Issue #13 | £4.99
BRANDS
WIN
HATCH
The ultimate Wembley hospitality experience!
We Race With
GINETTA
BREXIT One Year On
NEW YORK
Biting the Big Apple
Summer Fashions Latest Styles & Advice
Ginspiration! Best of British Gins
MARATHON MAN 44 marathons in 44 days!
EYE FOR ART
How to spot the next big thing
Ben Fogle
Trials, tribulations and his greatest adventure of all
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Sir Robin Knox-Johnston The outspoken hero of the sea
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Welcome to
Publisher James Hurst Editor Barnaby Dracup Staff Writer Josh Stephenson Designer Robert Hearn Photographer Oskar Proctor Production Manager Jennifer Harland
W
elcome to the 13th issue of CALIBRE magazine, in which we have a selection of insightful stories and interviews for you. On the cover this issue we have adventurer, explorer, naturalist and labrador retriever lover, Ben Fogle. Having undertaken some of the toughest challenges on earth (the seven day Saharan Marathon des Sables or 49 days rowing across the Atlantic, for example) he talks to us about what travel and adventure mean to him as a man and how fatherhood is perhaps the greatest challenge of all (p.38). Continuing the theme of adventure, we speak to the outspoken Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (p.143), the first sailor to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. Sir Robin talks about his life and times and how people need to get out there and do more even when they are (as he is) well into retirement age. We also speak to Commodore Jerry Kyd (p.149) who, at the age of 50, has been handed the helm of the biggest ship in the Royal Navy’s history, the HMS Queen Elizabeth. Commodore Kyd speaks about his honour and sense of privilege that, after 32 years in the Royal Navy, he can now take command of the biggest and most powerful aircraft carrier ever brought into service. Elsewhere in this issue we manage to squeeze in some adventures of our own – we put the pedal to the metal and race Brands Hatch with Ginetta Motorsports (p.10), hike around the picturesque Snowdonia National Park (p.137) and talk to a runner who undertook 44 marathons in 44 days – a challenge not to be sniffed at. Enjoy! Barnaby Dracup editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk
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Contributors Rick Wakeman, Pip Gale, Mark Cronshaw, Craig MacLellan, Jonny Evans, Cai Ross, Al Richardson, Luci Noel, Graham Clarke, Chris Brazier, Joshua Williams, Lee Robertson, Yamuna Jani, Torjus Roberg, Chiara Fiorillo, Richard Tarrant, Georgina Burnett Business Development Team Jim Ellis, Robert Dugmore, James Smith, Patrick Magill, Alan Breslin, Carly Bell Accounts Manager Sarah Robinson Administration Onitha Antoine Marketing Consultant Kevin Lavery With thanks to Anderson & Sheppard, Matthew Fisher, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston Special thanks to Ben Fogle Cover Image Ben Fogle by Oskar Proctor Subscriptions Tel: 0203 770 4027 Printing Precision Colour Printing Newsstand Distribution COMAG Promotional Distribution Gold Key Media Stock Images istockphoto.com, Alamy, REX Features
calibre is an independent magazine published by Hurst Media Company Ltd. hurstmediacompany.co.uk Tel: 0203 478 6017 Email: administration@hurstmedia company.co.uk Trading Address: United House, North Road, London, N7 9DP Company Reg: 08375910 CALIBRE is published by Hurst Media Company. Every care is taken in compiling the contents of the publication but the publishers assume no responsibility in the effect arising therefrom. Readers are advised to seek professional advice before acting on any information which is contained in the publication. Hurst Media Company do not accept any liability for views expressed, pictures used, or claims made by advertisers. All prices correct at time of going to press. All views expressed within are solely those of the advertisers, writers or sources interviewed. They do not necessarily represent the opinions of Hurst Media Company or CALIBRE.
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5
Auctioneers & Valuers Antiques | Jewellery | Watches
The Watch Sale Tuesday 25th July & Tuesday 29th August The Watch Sale is one of the leading watch auctions in the UK. Held eight times a year, it offers the watch enthusiast the widest range of luxury brands and sought after rarities. To consign a watch for auction please visit www.fellows.co.uk/valuations.
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What’s Inside TRAVEL
16
Biting the Big Apple in NYC
82
Cruise the French Riviera
WIN! £2,106 Wembley Experience p.5 £995 Clearaudio Turntable p.37 £500 Smyth & Gibson Shirts p.53 £150 Case Of Foxdenton Sloe Gin p.70 £359 Mountfield Lawnmower p.120 £150 To Spend With Beretta p.141
A classic car driving holiday touring the corniches of southern France is a must for any car enthusiast!
137
Walk Snowdonia National Park
LIFESTYLE
10
Race Brands Hatch with Ginetta
48
Summer styles
TECHNOLOGY
32
Best in portable audio
93
Photography Take professional quality photos on your smartphone!
