Member Article

Craftbar serves up winning cocktail recipe for proud Leeds United fans in Club’s centenary year

A Leeds-based mobile craft drinks business is helping Leeds United fans celebrate the club’s centenary in style after creating a cocktail dedicated to the club.

Mobile craft ale and spirits specialist Craftbar has developed ‘Big Jack’, a cocktail paying homage not only to Leeds United’s greatest ever No.5 but arguably the best back four in the club’s history in Paul Reaney, Terry Cooper, Jack Charlton and Norman Hunter.

Served in pitchers and based on a classic Long Island Iced Tea recipe, this ‘Elland Road Iced Tea’ incorporates the very best Yorkshire ingredients to celebrate ‘Yorkshire’s Finest’.

The gins used in the mixture are from Hooting Owl Distillery in York and rhubarb gin from Artful Pour in Leeds, potato Vodka from Priory in Wetherby, white rum from Smokehouse Distillery in Harrogate, Blackberry whiskey liqueur from the Little Red Co. in Ripon with Coca Cola for flavour. The creation is garnished with lime coin and fresh mint.

The brainchild of John Dixon and Sam Pullan, Craftbar is the sister company of specialist event caterers, Bears Pantry, and industrial design bistro, Bear’s Den in Bradford, both founded by entrepreneur and chef, Sam Pullan.

Big Jack is available at Craftbar events throughout December and the festive period. The business has already delivered major drinks functions for Sky and Investec in Leeds and the team is currently delivering its schedule of Christmas parties and corporate functions around the region.

On 17 October, to mark the club’s 100th birthday, the Leeds United team of 1967-74 was awarded the freedom of the city. Under the management of legendary boss Don Revie, Leeds United won two First Division titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup between 1967 and 1974. It is the most successful period in the club’s history.

The Leeds United team of that era included Eddie Gray, Peter Lorimer as well as England World Cup winner Jack Charlton.

John Dixon, director and joint founder of Craftbar commented: “As a few of the Craftbar team are avid Leeds United fans including me, we wanted to do something to mark 100 years of the club so coming up with an unofficial cocktail in honour of the mighty whites seemed like a good idea to help celebrate the achievement. We’ve been busy delivering lots of events in the run up to Christmas and we’ve met lots of passionate Leeds fans so Big Jack has proved to be a real winner.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Terry Gilligan .