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Shake it up
Published on 2012-04-01 17:59:21
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 [...] > read more
Challenging drinks
Published on 2012-01-28 07:40:54
Over the years I’ve acquired a fair few bottles of random booze – many of my own production. Nice to drink in themselves, their complex or strong flavours can sometimes be hard to balance in a cocktail. Which is why I was so pleased when Cassis Bistro invited me to their Challenge the Barman night – ie, [...] > read more
Summer sips
Published on 2011-08-28 12:04:44
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, Â ham [...] > read more
Gin is (still) in
Published on 2011-08-25 12:13:21
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. The gin market is saturated not only with new brands but [...] > read more
The soft option
Published on 2011-08-09 17:14:37
WARNING: This post contains no alcohol whatsoever and is therefore not suitable for 99% of readers… When I started this blog I didn’t imagine I’d ever veer on to such straight and narrow paths but a couple of recent events have inspired me to give some thought to the teetotalers out there. Firstly, I ran [...] > read more
Down Mexico way
Published on 2011-07-09 06:54:55
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 [...] > read more
A higher Plateau
Published on 2011-06-23 14:40:51
It’s not often I find myself in Canary Wharf but when I do, I relish its relentless modernity. With glittering glass towers and well-dressed denizens, it’s an entire other city to the begrimed and altogether more historic patch of London > read more
Premium Bonds
Published on 2011-04-15 08:09:44
As a drinks blogger I rarely get invited to visit restaurants, so when Bonds asked me along to a bloggers dinner last month, I accepted with alacrity. As if the promise of fine dining wasn’t enough, the invite also offered inventive cocktails& > read more
Inamo St James
Published on 2011-03-02 18:08:03
So far, I’ve spent most of my year lurking happily in London’s proliferation of Prohibition-style bars, so it was nigh upon surreal to step into the glowing, neon landscape that is Inamo St James. I use the word landscape advisedly, as w > read more
(Un)Happy Valentine’s Day
Published on 2011-02-09 17:12:30
I’d like to make it clear that my dislike of Valentine’s Day does not stem from my single status. Absolutely not. No way….Well ok, maybe just a tiny bit. However, I do find the massive volume of roseate-hued trash in the shops > read more
A week in cocktails
Published on 2011-01-24 16:03:17
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 > read more
Five good bars to drink Martinis
Published on 2011-01-06 08:48:46
Initially I was going to write a post on London’s  five best Martinis but realised that was somewhat superfluous. It’s been common knowledge for decades that London’s best Martini’s are to be found at old school hotels > read more
Five winter warmers
Published on 2010-12-21 18:52:09
‘Tis the season to be merry, fa la la and all that. Just why any one season deserves that accolade over another I couldn’t say but winter certainly is the one to be warm and merry. That’s why I’m sharing my top five hot drink > read more
A drop of Christmas spirit
Published on 2010-12-18 09:54:34
The week leading to Christmas has finally arrived which naturally means a lot of going out and, umm, ‘socialising’. Unfortunately the blizzard threatened by the Met office has also arrived, meaning most of us would rather stay home with a > read more
Viva Viajante
Published on 2010-12-16 07:52:17
As Julie Andrews memorably once said, ‘ When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window’.  I discovered the truth of this during the last Tube strike. Forced to stay within walking distance of home, I had to fall back on loc > read more
Champagne: a drink for all seasons
Published on 2010-11-29 10:13:33
As the festive season careers towards us, I thought it a good time to post some recipes for champagne cocktails. The Classic Champagne cocktail (brandy, sugar cube, Angostura bitters, champagne) is a great favourite of mine as its easy to make with > read more
Come to the LCS Christmas Party!
Published on 2010-11-26 11:57:21
Would you look at this now? Here I am,  hijacking my own website….  But there’s a good reason as the party below (which I’m helping to organise) promises to be pretty awesome.  RSVP is essential so go to the society website t > read more
Ho, ho, ho and a bottle of (plum)rum
Published on 2010-11-22 18:31:46
Each Autumn,  I dust down my kilner jars, get foraging and lay down a range of liqueurs that will be ready in time to swell the yuletide entertainments. This year my timing was a little off and it was only in the last couple of weeks I got roun > read more
Aces and Eights
Published on 2010-11-17 10:14:02
I’ve yet to visit America, so any impressions I have of it are mostly taken from TV and the movies. One thing that’s always fascinated me in this on-screen world, is how different American bars appear from their British counterparts. I > read more
Hammer(ed) Horror
Published on 2010-10-28 08:40:20
While I’m marginally opposed to Halloween as a new-fangled kind of affair and an unashamed celebration of naked human greed, I have to confess it also offers a damn good excuse to dress up and party. And it seems  London bars agrees with me, > read more