How to make Chapman (8 Easy Steps)

I love mixing and making drinks, I am not a mixologist yet but I love them, the first time I made Chapman, I couldn’t stop singing my praise, I called everyone to inform them that I made this delicious drink. My friends didn’t believe it, so I promised to make this drink for all of them.

I remember planning my sister’s baby shower and I made all the drinks used in that occasion, there I knew that this mixing and drink making passion should be taken into consideration. I started exploring different drinks. Chapman is really simple to make, all you have to do is get the right ingredients and you are good to go. You must follow the instructions accurately.

You do not need so much to make chapman just your few minutes and you are done.

Ingredients for making Chapman

• ½ cup Grenadine Syrup
• A few dashes of Angostura Aromatic Bitters
• 35 cl Fanta Orange
• 35 cl Sprite
• ½ an Orange
• ½ a lemon
• Ice cubes
• Blackcurrant

To garnish:

• ½ an orange
• ½ a lemon
• ½ a cucumber

Notes on the Ingredients and alternatives

1. Grenadine Syrup gives the drink its classic red colour. You can buy this at your local supermarket or on Amazon websites as listed below. If you can’t find Grenadine Syrup, you can use red currant (extract the juice) or pomegranate but these don’t give the drink the same taste.
2. Ribena concentrated blackcurrant adds to the red colour and gives the drink a sweetened taste but it is optional. Concentrated Ribena blackcurrant is easily available in Nigeria and your local supermarkets anywhere in the world.
3. You can make your ice cubes with a mixture of the Fanta and the Sprite. This is so that your drink does not go flat as is the case when the ice cubes are made with water.
4. Even though the Nigerian chapman contains a very small quantity of alcohol, I know there are those who will like to make a version that does not contain any trace of alcohol. If you want to make that, you can skip the Angostura Bitters but I warn you, the Nigerian Chapman will not be the same without Angostura Bitters.
5. Wondering other recipes you can use the remaining Angostura Bitters for? You can use it in cookies, cakes, ice cream, salads and other cocktail drinks. Or you can just keep it and use for Chapman, it does not expire in a hurry.
6. You can buy Angostura Bitters from all big food and beverages shops in Nigeria, in your local super markets and on Amazon websites.

Before you make the Chapman

1. Make the ice cubes either with water or a mixture of the fanta and the sprite.
2. Make sure the Grenadine Syrup, Fanta and Sprite are chilling in the fridge.
3. Cut the orange and the lemon into two equal parts each then cut one half of each into thin quarters. Reserve the other halves for squeezing into the drink.

Directions for making the Chapman

1. Put a few ice cubes in the mugs.
2. Add half a cup of the Grenadine Syrup, this should be about one third of the dimpled mug.
3. Add a few dashes of Angostura Bitters (to your taste).
4. Add a squeeze of orange and lemon each.
5. Share the Fanta equally between the two mugs, do the same for the Sprite. Remember to leave some space because the garnishings will take up their own volume.
6. Add your sliced garnishings: cucumber, orange and lemons. This list goes on and on, some people even add bananas to theirs.
7. Top off with Ribena blackcurrant if you have it.
8. Stir with the straws and it is ready for drinking!