99
Technology for travellers
64
The art of gunmaking
77
Summer skincare & the Big ‘C’
CULTURE
117
A guide to summer garden roses
38
143
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston interview
Ben Fogle interview Robbed, stabbed & spiked, but none of it was as challenging as fatherhood!
155 44 marathons in 44 days 60
Pub philosophy
FOOD & DRINK
123
First edition books
25
Summer cocktails & ginspiration
129
How to buy art at auction
106
New Zealand wine reviews
149
The Navy’s largest ever ship
110
Restaurant review
158
Puzzle & crossword
162
Rick Wakeman rants
92
Subscribe to
We head down to Diego Jacquet’s Zoilo in Marylebone to sample his Argentinian inspired tapas!
MONEY
55
One year after Brexit
72
Property investment
Ben’s adventures have taken him around the world
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To request your FREE brochure, call 0800 988 5160 quoting CA2 0HF or visit titantravel.co.uk/serenade (Open Monday to Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm) *Excludes Scottish islands and Sark, where vehicle access is restricted. Terms and conditions apply on some offers. Calls free from BT landlines, mobile may vary. Prices are per person subject to availability and will be confirmed at the time of booking.
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Begin the Christmas celebrations early this year and sail along the beautiful, undulating valleys of the Rhine. Germany holds some stunning towns which embrace the spirit of Christmas with an abundance of tradition.
Experience the serene beauty of the River Rhine, sailing from Basel in Switzerland northwards to the cathedral city of Cologne, passing Strasbourg, Rudesheim, the legendary Lorelei Rock and Koblenz along the way.
Sailing along the Rhine and immerse yourself in the plethora of legacies, from the castles and fortresses dotted along its banks to the Black Forest, famed for the classic cuckoo clocks and delicious cherry gateau.
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LIFESTYLE
Experience 355bhp of pure racing power
GINETTA TRACK DAY WHERE? Brands Hatch, Kent HOW MUCH? £300 + VAT WHICH CARS? Drive G40, get driven in G55 and G57 Getting behind the wheel of a Ginetta G40 racecar will push your driving limits to the max with expert tuition provided by the instructors during three 20-minute driving sessions. You don’t need any prior racing experience to join in a Ginetta Track Day, just a valid UK driving licence. Each half-day costs £300 + VAT with tests in the G55 and G57 racecars available on request.
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| calibremag.co.uk
LIFESTYLE
ROAD TEST
Going For Gold To experience the thrill of motorsports at Brands Hatch then look no further than a track day with Ginetta, says Barnaby Dracup
F
ans of motorsports will have no doubt heard of Ginetta, a company that has forged its own way in this highly competitive industry and, for more than a decade, has done more than any other to promote and develop the careers of motorsports’ youngest rising stars. Founded in 1958 by the four Walklett brothers in Suffolk, their first product was a glass-fibre body shell designed for attaching to a Ford chassis. Later, their first car, which was not destined for production, subsequently known as the Ginetta G1, was based on a pre-war Wolseley Hornet. Since then Ginetta has had a long and successful history of producing handbuilt road and race cars and, by the time the company was acquired in 2005 by experienced racing driver and successful businessman, Lawrence Tomlinson, it had gained a well-deserved reputation as one of the most renowned British heritage racecar brands. Under the direction of Tomlinson, Ginetta has taken the lead in British racecar manufacturing, selling cars across the world. Every car is produced in a state-ofthe-art, 75,000sqft factory just outside Leeds. With many components handcrafted on site, Ginetta employs some of the UK’s brightest engineering and manufacturing talent to bring to life the Ginetta G40, Ginetta G55 and Ginetta G57 racecars. Alongside this they are training the stars of the future taking their first tentative steps into the world of motorsports, offering these youngsters a genuine route for progression from entry-level competition, right the way through to the higher international motorsport platforms, taking drivers from their first race at the age of fourteen to international fame. | calibremag.co.uk
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LIFESTYLE
And it is this entry level into motorsports – and beyond – which you can try for yourself on one of Ginetta’s track experience days.
THE RACING EXPERIENCE
Pulling into the Brands Hatch compound one cannot help but be instantly struck by the roar of the cars powering around the track – a sight and sound which immediately starts the pulse racing and the eyes widening as the anticipation takes hold. After a briefing from the Ginetta team you are taken down to the pitlane to watch them ready the cars for your experience and to chat to the pit crew. Soon the vehicles are fuelled-up, fired-up and taken out on to the track for their warm-up laps, zigzagging across the lanes and ensuring everything is running as it should be. Then, as the low, lithe shape of a G40 hurtles to a stop in front of you, the driver jumps out, hands you a helmet, and climbs in to the passenger side. Race on!
A Ginetta G55 jostles for pole position.
