Category — Cocktails

Until the end of the month UK department store Harvey Nicks is offering personalised tableside Martini service. Cocktail butlers visit your table, allow you to choose between the classic gin or vodka martiniis - shaken or stirred - with a twist of lemon or an olive etc etc. The martini is mixed table side and served in a Boston shaker, allowing you to top up when you fancy.

Get me in that fifth floor express lift now.

And to show we aren’t so London centric the pic is of the Edinburgh store where the service is available  - as indeed it is at:

Fifth Floor Café, London 
Second Floor Restaurant, Bristol 
First Floor Restaurant, Dublin 
Second Floor Restaurant, Manchester 
Forth Floor Restaurant, Edinburgh 
Fourth Floor Café, Leeds

Last week I was having a minor drinks dilemma over what to serve for my birthday pre-dinner drinks. First off I was set on offering two different cocktails - a passionfruit Mojito or an Old Fashioned (for those Mad Man fans), however after the numbers grew slightly and I realised that I’d be distracted all evening with shaking and muddling  - I turned to the punchbowl. I bought my fantastically kitsch, faux-cut-glass-bowl from a charity shop for £4.50 - complete with punch cups hanging around the bowl and I love it.  

Twenty minutes before the guests arrived I made a version of the classic Bombay Punch - replacing the Champagne with Prosecco, and the Maraschino with Chambord Black raspberry liqueur, I muddled some mint leaves and fresh raspberries and scattered some whole leaves and fruits on the top. It went down a treat and served about 30 glasses. 

There are distinct murmerings of a cultural revival on the horizon - The Hawksmoor in London has been serving Punch for two years, the bar in Chicago’s new Trump Tower is currently serving Punch, and Death & Co in the East Village have flirted with it. Now we think it’s time for a fully fledged comeback of the punchbowl. It has strong retro charm, it’s easy to update, it’s hassle free, it’s credit crunch friendly, everyone can help themselves and it has something of The Ice Storm/Abigails Party about it. What’s not to love? My raspberry and mint Bombay Punch recipe is after the jump. What do you think? Anyone else doing Punch? 

[Read more →]

Our pals at Absolut have given us a pair of priority guest list tickets to give away for the Absolut Masquerade temporary space in London on Saturday 25th October. 

With the help of acclaimed British illustrator Daisy de Villeneuve and vintage clothing boutique Mint a 140 m² studio venue has been transformed into a fabulous fashion wonderland, fully stocked by Mint with glamorous vintage clothing and accessories. 

Taking the new ABSOLUT MASQUERADE gift pack as your lead, you will enter a world of make believe, while enjoying FREE ABSOLUT VODKA cocktails in plush, elegant surroundings. Whether scouring the rails and shelves of clothes for hidden treasures, or relaxing at one of the comfortable seating areas, visitors to the House of Masquerade will be encouraged to let their imaginations run wild to create their perfect party outfit.

To win the guestlist tickets email paul@beyonddrinks.com by the end of Thursday 23rd.

Having long been popular in the UK with bartenders looking for fresh, natural and convenient ways to rustle of a cocktail, Funkin are set to be massive in the states after the UK company signed a deal with Beam Global Spirits (Jim Beam, Courvoisier etc) to help increase their presence in the cocktail market.

And we just thought they were a small UK company with shiny packaging that looked nice in Selfridges foodhall. Silly us.

Madmen Cocktails

The Papermag blog have a great post on the cocktails of the characters of the ace TV show Mad Men. The Papermag guys have asked cocktail and spirits experts to reveal what the characters choice of cocktails say about them. Sweet. Click here for the post.

Our heads are a little sore. We went to the Bacardi party last night at the SeOne club in London. Actually, to get it right - it was a Fiesta. Actually a Cuban style La Fiesta thrown by B-Live Bacardi. Lots of Mojitos, lots of faux Latino vibe, lots of Bacardi branding. Inside was supposed to resemble a typical Cuban street, which after five of the free Mojitos and a squint I guess it kinda did. There was a big lounge bed, fountain, plants and bat projections. DJ Yoda span, beatboxer Beardyman did his thing and there were Latino acts who I have no idea who there were but were ace. And excitements Groove Armada were the surprise act. More pics after the jump. Now where’s that Berocca and Milk Thistle?

Nb. Note the rather random (and running out of budget) red clothes hanging over the balcony in the last pic. That’s real authentic Cuba you know.

[Read more →]

These spherical Orchid Ice Cubes from Daniel restaurant in New York were recently spotted in a NYTimes feature. Each ice ball features a whole Orchid Flower inside, which melts slowly to keep a cocktail chilled to perfection.

Today would have been Andy Warhols 80th birthday. To celebrate Martini & Rossi are continuing a long standing collaboration (the artist created a campaign for them back in the 1950s) and have created ‘The Cocktail Factory’ an initiative which involves new cocktail recipes, a book and advertisements. New cocktails are being revealed at a party tonight in New York. For more info read this from thespiritworld guys or check out some of the ads at notcot.com