I’m excited to share with you one of my signature drinks: the Tamarind Twist Cocktail. It’s a modern reinterpretation of the classic old-fashioned Chapman with a refreshing and crisp combination of tangy, sour, and sweet flavours. The tamarind is the star here, a sophisticated-tasting and exotic-flavored fruit. I love the way its tanginess balances the sweetness of the other ingredients. I first experimented with tamarind in my kitchen while developing recipes for my event series, “The Grand Afro Brunch.” The results were incredible.

The Tamarind Twist Cocktail was a reaction to a need to craft a sophisticated and refreshing drink. I was trying to highlight tamarind and yet still offer a timeless cocktail. The tamarind was originally in Africa but is today a food and drink staple around the world with tamarind pulp incorporated in a wide array of foods and beverages. The tamarind pulp, lime, sugar syrup, tamarind bitters, dry gin, and soda water combination is a refreshing and balanced drink.

For Shaking the Cocktail:

Cocktail shaker
Cocktail muddler
Bar spoon
Measuring jigger

For Serving the Cocktail:

Highball glass
Cocktail strainer
Dried lime slices
Ice cubes

Making the Tamarind Twist Cocktail:

Muddle the Lime and the Tamarind: Put quarter parts tamarind pulp and lime in a shaker and muddle them together in such a way a fine paste is produced.
Combine Ingredients: Place tamarind bitters, sugar syrup, ice, and dry gin in the shaker.
Shake Vigorously: Close and vigorously shake for 15 seconds to balance flavours and chill ingredients.
Strain and Serve: Pour the cocktail over ice in a highball glass.
Top with soda water: Top with soda water.
Garnish and Enjoy: Stir gently with a bar spoon and garnish with a lime slice.

The inspiration for my Tamarind Twist cocktail came from nostalgic memories of my childhood in Nigeria. I remember with such clarity the tang and the sweetness of velvet tamarind. It blooms in the warmth of Africa and is today a global ingredient, but in my life, it is inextricably tied in with where I was brought up.

I wanted to capture the essence of such a beloved fruit in a refreshing and classy drink. The Tamarind Twist is a reflection of such an endeavour. It is a combination of tangy, sweet and a sprinkle of sour flavours, reminiscing about velvet tamarind pods I would taste in my childhood.

Whether you’re having a relaxing evening at home, a dinner party, or a brunch party, the Tamarind Twist is what you need for extra added delight. The drink is a winner with its distinct flavour profile and refreshing quality.

So, why not try it out? I’m sure you’ll enjoy it even more than I do.