BRANDS HATCH STATS › Nine bends / 2.4 miles / Lap record 1:09.593 Nigel Mansell, Williams FW11-Honda, 1986
› Brands Hatch was originally the name of the natural grassy hollow that was shaped like an amphitheatre on Brands Farm, Kent › Cyclists from London practiced, raced and ran time trials on the dirt roads carved out by farm machinery › The first actual race on the circuit was held in 1926, over four miles, between cyclists and cross country runners › Motorcycle racing quickly resumed after WW2 with the BBC televising the first motorcycle event in 1947 › In 1950 the 500 Club (500cc single-seat racing cars), together with the owners, invested the sum of £17,000 on a tarmac surface › Today’s surface is Prixmat Asphalt, a specialist asphalt product specifically designed for highperformance circuits
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| calibremag.co.uk
Experience motorsports from the driver’s seat.
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THIS IS NOT ORANGE.
THIS IS PORSCHE 911 SIGNAL ORANGE
LIFESTYLE
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The Ginetta G40 Challenge’s engine is a tuned 2.0-litre Ford Duratec that delivers 175bhp from a front-engined, RWD layout, which makes this small two-door coupé very responsive. Even with two passengers onboard and full of fuel, the car’s racing, but road-legal, build gives it a power-to-weight ratio in excess of even the spiciest hatchbacks. At pitlane speeds the steering and brakes feel
“Another part of the package is to be driven around the track in one of the much higher performance vehicles, the Ginetta G55” heavy and you are reminded that this is driving, raw in tooth and claw. No assisted steering here, this machine is all about feel and connectivity (in the traditional analogue sense of the word). The clutch is weighty, and the brakes even harder still, but boot the throttle and you are away, out of the pitlane and around Paddock Hill Bend and down into Hailwoods Hill. The moment you gain speed the cumbersome feel of the car disappears and is replaced by an enjoyable responsiveness from the controls. The low ride height accentuates the feeling of speed but the instructor eagerly pushes you on, faster into the bends, harder on the brakes, until you are surprising yourself by taking corners that would
more than scare you in conventional driving situations; pushing the tyres to the edge of their grip and feeling the little car judder as the g-force threatens to separate it from the track surface. And before you know it, it’s all over. While you have been completely and utterly transfixed in a Zen-like mode of concentration – purely reflexes and reactions, no cogitation – the instructor has been quietly counting down the time. You slow the car and steer into the pitlane feeling buzzed, refreshed and revitalised; a truly exhilarating experience, which any fans of motoring should take the time out to try for themselves.
BUT IT ISN’T OVER YET
Another part of the package is to be driven around the track in one of the much higher performance vehicles, the Ginetta G55, by a professional driver. This is a different world. The G55 comes equipped with a 4.35 litre V8 engine capable of producing 570bhp and a top speed of 180mph. To be driven around Brands Hatch by a veteran of the circuit is to experience what one can only liken to a rollercoaster ride – or being strapped to a rocketship – a pure blast of high-speed adrenaline and toe-curling excitement as the car handles manoeuvres you thought were impossible. For all fans of motorsports, this should definitely be on your ‘bucket list’ of things to experience. | calibremag.co.uk
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TRAVEL
Empire State of Mind
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| calibremag.co.uk
TRAVEL
NEW YORK FLIGHTS TIME: 7 hours one-way BUDGET: £300-£400 BEARABLE: £500-900 BUSINESS: £4,000-7,000
In this most familiar of cities, there is always more to discover, says Richard Tarrant
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Images: sp yarm / istock.com
here are currently plenty of reasons not to visit New York: Trump, airport chaos and the meanest exchange rate since 1985. All this has British travellers deserting the USA in droves – a million fewer in 2017 than 2016 – and yet for many the Big Apple still has an undeniable, magical magnetism. If you haven’t experienced this iconic metropolis, the best time to visit is always ‘right now’. New York’s sheer familiarity from countless films and television series, and its peerless history of welcoming all-comers, confers an instant sense of belonging: ‘one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years’, said that great chronicler of the city, Tom Wolfe. And nothing beats that first view of Manhattan, immortalised in The Great Gatsby as conveying, ‘its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world’. So perhaps it is indeed time to change your ‘empire state of mind’.
