Bar director Nick White reveals the special meaning behind one of the venue’s most popular drinks
Christmas is a time for getting together with friends and family, which comes with the joy of indulging in a hearty meal or having a few drinks. For some, these celebrations can trigger heartburn or indigestion, but thanks to Gaviscon, you can enjoy this delicious time without hesitation. In celebration, we’ve partnered with Gaviscon to bring to you the 12 recipes of Christmas by some of our favourite Aussie chefs and bartenders. See all 12 recipes here.
Christmas is all about heartwarming tales, and it doesn’t get much more touching than the story of Since I Left You’s signature cocktail, the Little Grace.
This top Sydney bar has been slinging incredible drinks and tasty nibbles since 2011, and as bar director Nick White explains, the first proper regulars were a couple named Andrew and Ebru who lived across the road.
“They would literally come in every weekend and bring a different group of friends with them every time – they were our number one fans. And it was just really touching as a new business owner to get that kind of support.”
When Ebru found out she was pregnant, White made a promise to “name a cocktail after your kid”. Grace was born in 2012 and that’s how the Little Grace came to be. Nine years later, this light and zesty bevvie remains a hugely popular option on the drinks menu.
Crafted using ingredients like cloudy apple juice, elderflower liqueur and a healthy dash of vodka, the Little Grace is a refreshing, highly sippable cocktail, but it’s the welcome addition of spiced sugar syrup and a garnish of cinnamon sugar that elevates it into Christmas drink territory.
White describes it as a “spiced apple pie sour” (sounds amazing, right?), and agrees it’s the ideal drink to serve up as guests arrive for Christmas lunch, or later on in the day when the cheese platter comes out.
“It’s got a nice little zing to it, and the green apple liqueur and lemon juice kind of adds a bit of sourness to it as well. It goes really well with cheese, too – like a blue cheese or something that will really bring out the apple flavour.”
White expects to be making quite a few of these over the summer, with Since I Left You already booking up fast in the lead up to the festive season. After nearly four months in lockdown, Sydneysiders are exceptionally keen to get back out and visit their favourite bars.
“We’ve already got a bunch of Christmas parties booked in,” says White. “A lot of Fridays and Saturdays are also booked out, and we do private brunches that are proving to be pretty popular at the moment.
“People are really keen to do that pre-Christmas get-together, but on a smaller scale – like between 15 and 35 people, which is a good number because you don’t feel crowded and everyone gets looked after.”
And while it will be all systems go right up until December 24, White is also taking a week off between Christmas and New Year’s to visit family up on the Central Coast and have a proper break – which we can’t help but think will be very much deserved.
30ml Żubrówka vodka
30ml apple liqueur
15ml elderflower liqueur
20ml cloudy apple juice
20ml lemon juice
15ml spiced sugar syrup
Dash of egg white
Cinnamon sugar for garnish
Gaviscon – if you suffer from heartburn or indigestion and want to eat and drink with confidence during the holidays!
Heartburn an issue? Pick up Gaviscon from your local grocery store or pharmacy. Make it a Christmas to remember and win a $2,000 Visa Gift Card from Gaviscon to spend on summer entertaining – head to www.gaviscon.com.au/win to enter.
Christmas is a time to eat, drink and be merry – and acid reflux has the potential to ruin all those plans. Luckily, Gaviscon has your back (or rather your oesophagus). This medicine may not be right for you. Read the label before purchase. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.
We've invited chefs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to contribute delicious recipes that will give any seasonal get-together a big lift. From the perfect Christmas turkey to a stunning seafood paella to summery cocktails, these are recipes that draw fans in top bars and restaurants that you can make at home to the amazement of your nearest and dearest.
