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LAST weekend, I felt like I needed something with a bang! Something that would send a rippling shockwave at the back of my head.

I then decided to go to one of my favourite hangout spots — Carne Casa in Bulawayo and requested their cocktail menu.

I patiently went through the menu, weighing my options. I had a medium lunch, nothing heavy, just the usual burger and chips so my palate could tolerate what was coming.

While perusing and feeling the urge for a shot of something to parch my thirst, my eye settled on a drink called the Hand Grenade. Immediately I requested the drink.

The owner of the bar, Jabu or JB as we like to call him, offered to make it for me. He diligently made it and did warn that it would blow my mind. I laughed and told him I was up for the challenge and would go for three of the cocktails.

So, he did tell me that the cocktail had various substitutions of the recipe but he would make the best.

“The ingredients in this cocktail are pretty standard, you can still make a bombshell of a cocktail with a few swaps,” he said.

Gin, JB said, can be a pretty divisive spirit for people.

“If you are not a fan, add a little extra white rum or vodka, or just substitute tequila for gin entirely.

Instead of white rum, why not use coconut rum,” he said.

I had my reservations though about the cocktail as I was used to a grenade shot, which is just a tot of Jägermeister and tequila placed in two different tot glasses. So, the grenade I was expecting goes something like so, pour a tot of Redbull in a whiskey glass then balance the two tots of the Jägermeister and tequila and make sure they don’t drop into the glass before pulling the pin, which in this case is the tequila.

Once you pull the pin by taking a clean shot, the Jägermeister tot drops into the glass and you immediately have to down it.

Just like its name, it really makes quite the mind-numbing explosion. Anyway, back to Jabu’s hand grenade.

“It’s basically a blend of white spirits and is something you can enjoy especially in the cold weather,” said Jabu.

He said its origins are in New Orleans in the United States.

“If you have never been to New Orleans, then the popularity of the hand grenade cocktail can feel bamboozling,” said Jabu.

“The drink will have you wandering from bar to bar, enjoying the night away. But I would advise you to acquire the services of a taxi. There is no proper garnish as the drink varies recipe-wise. Only a handful of bars serve this cocktail but I understand it is a staple on their American bar menus,” said Jabu.

I did enjoy the drink and the results will be a tale for another day.

If you have an establishment and think your drink has what it takes to be profiled, WhatsApp me on +263772337433.

REMEMBER alcohol is not for sale to persons under the age of 18 and let’s not forget to drink responsibly.