Cover Jonas Ax, trade ambassador for Bacardi-Martini Malaysia, chose to meet us at Concubine in Chinatown (Photo: Khairul Imran / Tatler Malaysia)

Jonas Ax, the face of Bacardí Malaysia, sheds light on the romantic history of the Air Mail cocktail and shows us how to make it in less than ten steps

Boasting a long and storied history involving fruit bats (the inspiration for Bacardí's logo), Egyptian mummies and the Cuban Revolution, Bacardí is undeniably one of the world’s most recognisable rum brands—but those are tales for another day.
 
Today's focus is the Air Mail cocktail, which was first mentioned in a pamphlet titled 'Bacardí and Its Many Uses.'

According to Bacardí-Martini trade ambassador Jonas Ax, a self-professed purveyor of party liquids: "The year was 1930, but the cocktail recipe might be even older. Many believe it was invented when mail was just starting to get delivered by aircraft, and that the drink was created to pay homage to the novelty of it all."

See also: To Malaysia With Love: 3 Women Working In F&B Overseas Write Home

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Photo 1 of 2 A champagne flute or a tall glass is recommended for this recipe
Photo 2 of 2 Bacardí rum is a main component of the Air Mail cocktail

INGREDIENTS
o   Ice
o   1 shot Bacardí
o   ½ shot honey water (two parts honey to one part water)
o   1 lime (juiced)
o   Martini Prosecco
o   Dried fruit, mint & a postal stamp (optional)

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Photo 1 of 3 Jonas Ax juicing a lime
Photo 2 of 3 Honey water is two parts honey to one part water
Photo 3 of 3 The final step simply requires topping up your champagne flute with Martini Prosecco

INSTRUCTIONS
1.     Fill a champagne flute or a tall glass with ice.
2.     Next, fill your cocktail shaker with ice.
3.     Measure one shot of Bacardí and pour it into the shaker.
4.     Add honey water to the shaker followed by lime juice.
5.     Secure the lid of the cocktail shaker and give it a good shake.
6.     Pour the ice out of your champagne flute now that it’s chilled. If using a tall glass, do not discard the ice.
7.     Strain your mixed drink into the prepared glass. 
8.     Top up with Martini Prosecco.

Tatler Asia
Above Air Mail cocktail

TATLER TIP: Garnish your cocktail with dried fruit and a mint sprig or, as Ax likes to do, by affixing a stamp to the rim of your glass using a tiny wooden peg.

Credits

Photography  

Khairul Imran

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