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Posts Tagged ‘val thorens’
Après ski cocktail recipes
Nowhere does après ski quite like France!
There’s nothing like a busy day on the piste for working up a thirst. And there’s definitely nothing quite like that first grande biere or vin chaud for satisfying that hard earned thirst…apart from a cheeky après ski cocktail that is.
Here’s our guide to some of the top tipples you should be tracking down in the French Alps this season, and how to make them at home.
Après Ski
That’s right, what better place to start our mixologist’s guide than with the Après Ski itself.
Make it at home?
25ml vodka
25ml Pernod
10ml measure green crème de menthe
4 fl oz sparkling lemonade
Shake the vodka, Pernod and crème de menthe with ice, and after that strain into a highball cup with a few of ice cubes inside it. Add the lemonade. Enjoy with a sprig of peppermint and a piece of lemon.
On the piste?
For true glitz and glamour head to Courcheval 1850 and the Parisian style cocktail bar, Purple Cafe.
Chartreus’ito
Fancy a local French twist on the Mojito? Try the Chartreus’ito, substituting rum for the herbal Alpine liqueur. Guaranteed to warm those cockles.
Chartreuse is one of the oldest and most mysterious spirits around…with nearly 400 years of history and the added kudos of being produced by Carthusian monks. Allegedly only three monks from the order know the secret recipe – each hold one third of the recipe and have taken a vow of silence. Its origins are said to be as an elixir of life!
Make it at home?
Mix 1/4 lime and sugar in a glass
Add fresh mint leaves and ice cubes
And 50ml Green Chartreuse
Top up with soda
Stir and serve with straws
And what could be better than a sunny day on the slopes? A Chartreuse Soleil!
1 part Green Chartreuse
6 parts orange juice
Over ice
On the piste?
You’ll find Chartreuse just about anywhere in the Alps and L’Alpe D’huez is one of the closest resorts to the spirit’s Grenoble home.
Toffee Apple
Meribel and Val d’Isère have become synonymous with toffee vodka. This can be enjoyed as a fiery shot but why not linger over a long drink such as the Toffee Apple.
Make it at home?
50 ml Toffee Vodka
25 ml apple schnapps
25ml apple juice
12.5ml lemon juice
Over Cubed ice
One spoon of grenadine
Add to shaker Toffee Vodka, apple schnapps, apple juice (the sharper the better) and lemon juice.
Shake and pour into a Collins glass with cubed ice, then add one bar spoon of grenadine to create that marbled look and garnish with a piece of fresh apple.
On the piste?
Head to be Meribel or Val d’Isère, the home of Thunder Toffee Vodka.
St Germain Cocktail
Another local speciality, St Germain is made from elderflowers grown in the French Alps and makes for a very refreshing cocktail.
Make it at home?
Champagne or dry sparkling white wine
25ml St Germain
Topped with club soda
Fill a Collins glass with ice.
First, add St Germain, then champagne, then club soda. Stir well, and garnish with a lemon twist.
On the piste?
Where better to sip a refreshing cocktail than the heart of Paradiski at Plagne Soleil with its sunny climate and spectacular views of Mont Blanc.
Génépi
Génépi is the general term in the Alps for a home-made liquor featuring local mountain flora (the herb, Artemisia). For a warming aperitif try it mixed with spirits and apple juice for a long drink.
Make it at home?
In a shaker filled with ice, pour:
25ml Génépi
50ml vodka
Apple juice
25ml syrup blue Curacao
Shake for 10 seconds and serve in a tall glass.
Or go for something a little more frisky…
The Powder
25ml Génépi
25ml peach cream
6cl orange juice
25ml cassis liqueur
Place 2 ice cubes in a tumbler and pour the ingredients in the order of the recipe.
On the piste?
You won’t have to search far in Avoriaz to find a bottle of Génépi behind the bar.
Black Forest
The title of this suitably fruity cocktail may remind you of skiing off-piste…
Make it at home?
ke it at home?
25 ml crème de cacao
25 ml cherry liqueur
25 ml cherry brandy
25 ml cream
Shake ingredients together and pour into glass. Add a little more cream on top, then add a cherry to garnish.
On the piste?
For a twist on the traditional recipe, head to Jack’s Bar in Meribel where they serve it with raspberry liqueur, white crème de cacao with hot chocolate and Chantilly cream. Yummmmy!
Hot Bunny
Also known as the Ski Bunny or Snow Bunny, this is ideal when you want a hot chocolate with an edge.
Make it at home?
25ml Triple Sec
1 Cup Hot Chocolate
Top with Whipped cream
Heat mug. Pour in hot chocolate, add Triple Sec and stir. Top with whipped cream or marshmallows. Sit by the fire place and enjoy.
On the piste?
You’ll need a Hot Bunny after tackling the slopes of Europe’s highest ski resort, Val Thorens.
