Shake it up

Although I love inventing cocktails and seeing people enjoy what I’ve created, I hate public speaking and generally being the focus of attention. So I had mixed feelings last year when, as the main event at our Christmas party, I was challenged to a ‘shake off’ with the other founders of the The London Cocktail Society. On balance, I’d have more happily downed a bottle of Master of Malts’ 100,000 Scovilles – Naga Chilli Vodka. In one.

Summer sips

The birthday boy the morning after

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.

A week in cocktails

La clandestine being offered at the Candlelight Club

As you might imagine,  the world of the London-based cocktail aficionado includes much lounging around and  leisurely sipping of intoxicating libations. But it also offers many opportunities to find out about the history and future trends of mixed drinks, to taste new brands and generally expand your knowledge on the art of  civilised inebriation.

Last week was rammed with such opportunities from Prohibition-influenced gatherings to seminars on the history of punch. As it was such a good example of what’s on offer, I hereby present my diary from the week: