Drink Like a Mixologist: A Hennessy Cocktail from One of Canada’s Top Bartenders

Sharp Staff May 29, 2020

By this point in isolation, you should be getting good at this. That’s why we’re upping the difficulty level this week with the cocktail supplied by bartender Grant Sceney. The drink adds a few extra elements and seasonal ingredients — and comes with a healthy dose of good news from Moet Hennessy.

The drink is part of Moet Hennessy’s #ComeTogether program, which launched this week in support of the hospitality industry in Canada. The Maison Hennessy is donating $50,000 to the Bartenders Benevolent Fund, which will help keep the men and women who make your drinks afloat during this time. The initiative includes Instagram Live cocktail sessions, restaurant and catering partnerships, and The Coming Together Project — a book of cocktail recipes prepared by Canada’s top 50 mixologists, and where today’s recipe can be found. 

Grant Sceney oversees the cocktail program at The Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel in Vancouver. Originally from Australia, Sceney has made a name for himself in the Canadian cocktail community over the past 10 years, and the bars he tends — including the lobby lounge and Botanist — have received multiple awards and global recognition.

His cocktail is called Brighter Skies, and it’s every bit as uplifting as the name suggests — the perfect end to another week at home. Here’s how to make it.

Brighter Skies

1.5 oz Hennessy Very Special
.75 oz Lemon juice
.75 oz Chai Cordial*
.25 oz Crème de Violette
4 Blackberries

Muddle blackberries into cocktail tin, then add all remaining ingredients.

Fill with ice, cap top of shaking tin then shake hard for 10 seconds.

Strain over fresh ice (large cube preferable) in rocks glass.

Garnish with blackberries and dehydrated lemon wheel and serve.

*Chai Cordial Recipe

500 ml Water
500 g White sugar
3 Chai tea bags
Cold steep chai tea in water overnight.

Remove tea bags and add sugar, whisk to combine. Store in mason jar.