| calibremag.co.uk
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Images: Felix Behnke - superstock.com
TRAVEL
ROOTS AND CULTURE
Tracing New York’s roots as a ‘world city’ is a fine way to start your journey of discovery. A short ferry journey from Battery Park, Manhattan’s southernmost tip, takes in Liberty Island, where stands the majestic Statue of Liberty, worldwide symbol of freedom, and Ellis Island, the foremost gateway to America from 1892 to 1924. Processing during that time twelve million immigrants: those who fled persecution, seekers of a better life, ‘your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free’ – as the Statue of Liberty’s plaque so righteously states – and seemingly so at odds with modern times. Some of those immigrants would become synonymous with New York, for good or ill – Irving Berlin, for example, and Lucky Luciano – but surely none more so than Rudolph Valentino, who passed through Ellis Island in 1913 at the age of eighteen. Such was his impact on American life that,
“If Lady Liberty and Ellis Island define the New York of the early 20th century, the 9/11 Memorial defines the city in the 21st century” upon his untimely death just thirteen years later, an estimated 100,000 mourners lined the streets of Manhattan to pay their respects. So many of these new arrivals ventured no further than New York and settled here in ever-expanding communities, giving rise to the likes of Little Italy, Chinatown and Harlem, districts which still retain that combination of unique cultural identity and unmistakable sense of New York-ness more than a century later. If Lady Liberty and Ellis Island define the New York of the early 20th century, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, just a short walk from the ferry terminal in downtown Manhattan, surely define the city in the early 21st century. Two great square memorial pools 18
| calibremag.co.uk
KNOW THE TIPPING ETIQUETTE IT’S DIFFICULT TO eat badly in New York – but, no matter where you eat, you must know the tipping etiquette. The federal minimum wage in the USA is over $7 per hour, but industries in which tipping is routine are allowed to pay less – as little as $2 per hour. Gratuities are therefore integral to New York’s service culture, and miserly tipping risks causing genuine upset or offence. The first food and drink bill may come as a surprise to those used to tipping 10-12%. The bill is likely to provide three or four suggestions for tips ranging from 15-18% to 30-35%. To pay the lowest amount in the range is to signify a barely adequate level of service, so rewarding the best and friendliest staff requires a more extravagant mindset for travelling Brits. Keep plentiful $1, $5 and $10 notes about you, for it is the same story with hotel concierges and bus boys, taxi drivers, guides, barmen and anyone else who facilitates an enjoyable stay in this great city.
occupy the ‘footprints’ of the Twin Towers, with the name of every victim inscribed in bronze around the perimeter. A numbing reminder of how immediate this outrageous act remains after 16 years; how many are still suffering, and indeed, are still dying, by its continuing effects.
ART AND HISTORY
With the first and final chapters of the modern story of New York thus written, the rest of Manhattan may be seen as a palimpsest of the years between. There are Beaux Arts masterpieces from the early 1900s, such as Grand Central Terminal (grandcentralterminal.com), whose Grand
A DRIVE L I K E N O OT H ER T RAC K DAY S O N THE WO R L D ’ S ON LY OR I G I N AL R AC E T R AC K
goodwood.com
Images: avavelarr, Tongshan, cla78 / istock.com
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With nothing on the menu costing more than $7.95, indulge in roast beef sandwiches dripping with gravy, spicy fries smothered in cheese and corn fritters.
Located in the Time Warner Center in Manhattan and seating just 26 at a time, this fine dining establishment has no menu, with diners subject to the chef’s 26-course whimsy.
rollnroaster.com Equiv £10-20 per person
masanyc.com Equiv £300-400 per person
Masa
££
The River Cafe This locally respected restaurant offers a breathtaking view of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. Its first-class food and stellar service make it a perennial favourite.
| calibremag.co.uk
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New York is home to worldfamous architecture. Clockwise L to R: The Guggenheim, Chrysler Building, Public Library
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auditorium and meet one of the high-kicking Rockettes, dancers that still perform in the venue’s traditional Christmas spectaculars.
WHERE TO EAT? Roll-N-Roaster
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Concourse, with its vaulted ceiling and opal clock, inevitably inspiring reveries of a more elegant, luxurious and exclusive age of travel; and New York’s regal Public Library (nypl.org), with a football pitch-sized reading room seating 624 visitors at oak benches illuminated by ornate chandeliers and brass table lamps. Then, of course, there is Art Deco, the epitome of Gotham glamour. The default narrative of inter-war New York tells of two starkly contrasting decades driven by the catastrophic Wall Street Crash of 1929. Before it, the Gatsby gaiety of the ‘Roaring Twenties’ – endless summers of flappers and speakeasies – after it, the Great Depression of the 1930s, bitter winters of bread lines and soup kitchens and the homeless gathered around campfires. But, as if to damn hubris and defy depression, New York’s great Deco masterpieces actually arose in that latter decade. The majestic Chrysler Building became the world’s tallest skyscraper when it opened its gilded doors in 1930, only to be supplanted by the Empire State Building a year later. The supposedly benighted 1930s also saw a great flowering of culture in New York – George Gershwin, Fred Astaire and Ethel Merman dazzled audiences on Broadway, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman rocked the Cotton Club and Carnegie Hall with exuberant big band swing, and the ‘Harlem Renaissance’ in art and literature helped establish a new black cultural identity. Many of the city’s Deco treasures can still be visited today: the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center present spectacular city views, and Radio City Music Hall (radiocity.com) the opportunity both to admire the 6,000-seater
26 courses of NYC’s finest dining.
