I thought I would share a journey we have been on developing a new product called "Pointy Horse"...firstly this is our first foray into pre mixed cocktails, so the learning curve was considerable... when we set out the aim was to develop a new mixer for Rum, what emerged after a year was a fully formed cocktail with a totally new taste, and by all accounts many think it delicious.
As it stands the cocktail is comprised of ginger, galangal, turmeric, lemon, cranberry, Rum, Triple Sec,stevia and e.c.zero water carbonated. The greatest challenge beyond coming up with the flavour, has been to stabilise and clarify the product without and additions ( such as sodium benzoate)..we have a policy of not using preservatives, so the acidity of the final product is important to maintain shelf life. After months of trials we found that simple gravity settlement and racking was the most cost effective way to clarify.
Making cocktails is a good way to learn about spirits, what spirits work together and those that don't. Many of our products have grown from our Sunday evening cocktail sessions. For us it has become a ritual, and one I look forward to all week.
I urge you Rum distillers out there to experiment with ginger, it makes a great addition to rum cocktails and is better for you that coke.
Cheers
Doc