The Cocktail Lovers

We're calling this the Big G episode. Why? Because it's where we mix up grape, grain and gin.We look ahead to National Gin and Tonic Day as we sample two gins: one from India, the other from Cornwall and we get our grape fix from this weeks’ library pick – not a recipe book but a memoir called 'Wine Girl', by Victoria James.We have an interview with the OG of British motor racing, the one, the only Jenson Button who talks about his latest project, which blends two of his newfound passions: coach building and whisky. And our last G is reserved for Gabriel Waterhouse, who heads up The Water House Project in East London. The food is fab but wait 'til you try the house made non-alcoholic pairings. Quite frankly, they’re bloody genius.What we're mixing:Americano2 parts Campari2 parts sweet vermouth3 parts sodaOrange twist to garnishMethod:Fill a Highball glass with ice, then add the Campari and sweet vermouth. Top with the soda water and stir gently to combine. Garnish with an orange twist.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, including signing up for our digital and print magazine, visit our website, thecocktaillovers.comTo see the products featured in this episode, check out our Instagram page @thecocktaillovers and see their details below:Coachbuilt WhiskyJaisalmer GinPenny Drop Cornish Old Tom GinThe Waterhouse ProjectWine GirlThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start by mixing a special cocktail with Dima's, a proudly Ukranian Vodka.The rest of the show takes in two wee bottles with big ideas. There's Beeble, a honey-infused whisky and Smål, a diminutive gin bursting with flavour and attitude. Our library pick makes no apology for its heftiness – each of the 900+ pages in 'The Oxford Companion To Spirits & Cocktails' is there for a reason.And on to our featured bar, Seed Library. With its delicious drinks, groovy 70s-esque living room vibe and carefully curated vinyl collection, it's a must-visit for oldies and newcomers alike.Then there's our sponsored interview from Geoff Robinson talking about the characteristics of Santa Teresa 1796 rum and the brand new City Solera programme.What we're mixing:Ukranian Fizz30ml Dima's Vodka10ml freshly-squeezed lemon juice10ml limoncello3 slices of cucumber90ml sparkling wineMethod:Shake the first four ingredients over ice. Double strain into a chilled flute or wine glass and top with 90ml of sparkling wine. Garnish with a strip of cucumber or lemon slice (optional).For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:BeebleDima's VodkaSanta Teresa 1796 RumSeed LibrarySmålThe Oxford Companion to Spirits & CocktailsTo donate to Ukraine, see:Disasters Emergency CommitteeRed CrossUnicefFor details of Santa Teresa City Solera programme follow Geoff RobinsonBenjamin Nolf, (France) ben_spiritsLuis Viera, (Madrid) luisviera_ronsantateres#CitySolera1796The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keeping the International Women’s Day thanks and praise going, this week’s episode shines a light on just a few of the many (many) phenomenal women and womxn working in the drinks industry.We sample two drinks: an Irish Whiskey created by Ireland's first modern whiskey bonder, Louise McGuane, and a craft IPA from Master Brewer Jaega Wise over at Wild Card Brewery. Mezcal is on the menu at Doña, the fabulous bar and entertainment space created by Thea Cumming and Lucia Massey, while Alice Lascelles excellent '10 Cocktails – The Art of Convivial Drinking' is this week's library pick.For this special episode, we had to have a very special, phenomenal guest and for us, Julie Reiner fits the bill perfectly. With more than 20 years in the industry, covering everything from bar owner and educator, to consultant, judge and author, she's a true inspiration for bartenders – male, female or otherwise – all around the world.For our International Women's Day tribute, check our write-up hereWhat we’re mixing:Hanky Panky (serves one)Created by the late, great Ada 'Coley' Coleman, head bartender at the American Bar at the Savoy, London from 1903-192645ml gin (we used Fords Gin)45ml sweet vermouth (we used Martini Rosso)2.5ml Fernet BrancaMethod:Stir ingredients over ice in a mixing glass. Pour into chilled Nick and Nora glasses and garnish with orange zest.