Club Grub - Mixology Winner Announced

Her citrucy creation provided customers with a kick, or in tango terms – patada. 

Here’s Angelina’s winning recipe!

• 1 ½ oz. Ciroc Mango-Flavored Vodka
• ½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
• 2 oz. Mr & Mrs T Sweet and Sour Mix
• ½ oz. Rose’s Grenadine
• Jalapeno Slices
• Lemonade

Preparing to Tango

In the bottom of a shaker, muddle a few jalepenos and lime juice.

Add ice, vodka and Mr & Mrs T Sweet and Sour Mix.

Shake well. Pour into sling cocktail glass and top off with some lemonade.

Drizzle with Rose’s Grenadine.

Garnish with lemon, lime and cherry.

After receiving all of the submissions, Angelina finished on top just in front of Sarah Paillusseau from Mid Pacific Country Club (Macadamia Nut Smoked Ki’awe Old Fashioned) and Lauren Nantz from Brick Landind Plantation (Pomegranate Mojito).

We were able to catch up with Angelina and learn more about her process, and her plans moving forward.

How long have you been a mixologist?

Angelina: I just started mixing drinks for ladies a few years ago and I thought to myself, “I don’t know what people like so how about I just try to mix something and try it?” That is how I started. After that, it became popular for people to ask me to make them something. So now we have what we call “Angelina Specials.” Eventually, I had to step up my game, so I started doing special drinks every Friday during the summer. 

Our Marketing Director, Laura Hill came across this contest and printed it out. I originally said no, I don’t think so. There’s a lot of good bartenders out there! Thank goodness everyone here encouraged me and I decided to give it a try. I am glad I did!

What inspired the Mango Tango?

When you sell a drink you have to have a catchy name. People like to know, what do you call that? What is in there? So, the catchier the name, the more you sell! What is more catchy than something that rhymes?

As far as the drink is concerned, mango is because mango vodka is one of the main ingredients. Then I wanted to connect Mr or Mrs T to incorporate the name for branding there. So I was like, alright, that sounds like a dance to me! This is how we came up with the Mango Tango.

How did you introduce the Mr & Mrs Mango Tango?

I introduced it before I submitted it to the contest but did not tell anyone. I wanted feedback without them having in the back of their heads, “is this good enough for a contest?” I just introduced it as a Cherry Mango Tango that was on a flyer as a special drink, and it did pretty well. Even people who don’t usually drink cocktails liked it!

Congratulations to Angelina, Sarah and Lauren for participating, as well as everyone else who entered! If you are interested in taking part in future Club Grub contests, keep viewing our newsletters, social media, and website for the latest VGM Club announcements.