A TREASURE TROVE
Much of New York’s wealth in those first decades of the 20th century was concentrated in the vaults of a handful of individuals – the likes of Vanderbilt, Guggenheim, Rockefeller, Carnegie and Morgan. Some were genuine philanthropists; yet all shared a rapacious desire to acquire the beautiful things of the world – antiquities, old masters, great works of literature and music, all sought and bought on an imperial scale. JP Morgan, for example, is estimated to have spent the equivalent of $1 billion on artworks in the last 20 years of his life. Thankfully the best of their collections are now open to all. At the Morgan Library and Museum (themorgan.org), for example, are displayed Gutenberg Bibles, Isaac Newton’s notebooks and original Bach compositions. Dotted about the sweeping galleries that follow the Guggenheim Museum’s (guggenheim.org) stunning Frank Lloyd Wright nautilus-shell design are Picassos, Cezannes and Kandinskys.
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TRAVEL
Classic attractions at Coney Island.
“Betweem these extraordinary repositories of art stretches New York’s urban oasis Central Park, the heart and lungs of the city” Seekers of high culture should also make time for the Museum of Modern Art (moma.org), which counts Van Gogh’s mesmerising Starry Night, Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory and Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon among its highlights, and of course the Metropolitan Museum of Art, covering 5,000 years of artistic endeavour in tens of thousands of exhibits across 250 rooms and two million square feet. Personal favourites are the exquisite, ancient Egyptian Fragment of a Queen’s Face, a bronze and ivory Etruscan chariot, Vermeer’s ethereal Young Woman with a Water Pitcher and Van Gogh’s stormy Wheat Field with Cypresses.
WHERE TO STAY? £
££ £
The Pearl
Taking out the excessive and unnecessary, Pod Hotels are for the savvy traveller on the go. Perfect for those who won’t be spending much time in their room.
Elegance comes as standard at The Pearl Hotel and, with its prime location in Midtown Manhattan, it’s the perfect place to stay for Broadway, Times Square and more.
thepodhotel.com Equiv £100 per night
pearlhotelnyc.com Equiv £400 per night
££
Hotel Giraffe Lower Manhattan’s Hotel Giraffe is a small art-filled boutique hotel with a warm and welcoming atmosphere and even free wine and cheese for guests.
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Between these extraordinary repositories of art stretches New York’s urban oasis – Central Park, the heart and lungs of the city. At 843 acres, it dwarfs the parks of central London. You’ll find here lawns and gardens, pavilions and ponds, even a zoo, linked by 36 postcard-perfect bridges, confections of warm stone and elaborate ironwork. Whatever the season, Central Park is glorious: skaters circle the ice rink in winter as walkers gingerly negotiate the snowy paths; the cherry blossom trees blaze pink in spring; boaters take to the lake in the heat of summer; and in autumn, its 25,000 trees comprise a great canvas for America’s famous fall colours. Spend enough time among the joggers and strollers, lovers and loafers, and you’ll uncover its myriad secrets, from the Imagine mosaic close to the place where John Lennon was killed, to the four-acre Shakespeare’s Garden, whose blooms are all mentioned in the bard’s works.
A MERE SNAPSHOT
POD 51
hotelgiraffe.com Equiv £200 per night
CENTRAL PARK
Relax in comfort at The Pearl.
There, in attractions to occupy three or four days, is a snapshot of New York; the high notes of its story but by no means the full score. It says nothing of the recent regeneration of the city, epitomised in the achingly hip food stalls of Chelsea Market (chelseamarket.com) or the delightful High Line (thehighline.org), a disused freight railway transformed into a volunteer-run public park, nor anything of the surrounding districts, with fascinating supplementary tales of their own to tell, of the vibrant arts scene of Brooklyn or the plaintive nostalgia of Coney Island funfairs. Nothing even of New York’s status as the pre-eminent shopping destination of the world, from Saks and Macy’s to Tiffany gifts and 18 miles of new and secondhand tomes at the Strand Bookstore (strandbooks.com). This all comes later, when your first visit inevitably gives way to a second and a third. For even in this most familiar city, there is always more to discover. Richard travelled to New York with Titan Travel titantravel.co.uk
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WINNER
Food and Drink Innovation
AWARD WINNING GIN FROM THE SILENT POOL IN SURREY Now available at Majestic and Waitrose stores nationwide. www.silentpooldistillers.com
G i n s p i r a t i GGin o n ! s p i r a t i o n i n ! s p i r Ginsp ation!
