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Peter Matika

I am sure half, if not all of us, have heard about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. 

In Christianity, the Four Horsemen, according to the book of Revelation (6:1–8), appear with the opening of the first four of the seven seals that bring forth the cataclysm of the apocalypse.

The first horseman, a conqueror with a bow and crown, rides a white horse. The second horseman carries a large sword and rides a red horse, symbolising war and bloodshed. The third carries a balance scale, rides a black horse, and symbolises famine and the fourth and final horseman rides a pale horse and is identified as death.

All this is just a metaphor depicting the end of times in the New Testament, describing conquest, war, hunger, and death respectively. So, before I scare you off with all the hogwash about death and the apocalypse, let me introduce you to the Four Alcohol-Infused Horsemen I had the opportunity to taste.

It was a pristine moment for myself and my colleague from work, as we visited Smokehouse to sample one of their signature melanges. Instead of one, they prepared four, which I named the Four Horsemen.

The first Horseman is the Very Berry Collins, (which I would compare with the scale-carrying horseman) a sweet and sour fusion and a blend of raspberry flavoured gin mixed with berries and juices.

“The cocktail is built with a sweet and sour mix, berries and ice before assimilating it with the alcohol, which is Whitley Neil,” says one of Smokehouse’s esteemed barmen and mixologists, Ntandoyenkosi Nyathi.

The second Horseman is the Pinacolato, (obviously, because it’s smooth and white texture identifies with white horse-riding horseman) is a classic rum cocktail suitable for any occasion.

“This is fused with Cuban white rum, juice, and coconut cream blended with ice and garnished with fresh mint,” adds Ntando.

The third Horseman is the Strawberry Mojito, (because of its inflamed colour, and zesty taste I will christen Horseman number two with a large blade).

“It’s a lovely cocktail that has alluring fruity scents on the nose. It has lemon wedges, mixed with strawberries, crushed ice, sweet and sour mix, and Gin,” said Ntando, adding that all these are mixed in accordance with your palate and crowd.

The last Horseman is called Cucumber and Tea, (this aptly identifies with the pale horse-riding horseman).

“All you need here are lemons, fresh cucumber, your sweet and sour mix, aloe, and cucumber flavoured gin, and lemonade served over crushed ice,” said Ntando, adding that this was a favourite with the ladies.

Ezra Nyoni, who is Smokehouse’s Front of House Manager, also enlightened me about their signature drinks as well as the establishment, which is undergoing enchanting and exquisite renovations to cater to all.

“The drinks cater to all. We have a large client base. Smokehouse appeals to all. Most of our cocktails are gin infused. Gin is an undersold beverage that has a lot of potential and can be widely accepted. Gin goes down well with any meal and can be consumed before or after meals,” said Ezra.

Smokehouse with its wide variety of drinks, as I mentioned caters to all, and is one of the few establishments in the city that is a child-friendly environment.

“We have a wide range of activities all around the week. We have days that cater to different groups, DJs on rotation, we have bands that play here every week. We are quite diverse, to say the least,” said Ezra.

Finally, he noted that they would soon if not already have reinvented their menu, which is mostly made of barbecue meals. Well, that’s enough talk from me, why not just slip to Smokehouse and enjoy the sereneness of the drinks and food?

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