Mansfield college students start year with a twist by creating their own cocktails

The ‘Covid Compliant Cocktail Challenges’ were organised for level two food and beverage service students at West Nottinghamshire College – with the top chosen drinks to be featured on the new menu at the college’s Refined fine dining restaurant.

The events began with a cocktail masterclass, led by front of house trainer Lee Coupe, who gave students lessons in cocktail and mocktail making as well as giving them the history of where different cocktails originated from.

Students were then challenged to design and make their own cocktail or mocktail using a range of fresh ingredients such as fruit, juices, garnishes and alcoholic drinks.

They were required to make three of each of their chosen drink, calculate the cost to make the drink, suggest a selling price and to create a recipe card and a tent card to market the product.

Charlotte King, 18, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, created a ‘Fruity Twist Blitz’ containing pineapple juice, lemon, lime, orange juice, cranberry juice and vodka.

She said: “It was really exciting and a great opportunity to mix a range of cocktails.

"It enabled us to try new things on our second year of college and it will help us to develop our skills and aspirations which could enable us to get careers all around the world.”

After a morning of preparation and development students were judged on their creations by members of the college’s executive team, which included the principal and chief executive Andrew Cropley as well as front of house trainer Lee Coupe.

Lee said: “It was brilliant to see the students getting creative with flavours and the designs of their cocktails.

"They all tried really hard to impress the judges. The cocktail market is a huge part of our catering industry. This was an amazing start to the academic year.”