FOOD & DRINK
It’s the different aromatics that make every gin unique
Ginspiriraattioionn! ! SU
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hink ‘gin’ and you immediately think of England, or to be more specific, London. William of Orange first introduced gin to the UK from Holland when he took the British throne in 1689. The tipple remained popular right through to the early 20th century, hitting its peak in the 1920s and 1930s, when it was the drink of choice for many mandarins in far-flung corners of the Empire. The spirit went through a number of rocky years in the second half of the 20th century, but since the turn of the millennium, its popularity has exploded, with much of this being driven by Scottish distillers. It was William Grant & Sons – better known for Glenfiddich and The Balvenie – who kick-started the current gin revolution with the introduction of Hendrick’s, which brought something completely new
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In case you hadn’t noticed, gin is the latest spirit du jour
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Turn to page 30 for some summer cocktail ideas, including the Smoky Martini, JBF Bramble and the Classic Sgroppino
to the UK gin market. Today, 70% of the gin consumed in the UK comes from Scotland, thanks to the fact that both those gin-mainstays, Gordon’s and Tanqueray, are produced in Scotland by drinks giant Diageo. Recent figures show that, by 2020, sales of gin in the UK will top £1.5bn, whilst whisky sales are expected to remain flat at £1.2bn (although the latter has its massive export market to fall back on). Whilst much of this demand is being met by the big boys, there are a raft of distillers across the country hoping to tap into this popularity, with many successfully carving out their own niche-identity and distinctive market share. The choice between the dozens of new gins entering the market can sometimes be overwhelming, so here are three of my (current) favourites. | calibremag.co.uk
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PICKERING’S GIN HAILS from Scotland’s capital and lays claim to being Edinburgh’s first gin distillery for more than 150 years. Founded in 2013 by friends, Marcus Pickering and Matthew Gammell, the distillery itself is located in the heart of the city, in a building which once served as Edinburgh University’s veterinary school. Like many new distillers, the Pickering’s team gets hands-on during the production process, with the spirit produced in a handbuilt still, before being bottled and wax-sealed by hand. According to the founders, the distillery’s recipe comes from a scrap of paper handed to Marcus, which details a nine-botanical gin recipe jotted down by a spirit distiller in the last days of the Raj at Mount Mary, Bombay. Although the gin has been tweaked and polished to appeal to modern tastes, it still maintains this original recipe at its heart. Although its standard bottling is fantastic, I like my gins to have a bit of power, so I’ve plumped for its navy strength expression. Pickering’s Navy Strength was first released in 2014, as the official gin of the historic Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (hence the charming bearskin hat), and clocks in at a hefty 57% ABV – an historic oddity from a time when sailors would mix a small sample of spirit with gunpowder, before trying to ignite it in a bid to determine the alcohol’s strength. Less romantically, the term has also been attributed to a branding consultant who devised the term ‘navy strength’ in 1993 on behalf of Plymouth Gin! But, I’ll leave you to decide which story you prefer. £42.95 pickeringsgin.com
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As the name suggests, this is a gin that packs a punch. Smooth and clean, it uses the original Pickering’s recipe as its base, with initial juniper and aromatic spice flavours giving way to a surprising and distinctive burst of sweetness.
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NATURAL COLOUR? NATURALLY.
THAT’S THE GLENGOYNE WAY. glengoyne.com
FOOD & DRINK
LONEWOLF GIN
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TASTING NOTES
Unlike so many gins on the market at the moment (present company excluded) LoneWolf Gin has a strong juniper berry backbone, with lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves giving it some zest. Delicate notes of coriander, pink peppercorns and mace come through on the palate, along with some good old Scots pine needles.
The pink peppercorn is a member of the cashew family
Images: istock.com
THIS NEW BOY to the market comes from one of Scotland’s most well-known and ‘disruptive’ companies – Brewdog. Since being established in a garage by James Watt and Martin Dickie back in 2007, the brewer has taken the beer world by storm, by creating beers which put flavour before volume. And now, they’re turning their attention to the spirits world. LoneWolf Distillery has been brewing (excuse the pun) for almost two and a half years now. Other distillers have brought their products to market quicker, but LoneWolf is aiming to do things slightly differently. A whole range of spirits are planned in the future, including vodka and whisky amongst others. Even with something as well established as gin, LoneWolf is taking a different approach. Whilst the vast majority of distillers will buy their spirit in bulk and then simply re-distill it using their selection of botanicals, LoneWolf is creating its own base liquid from scratch – using BrewDog’s vast brewing equipment and knowhow – allowing them to control ever part of the production process. The final recipe has been through more than 150 iterations before hitting the market. And they’ve installed a colossal 19m high 60-plate rectification column to get the purest, cleanest spirit possible. £29.99 brewdog.com
FOOD & DRINK
SILENT POOL GIN very labour intensive process, but it’s well worth the effort. The inspiration for the gin came from a desire to replicate the success that whisky makers have had in creating a spirit that encapsulates the romance and narrative of its place of origin, by using local botanicals to tell the story of that place. With their brandy and grappa already on the market, this is definitely a distillery to watch. £36 silentpooldistillers.com
