on a margarita.
“I have chosen this cocktail as it really doubles down on the smokiness, but the honey and lime add sweetness and brighten up the cocktail. It’s a bit different from the sweet and fruity mezcal cocktails I have seen in the past. The honey, ginger, lime and smoke are refreshing with a warmth on the palate – perfect for a late summer evening.”
We hope your guests will enjoy the Honey & Smoke as much as Bronik’s – give it a try and end your summer on a high note!
Honey & Smoke
Ingredients:
- 50ml mezcal
- 1 lime
- 1 can of ginger beer
- 1 dash honey syrup (1 tbsp raw honey and 50ml of boiling water)
- A pinch of Himalayan pink salt
- Maple wood chips
- Ice
- Optional: a smoker
Method:
- Prepare Glass – ice and rim half of the glass with cut lime and Himalayan pink salt.
- Mix raw honey with boiling water to make the honey syrup.
- Add ice cubes, mezcal, a dash of honey syrup and half a squeezed lime into a cocktail shaker – shake lightly until condensation appears.
- Pour into iced glasses, top with ginger beer, garnish with lime slice and honey line.
- Optional: place into the smoker, with maple wood chips, and smoke lightly for 15 seconds.
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