Help, I've got a new hobby!
The year has got off to a good start as I am completely losing myself in cocktail making. It all started with a visit to a new client who had invented a Pornstar Martini draught system. We were asked to arrange the patent protection. In order to fully understand the invention, we had to familiarise ourselves with the art of cocktail making. A whole new world of flavours and techniques opened up to us. This left me wanting more. A new hobby was born.
*This blog was previously published on goedenmorgentuinbouw.nl.
Making your own cocktails
The first cocktail I tried to recreate was one that I had tasted on holiday in Scotland, an ‘Old Fashioned Tantra’. Whisky with some essential orange oil floating on top of it, which was even served with a smoking cinnamon stick. It was delicious and instantly reminded me of Edinburgh.
I decided to go out and buy a real cocktail shaker so that I could try to make a proper ‘Pornstar Martini’ myself. It's a lot more difficult than you think, especially when it comes to getting a firm foam layer.
Since then I have also tried making a ‘New York Sour’ which consists of layers of whisky, lime, red wine and egg white foam, a ‘Dark'n Stormy Stonewall’ and a ‘Caramel Negroni’.
Latest purchase
Many cocktails are made with fresh fruit juice. So my heart leapt with joy when I came across a vintage orange juicer on Marktplaats. It arrived by post today. Turns out it had an old patent number on it which is handy because this meant that I was able to go back in history and read all about the inventor's ideas for it. I now have a genuine 1930s Handy-Andy juice extractor from Long Island NY.
Patent granted
Following a brilliant defence by my colleague, the examiner at the European Patent Office changed his mind and decided to grant a European patent. Now, thanks to this invention, it is possible to pour a Pornstar Martini cocktail from a tap, nitrogen and carbon dioxide-free, with fresh fruit juice including the fibres and firm foam.
My latest hobby is definitely a keeper. I wonder what inspiring inventions are going to cross my path this year!
PS: Advertisement for the Handy-Andy from 1931:

About the author
Since joining EP&C in 1994, I’ve enjoyed working with passionate inventors across a broad range of technologies. My background in mechanical engineering equips me to analyze innovations down to their...
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