Cocktail Profiler: Stephanie Rocard

Every month we ask one of the city’s expert mixologists to profile a selection of Beijingers based on a single snapshot and a brief factoid.

For our December edition, award-winning drinks expert Stephanie Rocard of Mao Mao Chong gave Cocktail Profiler a festive twist as she attempted to keep the concoctions sweet, warming, and of a red hue. “Red is the color for Christmas as well as being a happy color for Chinese people,” she said. No stranger to presenting cocktails for judging, Stephanie walked us very slowly through her thinking for each creation and revealed a startling level of research. For example, did you know that President Clinton likes to drink wine and whiskey together?

Gao Gao
Interesting fact: Gao Gao resents that there is a male panda in San Diego Zoo with the same name as her. She thinks he has undermined her credibility by being so adorable. However, she can drink whiskey, while Gao Gao the panda is stuck with bamboo.
The resulting drink: The Lazy Panda
Ingredients: 60ml Thai tea infused scotch, 5ml creme de cassis, 10ml homemade pandan syrup, a few drops of Angostura bitters
Served: Poured and stirred with a lemon peel garnish
“That’s lovely. I can really taste the nut (from the pandan syrup). It’s delicious and delightful. Stephanie, you’re a maestro!”

Glen
Interesting fact: Back when he worked in Washington DC, Glen once met President Bill Clinton twice in one week.
The resulting drink: The Clinton
Ingredients: 50ml Jim Beam bourbon whiskey, 20ml pineapple juice, 15ml Thai lime juice, 10ml Spanish Garnacha red wine
Served: Shaken and strained into a glass filled with ice, lime wheels and a 10ml float of red wine
“It’s very smooth, a lot like Bill himself.”

Jenny
Interesting fact: Jenny likes to zoom around the city on her little pink scooter. She uses it all the time to get from A to B. She would like for her scooter to be recognized through a cocktail.
The resulting drink: Hello Pinky
Ingredients: 30ml pepperberry vodka, 15ml Cointreau, 15ml lime juice, 15ml cranberry juice
Served: Shaken and strained into a martini glass with a lemon and orange-peel flower (to match the flower on Jenny’s bike)
“It looks very pretty. Oh wow, it’s very sweet, not bitter – a nice mix of everything. I’d definitely order it on a night out. It’s my drink now!”

If you’d like to be in next month’s Cocktail Profiler, email a photo and an interesting fact about yourself to do@thebeijinger.com.

Click here to see the December issue of the Beijinger in full.

Photos: Mitchell Pe Masilun