Cocktail Carmen to champion pure Canadian maple syrup in the UK drinks scene

Maple from Canada UK, the official brand for Québec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP), has partnered with cocktail expert and distillery founder, Carmen O’Neal to showcase the versatility of pure Canadian maple syrup in cocktails and low and no alcohol serves.

With four distinct grades ranging from delicate and smooth to rich and robust, pure Canadian maple syrup offers bartenders and consumers a versatile natural sweetener that can add depth and flavour to a wide variety of drinks.

Originally from Canada, Carmen is best known for her elevated yet accessible cocktail recipes. As the founder of 58 and CO Distillery, and a regular guest on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, she is ideally placed to showcase and educate on maple syrup as a versatile and delicious flavour enhancer.

This collaboration will see Carmen develop a selection of new cocktail and mocktail recipes as well as education content, to demonstrate the versatility of pure Canadian maple syrup across different serves and occasions. Carmen will also be a guest on the Always in Season podcast, making a brand-new maple cocktail live on the podcast which will be filmed in the 58 and CO Distillery.

Chef David Colcombe, Chef Ambassador for Maple from Canada UK, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Carmen as a Maple from Canada ambassador. Her Canadian roots, entrepreneurial spirit and exceptional understanding of flavour, botanicals and mixology make her a fantastic addition to the team. Together, we hope to inspire consumers and bartenders to get creative and discover just how versatile pure Canadian maple syrup can be.”

On her ambassadorship, Carmen said: “As a Canadian and someone who spends every day experimenting with flavour, it’s been exciting to work with pure Canadian maple syrup in a mixology context. Its depth, complexity and natural sweetness make it an incredibly versatile ingredients, whether you’re creating a classic cocktail or an innovative alcohol-free serve.”

“Through this partnership with Maple from Canada UK, I’m looking forward to sharing new recipes and inspiring bartenders and consumers to explore maple in ways they may not have considered before.”

Pure Canadian Maple Syrup is becoming increasingly embraced by chefs, home-cooks and consumers alike thanks to its natural sweetness, versatility and depth of flavour. Through this partnership Maple from Canada aims to demonstrate how maple syrup can move beyond the breakfast table and even your evening meal to become an essential addition to the modern drinks cabinet.