To commemorate the launch of the new East Lancashire Level Club (ELLC), which was officially announced during the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge in Blackburn, Bro Stuart Peter Mackenzie, Tyler of Maccabee Lodge 8947, had an idea to create and serve a cocktail in the presence of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Robert Ian Frankl, the ELLC Chairman, Bro Aaron Garner and all of the ELLC Area Chairmen.
The RW PGM Robert Frankl enjoys an “On the level” cocktail with the newly formed East Lancashire Level Club members crafted by Bro Mackenzie.
About the Mixologist
From 5-star hotels to 11 years at sea onboard the QE2, Seabourn Cruise Line and Crystal Cruises, including a private party for Princess Diana on the QE2 and 23 years flying at dizzying heights worldwide. Here, we look at the insights of Bro Mackenzie’s life.
“Way back in the day, he used to work in the hotel & catering industry in his hometown of Edinburgh, in some of the most high-end establishments in the city, particularly in cocktail bars and was also a member of the United Kingdom Bartenders Guild”, said Bro Mackenzie. With the advice of a close bartender friend, he entered a national cocktail competition run by the UKBG and won. This was the start of his journey in mixology, leading to competing at the international level. He was the first bartender in the U.K. to win the coveted John Whyte Trophy. Then he won the Young Bartender of the Year trophy in the U.K. This led him to embark on a sea career on board high-end cruise ships, starting as a Barkeeper and being promoted to Bar Manager. One of his first events onboard QE2 was to arrange a small cocktail party for Princess Diana with the ship’s officers. It was an event for the ‘Save The Children’ charity which Princess Diana represented the Patron of the charity, The Princess Royal, we had a party for 400 children onboard ship that da.y. After 11 years at sea, he moved back to dry land. He moved to Sydney, Australia, for 3 years, initially working freelance at some of Sydney’s well-known landmarks before becoming Bar Manager at a 5-star luxurious boutique hotel called The Observatory.
Bro MacKenzie then got itchy feet and had the idea of flying instead. He applied to British Airways as a cabin crew member. To cut a long story short, he got the job and returned to the U.K., flying from Glasgow, Manchester, Gatwick and then, ultimately, Heathrow for 16 years, for a total of 23 years, flying all over the world on long haul flights. His cocktail era didn’t end there either, creating a small list of cocktails using the existing onboard bar ingredients for the Manchester-JFK service in the Club World cabin. When COVID came, he took voluntary redundancy from the airline—and retired!
When he creates a cocktail, it always comes from a place of inspiration. On this particular occasion
INSPIRATION:
To commemorate the start-up of the new East Lancashire Level Club.
Name of the cocktail? “ON THE LEVEL” –
The colours of the cocktail and garnish reflect those of the blue ELLC logo. The lemon peel represents the colour of the Sun. Why a Martini glass? The shape of the glass reflects that of some of our “working tools”. The square turned on its “elbow,” like the shape of the Martini Glass, where the glass bowl meets the stem. The stem represents that of the Plumb. The Compass is reflected in the perfect circle of the rim of the glass, just like you would when drawing a perfect circle using a compass. The base of the glass reflects the level, enabling the glass to stand just perfectly and regularly.
RECIPE:
50mls The Apprentice Gin by Two Pillars Gin
25mls Blue Curaçao
25mls freshly squeezed lemon juice
Dash egg white
Shake vigorously!
Standing perfectly erect, stepping off with your left foot, facing the Two Pillars, no need to run or hide, the sun is guiding you to the East, in a long journey where mistakes are made to learn from, to build ourselves through experiences and make friends to live this life to the fullest with a smile on our faces. So Mote It Be!
WBro Robert Ashton and Bro Stuart Mackenzie show the use of the “Apprentice” Gin
Story by Bro Francesco Toto
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