For this Plum Tree Kitchen edition, we are excited to show once again the behind-the-scenes of our beloved Plum Tree Bar. We are thrilled to introduce The Centrepiece, our newest cocktail inclusion at the Woodford Dolmen and finalist in the Best Cocktail Experience at the 2024 Irish Restaurant Awards.
The Centrepiece – Finalist at Irish Restaurant Awards 2024
When life gives you lemons, make a film-inspired cocktail and submit it to the Irish Restaurant Awards 2024.
This exquisite cocktail has been crafted by our expert mixologist, Jaz, and has been named a finalist in the Best Cocktail Experience at the Irish Restaurant Awards 2024. Inspired by a memorable scene from the 2006 movie The Break-Up, The Centrepiece captures the essence of turning life’s lemons into something extraordinary.
The Scene
This original cocktail pays homage to the Lemons scene in the 2006 movie The Break-Up in which characters Gary (Vince Vaughn) & Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) argue that Gary did not get Brooke enough lemons to make a dinner party centrepiece. Gary suggests she puts the 3 lemons he did get her into a drinking glass to make a smaller centrepiece than she originally planned.
We feel this cocktail embodies the journey the characters navigate throughout the movie, moving through the bitter moments of their relationship to bring them back to the sweetness of their romance. Taking Gary’s advice this cocktail is presented in a classic martini glass & topped with a fresh lemon busting with colour & flavour providing an elegant centrepiece for any bar counter or table this drink is placed on.
The Centrepiece captures the essence of love’s complexities and the resilience to find sweetness amidst life’s challenges, much like our characters in this iconic movie.
The Secret Ingredients of The Centrepiece
- 25ml Limonchello (the star of Jaz’s recipe)
- 25ml Dingle Gin,
- 1x egg white,
- 40ml Cream,
- 1/2 of a Freshly Squeezed Lemon (the co-star)
- Dry frozen raspberry to style
- Lemon wheel to style
Uncover Jaz’s Recipe Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a shaker
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake well
- To style the glass borders, carefully place the dry frozen raspberry on the borders of your glass. The raspberry gives a sweet touch when blending in with the sourness of the lemon
- Pour in shaker mix
- Style The Centrepiece Cocktail with a lemon wheel on top. Bonus: To feel extra special, add a wooden coaster to serve and taste your drink while re-watching the classic The Breakup film.
The Centrepiece, The Woodford Dolmen’s May Cocktail
The Centrepiece Cocktail is a harmonious blend of flavours that takes you on a journey from tartness to sweetness. The gin embodies the complexity and depth of a relationship, while the limoncello symbolizes the potential for sweetness amidst the sourness. A splash of fresh lemon juice adds a bright, citrusy note, reminiscent of the initial zest of love. The vanilla syrup acts as a mediator, harmoniously balancing the flavours and bringing the cocktail together.
Don’t miss out on our featured cocktail for the month of May! Whether you choose to recreate Jaz’s masterpiece or savour her original creation, do visit the Plum Tree Bar or the Orangery, our refreshing outdoor space, to experience The Centrepiece firsthand. Let’s raise our glasses and celebrate life’s twists with The Centrepiece!