French 75
Arguably one of the most sophisticated cocktails, the French 75 is said to have originated at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in 1915, created for returning World War I fighter pilots. The combination was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm howitzer artillery piece.
Make it at home?
1/2 oz lemon juice
50ml gin
25ml Cointreau
Champagne
Pour the lemon juice or gin and Cointreau into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Shake well.
Strain into a chilled Champagne flute.
Carefully add the Champagne.
On the piste?
If you’re going to drink a classy cocktail then where better than Chamonix. Head somewhere like the Clubhouse for some of the best cocktails around.
Which is your favourite post-piste tipple? Come and tell us on our Facebook page!
Pierre & Vacances: A girls guide to Snowboarding in France!
We recently spoke to avid UK Snowboarder Kylie Jenkins to discuss key places to snowboard in France. In return, she offered us this guide to Val Thorens, her favourite resort. Here are her tips:
The Location:
Val Thorens, or more commonly known as VT is the highest ski/snowboard resort in Europe, at 2300metres there is guaranteed snow right until the end of April. At the top of the Three Valleys VT can be linked with Meribel and Corcheval with a Three Valleys lift pass.
Being one of the liveliest resorts in Europe VT is the place to be for any party loving, jagerbomb drinking snowboarder.
The Slopes:
Whether you opt for just a VT lift pass or a Three Valleys lift pass, there are pistes to suit any level of snowboarder.
In the centre of VT where all the slopes meet there are gentle beginner slopes and numerous snowboard instructors on hand to help.
As any snowboarder will know button bar lifts are a complete curse and not the most glamorous way to travel to the top of the slopes. Luckily these are in very short supply in VT, in fact there is only one on the beginner slopes and can be easily avoided.
The higher up the mountain you travel the steep and quick the slopes become, don’t let this put you off as easy routes can be chosen and this is where all the best mountain cafes and restaurants are!
Many of the mountain restaurants have deck chairs outside providing the perfect place to get some snowboard posing and people watching in. If you have followed the latest trends and bought the newest colour of snowboard pants, here is the place to show them off!
At the top of the Cascades chair lift is Chalet de la Marine which is a great place to stop for lunch and listen to the local DJ!
For those of you adrenaline-seeking girls there is a snowboard park in the centre of VT, kickers and rails can all be tackled here. Most afternoons an inflatable mattress is set up behind the kicker to provide a softer landing and to give confidence to those who will be trying it for the first time.
Apres Ski
Ok so we have spent a hard day out on the slopes snowboarding, people watching and posing in between falling over and face planting, so what next?
First things first snowboard to the door of the Frog and Roastbeef, the highest pub in Europe and quite possibly the most fun! Apres starts about 4pm and numerous drinks deals can be had, the Frog has a live band play every day except Sunday and it is the perfect place to kick start the party.
Be prepared to go partying straight from the slopes in all your snowboard gear, including goggles! But don’t panic everyone will be doing the same at some point during their time in VT.
Dick’s Tea Bar is the newest bar/club in Val Thorens. Dance the night away until closing at 4am.
Some of the other bars to check out are Café Snesko, Viking Bar, Le Saloon and Malaysia nightclub.
Eating out:
Val Thorens is littered with restaurants and cafes to suit all budgets, from the very basic take away burger and chips right up to gourmet three course meals.
One of my favourite places to eat is Le Grange restaurant at the bottom of the village. They offer a huge menu including traditional cheese fondue, tartiflet, and huge pizzas big enough for four people.
The slopes of Val Thorens are full of mountain huts and these are great places to eat and rest between heavy snowboarding sessions.
Snowboarding is the perfect way to stock up on carbs; they release energy slowly allowing you to snowboard and party for longer.
When Kylie last boarded in Val Thorens, she stayed at our Pierre & Vacances Residences Du Soileil. Pierre & Vacances have five properties located all over Val Thorens and you can find out more about Pierre & Vacances ski accommodation by visiting their website, PV-holidays.com
Pierre Vacances: Val Thorens apartments
Thinking of booking a bargain ski holiday in Val Thorens? Then check out the comfortable but affordable Le Tikal apartments.
Situated just 100 metres from the ski lifts and 500 metres from the centre, Le Tikal is an attractive residence within easy reach of the resort’s best shopping, restaurants and nightlife action.
Click here to view a video of one of the Tikal’s apartments on TVTrip.com
The apartments are clean, spacious and modern with flatscreen TVs and Wi-Fi Internet access. Other facilities include a bakery delivery service, ski lockers and boot dryer. You can also borrow DVD players and movies and Portable PlayStation Consoles to keep the kids entertained.
These three-bedroom apartments can accommodate up to nine people, offering great value for money for group ski trips and family ski holidays
PV-Holidays offers apartments at Le Tikal from £532 per week for a two-person studio.
Find out more about this property here
Thanks for reading!
PV-Holidays