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JBF BRAMBLE Ingredients:
› 2 ounces Bacardi Gran Reserva Maestro de Ron
› 0.75 ounces lemon juice › 0.75 ounces syrup
› 0.75 ounces blackberry puree How to make it:
› Shake all ingredients vigorously with plenty of ice
› Strain into glass, drizzle blackberry puree on top, garnish with lemon slice
Images: istock.com / Zoonar GmbH, Alamy
Ingredients: › 1 ounce vodka › 1 scoop lemon sorbet › 3 ounces prosecco › Mint sprig for garnish How to make it: › Whisk together vodka sorbet and splash of prosecco in a bowl until slushy › Add remaining prosecco and whisky slowly until mixed › Pour into a glass and garnish
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Bringing together a mind-boggling 24 botanicals, from angelica, cardamom and juniper, to rose petal, lavender and lime; they all combine to create a gin with fresh flora and clarifying citrus notes, which are grounded by earthy and spicy flavours, and a smooth finish, thanks to the help of some S • SUMME AIL local honey. R KT
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IT WOULD BE churlish – and just plain incorrect – for me to claim that Scotland is the only part of the UK which is currently producing fantastic gin. There are new gin distillers popping up right across the country and one of the most impressive is Silent Pool in Surrey. The distillery is located in an extraordinary location on the Duke of Northumberland’s Albury Estate. This prime location allows the distillery to draw its water from the legendary Silent Pool, which lends its name to a tale of King John and an abducted woodcutter’s daughter who supposedly drowned in the water. Folklore says the fair maiden can still be seen at midnight, so buyer beware, as after-hours drinkers of this gin might just fall foul of her. As the founders were keen to have sustainability at its heart, the gin is made in small batches using a custom made still, which is heated by steam from a reclaimed boiler that is fired using local hardwood. A
ADVERTORIAL FEATURE
Conker Cold Brew – the coffee liqueur you’ve been waiting for IF YOU’VE HAD your ear to the ground, you’ll have heard the buzz surrounding Conker Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur – one of the first of its kind in the UK, this much talked-about tipple has caused quite a stir amongst baristas and mixologists alike. The reason for the excitement is simple: Conker Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur doesn’t just taste like coffee, it is coffee. Dark, rich, fruity and complex, you’ll find no flavourings, thickeners or additives, just a blend of Dorset-roasted speciality
A coffee liqueur that actually tastes like coffee
coffees, Conker Spirit’s distilled British wheat spirit, and a meticulous process that took 96 recipes to refine. “We came to realise that we couldn’t find a single so-called ‘coffee liqueur’ that even closely resembled the true dark and rich complexities of the espresso. So, instead, we set out to make one,” explains founder and ‘Head Conkerer’, Rupert Holloway. Which is where the cold brewing comes in. To achieve the depth of flavour expected of a true espresso, coffee is Perfect for cocktails. cold steeped for hours on end, allowing the rich, chocolatey yourself a refreshing iced coffee and fruity notes of the bean to gently quencher; and of course, it’s also emerge without any of the acidity fantastic in classic coffee cocktails such that comes from hot temperatures. The cold brew is as Espresso Martinis and White Russians. Or, for those with a sweet tooth, simply then blended with demerara pour over ice cream affogato-style and let sugar to subtly balance the this darkly delicious libation indulge your finish and flavours. taste buds… Rupert adds: “To truly However you drink it, Conker Cold capture the taste of freshly Brew Coffee Liqueur gives an espressoroasted coffee in a liqueur, rich hit that blows your usual coffee you’ve got to master a ‘flavoured’ spirits out the water. Which is balancing act of roasting, why we’re as excited about it as the rest blending and brewing. One of the public. wrong move, one shortcut, and the taste will be compromised.” The biggest surprise, however, has to be its versatility. Because it’s made with only the finest speciality coffee, Conker Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur lengthens beautifully in drinks; add it to hot steamed milk and it tastes FOR MORE INFORMATION as though it’s come fresh from the barista (with an Irish Having made a splash up and down coffee hit!); add it to ice-cold the country, you can find your cold Indian tonic with a wedge of brew fix online via conkerspirit.co.uk fresh orange and you’ve got
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TECHNOLOGY
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Transform how you listen to music with portable, high-quality sound wherever you choose to go this summer, says Yamuna Jani HIKING & CAMPING BOSE SOUNDLINK MINI 2 HIKING AND CAMPING ARE gaining popularity as we increasingly seek to embrace a healthy lifestyle and explore our glorious countryside, and stopping off on the way to relax with a favourite piece of music while surveying the landscape can be a truly magical experience. Delivering a full, natural sound, which belies its compact size, the Bose Soundlink Mini 2 doesn’t sacrifice quality for portability and is perfect for slipping into your kitbag before setting off. Power-up this speaker around the campfire and within seconds your nature trip transforms itself into a night filled with exciting ambience. Specifications: › Size: 5.1cm x 18cm x 5.8cm › Weight: 0.68kg / Battery life: 10hrs › Bluetooth range: 30ft
Easily link to your phone for campfire sing-alongs
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CALIBRE VERDICT
This sturdy little speaker is ideal for hikes and the great outdoors, supplying the energy and atmosphere to really add that extra musical something. £169.95 bose.co.uk
WHAT TO LISTEN TO?