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, including signing up for our digital and print magazine, visit our website, thecocktaillovers.comTo see the products featured in this episode, check out our Instagram page @thecocktaillovers and see their websites below:Ten Cocktails – The Art of Convivial Drinking by Alice LascellesClover ClubDoñaJJ Corry Irish WhiskeyInterview with Louise McGuane in The Cocktail Lovers magazineWild Card BreweryThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What better way to kick off season three than raising our glasses in honour of World Bartender Day? And who better to share the occasion with than the legendary Peter Dorelli? As former head bartender at the American Bar at the Savoy, winner of mucho accolades including countless Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding Contribution Awards and a driving force in the drinks industry for coming up to 60 years, he has plenty to talk about. Tune in to hear why he served chipolatas to surprised guests at the American Bar, the importance of body language and why he's full of admiration for bartenders today.But not before we pour some drinks. From the cabinet this week we sample Baldoria Dry Umami Vermouth and Silver Circle Aquavit, two fresh takes on traditional spirits, both devised to tease out the creative juices in bartenders and hometenders alike. Ditto our library pick, Meehan’s Bartender Manual, a must-read tome from one of our previous guests, Jim Meehan (link).And as it’s World Bartender Day, we’re shining a light on Amaro, a small but perfectly formed, new bartender-owned bar by Elon Soddu. Trust us, like everything we’ve picked out in this episode, it’s an absolute gem.What we’re mixing:Gibson (serves one)50ml London Dry Gin (we used Tanqueray No. TEN)15ml dry vermouth (we used Dolin Vermouth de Chambéry Dry)Silverskin onion/s to garnishMethod:Combine gin and vermouth in an ice-filled mixing glass. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with one or three silver skin onions threaded onto a cocktail stick.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, including signing up for our digital and print magazine, visit our website, thecocktaillovers.comTo see the products featured in this episode, check out our Instagram page @thecocktaillovers and see their websites below:Amaro BarBaldoria VermouthGibson Bar LondonGibson Bar SingaporeMeehan's Bartender Manual and Jim Meehan on The Cocktail Lovers podcastSilver Circle AquavitPeter Dorelli's special cocktail for The Cocktail Lovers:Romantic Interlude35ml Havana Club (3 Anos)20ml Madeira Malmsey20ml Aperol20ml fresh Clementine juice1 tsp Bonne Maman fig conserveMethod:Shake all ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker. Pour into cocktail glass and garnish with a twist of Clementine peel.The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What tipples will you be serving on Valentine's Day? We say, forget the wine and Champagne, February 14th is about sharing the cocktail love.In this bonus episode, we ask five drinks industry couples to tell us what they'll be making for each other on Valentine's Day. And for the ultimate food and drinks pairing ideas we go straight to the top, seeking expert advice from chef Adam Handling. Listen and learn about everything from how to cook the perfect steak, his favourite cocktail to pair with lobster and his ultimate cocktail and food menu to serve on Valentine's Day.What we're mixing:Bottled Sharing Dry Martini450ml London Dry Gin125ml dry vermouth160ml mineral waterLemon twists, olives or cocktail onions to garnishMethod:Add all ingredients to a clean 750ml bottle and shake gently to combine. Leave in the freezer for a couple of hours or overnight. Serve in chilled cocktail glasses and garnish with either the lemon twists, olives or cocktail onions.From 'Batched & Bottled Cocktails To Make Ahead' by Max and Noel VenningFeatured drinks couples and where to find them (see recipes at thecocktaillovers.com)Giacomo Giannotti, bar owner and Margarita Sader, Paradiso, BarcelonaRoisin Stimpson and Edmund Weil, co-owners Night Jar, Oriole, Swift and Speakeasy At Home, LondonRan Van Ongevalle and Janah Van Cleven, co-owners Bar Ran, BrugesElayne Duff, owner Duff on the Rocks and Philip Duff owner Old Duff Genever, New YorkDeano Moncrieffe and Emma Murphy, co-owners Hacha Bars and Mirror Margarita, LondonFor details of Adam Handling and his restaurants and bars see adamhandling.co.ukThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this, our last episode in the current season, we're focusing on the wonderful world of whisky. Talk about a diverse category – if you still think that it's all about old men sitting by the fire with a glass of single malt in hand, (a) shame on you and (b) prepare to be amazed.Starting with the myriad cool new products… We had a difficult time narrowing it down to just two super-cool modern whiskies to highlight in this episode but in the end we've picked out the gorgeous Red, Red Rye from The Oxford Artisan Distillery (aka TOAD), and Woven Whisky, a beautiful fresh-thinking blend conceived and created in Leith.It was a no-brainer for us to revisit Black Rock for our bar review. This brand, both in London and more recently Shanghai, have got the whisky drinking experience perfectly pitched for newbies and hardcore whisky fans alike. As has whisky expert Nicholas Morgan who offers all kinds of invaluable insights into this fascinating spirit in his fabulous and aptly named book 'Everything You Need To Know About Whisky (But Are Too Afraid To Ask').There's more top-notch advice from our wonderful guest Becky Paskin. Here she talks to us about choosing, appreciating and drinking whisky and why she thinks that making the spirit more inclusive has seen it finally come of age.What we're mixing:Whisky Mac45ml blended Scotch (we used Chivas 12)30ml Stone's Original Ginger WineCrystallised or slice of stem ginger to garnishMethod:Stir ingredients over ice, either in a mixing glass or directly in an Old-Fashioned glass/tumbler. Garnish with crystallised or stem ginger on a cocktail stick.The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonFor more from The Cocktail Lovers, including signing up for our digital and print magazine, visit our website, thecocktaillovers.comTo see the products featured in this episode, check out our Instagram page @thecocktaillovers and see their details below:Black Rock, LondonEverything You Need To Know About Whisky (But Are Too Afraid To Ask), by Nicholas Morgan is published by Penguin, available from all good book storesThe Oxford Artisan DistilleryWoven WhiskyFollow Becky Paskin on InstagramSeason 3 of The Cocktail Lovers podcast is coming 24th February. Be warned: it's going to be super cool. Expect more fab insights from movers and shakers from around the globe, more bar reviews from around the world, great books and more fabulous products. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As far as we're concerned, the question isn't whether you've decided to go Dry or not this January, it's about your relationship with alcohol going forward. Obviously, as Cocktail Lovers, we'll be drinking cocktails, at home and in the bar, but the key word for us in 2022 is 'balance'.We start with our two product reviews which take in a non-alcoholic and an alcoholic drink, both packed with flavour and their own distinct style. The first is Sprigster, a complex and tasty n/a shrub infusion, the other is Engine, an organic sage-infused gin packing 42% abv inside in its playful motor oil-inspired can.Lyaness on the South Bank is our pick of one of the best spots in London to enjoy both imaginative and downright tasty no, low and full-on alcohol packed cocktails of every description, while we look to Katana Kitten in New York for our cocktail book porn, delving into the decidedly gorgeous, hugely inspiring 'The Japanese Art of the Cocktail' by Masahiro Urushido and Michael Anstendig.Everyone needs a bit of Claire Warner in their lives and we've made it our duty to share her wisdom with you. In this week's episode, the former Head of Spirit Creation at Belvedere Vodka and co-founder of Æcorn Aperitifs talks about finding and maintaining a realistic approach to drinking and why abstinence isn't always the answer. What we're mixing:Bobby Burns2 part blended whisky (we used Ballantine's 12)2 parts sweet vermouth (we used Martini Rosso)1 part BenedictineLemon zestMethod:Stir all ingredients over ice. Pour into a chilled Cocktail glass. Spritz with lemon zest then discardThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonFor more from The Cocktail Lovers, including signing up for our digital and print magazine, visit our website, thecocktaillovers.comTo see the products featured in this episode, check out our Instagram page @thecocktaillovers and see their websites below:Æcorn DrinksEngine GinLyanessSprigster'The Japanese Art of the Cocktail' by Masahiro Urushido and Michael Anstendig is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing For more insights from Claire Warner, follow her on Instagram @helloclairewarnerThe Cocktail Lovers podcast is available every fortnight. Please subscribe so you never miss another episode, and while you're at it, why not leave us a review? