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Sipping a favourite cocktail like a Margarita or Espresso Martini isn’t something that has typically involved local ingredients… until now.
A former bartender who went on to head up the Jersey Hospitality Association has started making his own liqueurs, and is seeking a licence for his home-made products.
Having started 'Uncle Si's Island Tipples' as a project just before Christmas, Simon Soar is beginning to gain interest from bars and restaurants interested in stocking the range of liqueurs, and has now applied for a licence to enable him to continue manufacturing the range at his home in St Helier.
The liqueurs have previously been made under a licence with a business partner, but now Mr Soar, who now works as Interim Director for the Policy Centre, hopes to gain approval from the Licensing Assembly to go out on his own.
"It's something I've been doing at home for years for my own drinks-making," he said. "I've tried them out with friends who reacted well and asked if I'd considered selling them.
"It's very much a hobby – I won't be going full-time with it, but the reaction from people I know in venues has been positive and so I'm looking to expand the range and increase production.
"They're local, natural products and I believe they compete well on flavour and price, so it would be good to push on a bit further."
Pictured: Four products from the Uncle Si's range, which now includes six liqueurs.
The range has expanded to six flavours: coffee, strawberry and vanilla, orange, gingerbread, cherry and herbal liqueur kümmel.
Mr Soar makes batches of the liqueurs using natural ingredients which are macerated in grain spirit.
Serving suggestions include use in cocktails – think of coffee liqueur in an Espresso Martini, or orange with tequila and lime juice in a Margarita – as well as sipping over ice, mixing with prosecco, or as a way to spice up a hot chocolate.
Mr Soar's application is due to be considered by the Licensing Assembly on 21 March.
Pictured top: Simon Soar behind the bar at the Melting Pot, one of the venues which stocks his liqueurs.
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