HARD to believe on an April day when the rain is lashing down, but summer isn’t far off – and what better way to celebrate in style on a hot sunny day than with an iced cocktail!
That is the delicious idea of Crispin Shingler, a mixologist and former actor, who has brought the skills he gained creating and serving cocktails for weddings and other events to create his own business, Coba Cocktails, launched at Bath Cricket Club with a lavish display of Coba full-sized ice lolly cocktails, cocktail “canapes” and cocktail poles, in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic flavours.
Crispin, whose last job as an actor was with The Mousetrap, on its first ever out-of-West End tour, to Shanghai, has settled in Bath with his fiancee, who works for the Soil Association. He is now busy introducing local event planners, bars, hotels and cocktail-lovers to the sensational tasting ice lollies.
He knew that cocktail ice lollies were already popular in the States, Australia and around the Mediterranean, but as a trained and experienced mixologist with a commitment to using fresh, local, organic and Fairtrade products, wherever possible, he believed he had something new and special to offer and that there would be a market for the ice lollies.
It’s all the fun of traditional cocktails, but at a fraction of the price. “I call them affordable fun,” he says
“We wanted to create a new way to enjoy real cocktails that not only taste great and look striking but are also made in the traditional manner.
“Our ethos is based on quality, using only fresh fruit and premium grade spirits. It is an imaginative way to enjoy your favourite drink.”
He has already had a great response via Twitter, for weddings, wedding venues and other events and can respond with either a selection of classic cocktail flavours, themed cocktails or bespoke flavours.
Regulars include Coba Gin Fix, Coba Margarita, Coba Caipirinha and Coba Cosmo (made with premium vodka and triple sec, fresh cranberries, fresh muddled lime, freshly squeezed orange juice and Fairtrade sugar).
More unusual flavours and combinations include Coba Moscow Mule – premium vodka, fiery root ginger, fresh muddled lime and lemon and Fairtrade sugar – and Coba White Russian – premium vodka, premium coffee liqueur, Fairtrade coffee, organic milk and cream, and Fairtrade sugar.
Coba mocktails include Coba Chai Latte and Coba Halo Polo (made with melon and lemon).
Prices for the standard cocktail ice lollies are £4.50 each, with the mocktails a little cheaper. For full details and prices visit the website www.cobacocktails.co.uk – Crispin also sells Coba Cocktails at the regular Bath Artisan Market.
Pictured are Coba Gin Fix and Cosmo cocktails and Coba canapés.