My friend John decided to kick off his fortieth birthday celebrations with a garden party in Norfolk for family and close friends – and I was roped in to run the bar. The event was vaguely Victorian in theme (croquet and a buffet lunch of pressed tongue, whole dressed salmon, dressed crab and samphire, ham hock and trotters terrine, tomato summer pudding and lettuce with home-made salad cream) so I decided an authentic punch might be an appropriate tipple. Continue reading ‘Summer sips’
Summer sips
Published August 28, 2011 Recipes Leave a CommentTags: Arrack, Botany Bay, Chartreuse, David Wondrich, Lavender Bellini, Punch
Gin is (still) in
Published August 25, 2011 Events 4 CommentsTags: Bombay Sapphire, Gin Mare, Ian Hart, Imagination series, Jeremy Dyson, Sacred Gin
According to the press, gin is still big news. I’d be a little tired of reading this earthquake of a statement (along with the one about how speakeasy bars are really current now) if its reiteration didn’t have major benefits for us gin-loving consumers. Continue reading ‘Gin is (still) in’
The soft option
Published August 9, 2011 Recipes 2 CommentsTags: Cocktail, mixer, Nick Stangeway, Peter Spanton, Soft drink, Virgin Cocktail
WARNING: This post contains no alcohol whatsoever and is therefore not suitable for 99% of readers… Continue reading ‘The soft option’
Down Mexico way
Published July 9, 2011 Recipes 4 CommentsTags: chipotle syrup, Cocktail, Maraschino cherry, Mexico, Mezcal, Old Fashioned, red pepper, Rojo Mojo, Tommy's Margarita
As a freelancer I don’t get to go on holiday as much as I’d like, so I love it when generous friends and relatives bring me back souvenirs from abroad – it’s a breath of exotic climes in a gift bag. On the down side, it was always a toss-up whether I’d be given an objet d’art or an objet dire. Continue reading ‘Down Mexico way’