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What and how will we be drinking next year? We won't pretend that we have a definitive answer to that but we do have an idea, and it revolves around one word: better. As in a better appreciation of our bars and bartenders, a better understanding of the history behind our drinks and of course, better quality spirits and ingredients.With this in mind we're focusing on a few things that we will be making a big impression with us in the coming year. All with the 'better' philosophy in mind, of course. Which is why we've zoned in on X Muse, a decidedly stylish premium vodka bursting with complexity and attitude. It's destined to put this much maligned spirit back in the top spot. Our other pick is O/Purist, a new iteration of an ancient grape marc distillate, created by 10 forward-thinking Greek bartenders.As for our reading matter, we're delving into 'The Big Book of Amaro' meticulously compiled by Matteo Zed. Why? Because like we said, we're resolving to get a better understanding of the history behind our drinks and this little beauty is packed with everything you need to know about the category.Our bar review is the newly opened, simply stunning The Maine Mayfair which you should definitely have on your radar. Then we hand over to Lauren Mote, one of the most respected women in the drinks biz, for her tips for the year ahead. What we're mixing:Bamboo40ml Fino Sherry40ml Dry Vermouth1 dash Angostura aromatic bitters1 dash Orange BittersLemon zest to garnishMethod:Stir all ingredients over ice. Pour into a chilled Cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon zest.The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonFor more from The Cocktail Lovers, including signing up for our digital and print magazine, visit our website, thecocktaillovers.comTo see the products featured in this episode, check out our Instagram page @thecocktaillovers and see their websites below:O/Purist TsipouroThe Big Book of Amaro is published by The Countryman Press, available from amazon.co.uk The Maine Mayfair, 6 Medici Court, 20 Hanover Square, London W1S 1JYX Muse VodkaContact/follow Lauren Mote via Instagram:@laurenmote@bittered_sling@womencelebrate@chardlaverbv@nightcapmediaThe Cocktail Lovers podcast is available every fortnight. Please subscribe so you never miss another episode, and while you're at it, why not leave us a review? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's almost Christmas so we’re doing our bit to help stressed out shoppers with some last-minute gift ideas (of the cocktail loving kind, natch…) Plus, we’re throwing in suggestions for places to go to celebrate the festive season in style – not just in London but also a few of our faves around the world including Athens, Barcelona, New York and Shanghai.To assist on the drinks side of things, we’ve called in an expert: the fabulous Allen Daly, general manager of the iconic Gerry’s Wines & Spirits in Soho, London. Listen in to hear what tipples his customers are buying, which bottles he’ll be cracking open this Christmas and the spirits he feels will be making it big next year.What we’re mixing:Rum Flip 4 parts/60ml dark rum (or spirit of choice)1part/15ml sugar syrup1 whole eggNutmeg to garnishMethodAdd spirit, sugar syrup and egg to a shaker without ice and shake really hard for about a minute to thoroughly combine all ingredients. Add plenty of ice to the shaker and shake really well for another 30 seconds or so. Strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass. Grate nutmeg on to drink to garnish.The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonFor details of the products and places mentioned in this episode, see thecocktaillovers.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The World's 50 Best Bars awards were presented at the Roundhouse in London on 7th December 2021 and naturally, we made it our business to be on the guest list. In this bonus episode we speak to the winners, the ace team from the Connaught Bar in London and catch up with a few of the teams who picked up special awards on the evening (apologies in advance for the sound quality!)Featured:Lynnette Marrero from Llama Inn, New York, winner of the Altos Bartender's Bartender AwardWalter Meyenberg, Gina Barbachano and Ismael Martinez from Hanky Panky, Mexico City, winners of the Disaronno Highest New Entry AwardHayley Traub and Riley Perrin Ellis from Attaboy, New York, winners of the Rémy Martin Legend of the List AwarMike Capoferri and Jaml Arif Thunderbolt, Los Angeles, winners of the Campari One To Watch AwardPLUS:Ago Perrone, Giorgio Bargiani, Maura Milia and Riccardo Lugano from the Connaught Bar, London, voted number one on The World's 50 Best Bars list 2021.For full details of the bars voted from 50 to 1 see here; for the bars voted from 100-51 see hereThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T Bone' WatsonFor more from The Cocktail Lovers, including signing up for our digital and print magazine, visit our website, thecocktaillovers.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.