When you want the best vodka money can buy, everyone knows you’re to ask for Belvedere. (I mean, it’s produced and distilled by LVMH*, for God’s sake.) Thus, it makes sense that, upon deciding to throw an exclusive end of year bash, that they’d pick Orphanage, Cape Town’s specialist cocktail club, to host it.

Because Belvedere likes a theme, the whole new upstairs part of the place was decorated in white and featured the brand’s signature ‘tree branches’. They’d also gotten hold of celeb hair and make-up dream team Mario and David to give models a Belvedere-style makeover.

Peeps on the scene include media, bloggers and a sprinkling of celebs, most notably eTV’s Tanja Nefdt (who’s looking jealosy-inducingly skinny and toned) and the radness that is actress Natalie Becker.

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Pro mixologist Nick Koumbarakis (also known as The Alchemist) created two fancy li’l cocktails using the uber-premium Polish vodka. These were paired with fancy li’l canapes including one tres delish li’l crayfish crostini and Orphanage’s infamously good truffle oil fries.

Anyway, of the two Belvedere cocktails, the one I most enjoyed (in fact, it might be my new favourite drink!) was something Nick calls an Intense Dark Blue Storm.

I liked it so much actually that I dropped him a mail the next day to snap up the recipe and because I’m kind and amazing and have a heart like a Caramello bear, I thought I’d share it with you lovelies:

Belvedere Intense Blue Storm

Ingredients

50 ml Belvedere Intense vodka

12.5 ml elderflower cordial

40 ml fresh pink grapefruit juice

Method

Pour all ingredients into an iced shaker. Shake and strain over crushed ice in a tumbler, using a syringe “crown” with 5 ml Chambord liqueur. Colour was achieved by adding a touch of squid ink. (ME – what?!) This does not affect taste profile and aroma, rather it heightens/accentuates flavour as if one were using salt. Serve short and garnished with a grapefruit zest.

Seriously girls. If you like refreshing citrus drinks with just a little sweetness, this baby’s for you. The only down side? As it was so disgustingly, hideously hot that night I ended up drinking so many li’l stormies (they go down like cooldrink, I tell you) that I ended up going home with fashion blogger Fashion Jazz’s car. All this after looking her deep in the eyes and telling her that she didn’t have to worry about a thing; that her keys were totally safe with me. Eeeek!

Jasna, I am sooo sorry for ruining the next 12 hours or so of your life. A big thanks to Thandie and Denzel for looking after you. I do hope you split my massive, hulking ‘please may I buy your forgiveness goodie bag’ with them. And here’s another thanks to Belvedere, Orphanage and the Vivid Luxury team for a fun (if not semi-chaotic but super memorable) night out.

Love, love

Leigh

*That’s Louis Vuitton Moet Hennesy, darlings. But you knew that, right?

**Do you ever get sick of all the zillions of shots I show you of what Elrico’s wearing? ‘Cos I’m not going to stop. I’m, like, in love with everything that girl owns. In fact, if it wasn’t uber creepy, I’d totally set up a webcam in her room just to capture her every single outfit. So ja. Get used to it.

Guys, I’m clarifying here after a comment I’ve just received. I hopped into a taxi and went home to my place with Jasna’s car keys in my purse. I did not drive her car home. Please don’t drink and drive.