Beer and cocktail are two words that you don’t often see together, and soon, at least on St. Maarten, that could all change. There is now a refreshing Heineken cocktail that blends the tasting notes of Heineken with fruity compliments that make a truly refreshing and easy to drink cocktail. The Heineken team at DIVICO Distributors thought, “How can we make Heineken more appealing to people that are usually not beer drinkers, or persons who have an affinity with the brand, or perhaps people that just want to be a part of the beer social circle?”
This is when the team engaged St. Maarten’s very best mixologist Paul Peterson with the challenge. “Beer and cocktail?” Paul questioned. “I’m up for it!” The key to a successful beer cocktail is to identify the main flavours of your brew, and then complement them, to create an ultra-thirst-quenching drink. A Lager beer is a sure bet, because it’s a stable starting point and it has a sprightly body that gives your beer cocktail the boost it needs. (Yep, Heineken is a Pilsner style beer, which is a type of Lager, which is a type of Beer.)
The team briefed Paul, “Think Caribbean inspired, light flavours, insanely refreshing, bright in colour, and really something that will embody our island.” Heineken has a long history in the Caribbean and on St. Maarten and locals truly associate the brand with the feeling of being at home here on St. Maarten. The team really wanted to amplify that aspect, and continue to show gratitude of how Heineken continues to remain an island favourite.
During the final tasting of the beer cocktail, the team was very impressed with the balance of flavours. The fact that the added ingredients didn’t hide Heineken’s rich flavour and the aroma of Heineken’s signature “A-yeast” was a win-win situation. Now the cocktail just needed a name. If you look closely at a Heineken label, you’ll see the words “Brewed with Passion”. (Thanks, John Leone!) Coincidence? The cocktail’s main ingredient is passion fruit.
The cocktail made its first debut at the Heineken Regatta Sponsor party, and persons will again have the opportunity to enjoy it at the 40th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. Look out for the ‘Brewed with Passion’ sign! “We hope other bars and restaurants will also offer this cocktail to the island’s population and its visitors in the coming weeks,” adds Tanvi Goklani, Heineken’s Brand Manager on St. Maarten.
Appreciation goes out to Paul Peterson, also known as the Bearded Bartender, who runs his own craft consulting and beverage consulting program. The team also recognizes and thanks the entire Heineken team at DIVICO Distributors for their creativity and support during this project. Check out the recipe below!
Brewed with Passion
1.5 oz. Compal passion fruit juice
¾ oz. brown sugar syrup
¾ oz. fresh lime juice
4 dashes of Angostura bitters
3 oz. Cold Heineken
Swizzle all ingredients except bitters, over crushed ice; top up with bitters; garnish with fresh mint leaves and lime wedge. Enjoy!