Folk music and campfires go together like cheese and fine wine, so why not listen to American musician, Sufjan Stevens’ Carrie & Lowell, a sparsely beautiful effort which marks a return to the performer’s indie-folk roots.
TECHNOLOGY
F R I D AY A F T E R N O O N I N T H E O F F I C E J A R R E A E R O S KU L L H D + The Aeroskull HD+ is an eye-catching addition to the Bluetooth speaker market, perfect as a conversation piece for mantelpieces, bedrooms or even office desks. Despite its pop-art sculpturing and striking black finish, this speaker packs some serious punch, producing 120 watts of high-definition sound through an advanced 2.1 stereo system with bass-reflex subwoofers and crisp high-end audio clarity. Specifications: › Size: 27cm x 21cm x 27cm › Weight: 2.4kg / Battery life: 10hrs › Power: 120w
CALIBRE VERDICT
Outlandish in design and powerful and resonant in its sound delivery. It would make an excellent gift for the trendy teenager in your life, or make a fun, musical addition to any ‘dress-down Friday’ in your office. £500 jarre.com
WHAT TO LISTEN TO? UETOOTH U NI BL T
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As Blutetooth ‘unites’ devices, it was named after the 10th century king, Harald ‘Bluetooth’ Blaantand who united Denmark and Norway
Oh No is a slice of modern electro-pop from Canadian Jessy Lanza, combining sultry vocals with a funky sensuality. Her minimalist, yet warm and seductive sound also gives a contemporary nod towards R&B.
| calibremag.co.uk
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TECHNOLOGY
E V E N I N G D I N N E R PA R T Y B OW E R S & W I L K I N S T 7 WITH SUMMER APPROACHING thoughts of civilised al fresco dining spring to mind: a sundown supper in the garden, or a lakeside picnic with the extended family. As the conversation and wine begins to flow, what better way to set the scene than a soft musical ambience. If that sounds the perfect recipe for some R&R, then why not grab this Bowers & Wilkins T7 Bluetooth speaker and make it come true? This attractive, classy looking device not only produces crystal clear audio, but is eminently portable. There’s no need to faff around with wires or connectivity problems thanks to Bowers & Wilkins’ intuitive Bluetooth system. With the touch of a button, connect your smartphone or iPad to the T7 and within seconds transform your environment into a magical, musical setting.
CALIBRE VERDICT
This elegant speaker is the perfect accompaniment to a luxurious picnic or an after-hours dinner party on a warm summer’s night. Bowers & Wilkins are renowned for their sound quality and aesthetics and this T7 will not fail to disappoint. £299.99 bowers-wilkins.co.uk
WHAT TO LISTEN TO?
What better way to soundtrack a sophisticated, laid-back soiree than the mellow vibes of Mr Getz? A simple way to create an effortless feeling of relaxation.
Specifications: › Size: 21cm x 5.4cm x 11.4cm › Power: 24W › Weight: 1kg › Battery life: 18hrs
POOL OR BEACH S KU L L C A N DY B A R R I C A D E WHAT BETTER WAY to unwind than by listening to Internet radio, or your favourite podcast or audiobook? The Skullcandy Barricade Mini has great sound and a strong, dependable design. And if you should happen to drop it in the pool, not to worry, it floats! Specifications: › Impact and water-resistant › Bluetooth range: 33ft / Battery life: 6hrs › Size: 11.7cm x 9.5cm x 9.5cm
If you are pining for the simple life of inner peace then grab this small, reliable speaker which is sure to help you drift away. £27.99 skullcandy.co.uk
WHAT TO LISTEN TO?
Sign up to this podcast from certified ‘meditation coach’, Mary Meckley, and let yourself unwind and relax. 34
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Images: Ralf Schmitler, Arthuer Shlain / Noun Project
CALIBRE VERDICT
SHARE THE MUSIC YOU LOVE. ANYWHERE!
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The DALI KATCH strikes the perfect balance between portability and performance, offering true audio DNA in a handy, elegant design.
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TECHNOLOGY
B OYS’ N I G H T I N SONY XB40
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EVERYONE’S BUSY THESE days, but when was the last time you managed to have a decent catch-up with your friends? If you are feeling the need to have some male bonding time, then fill the wine rack, load the fridge with craft beers, lock the wife away and sort out the evening’s playlist. Water-resistant and with a built-in multicoloured line light, flashing strobe light and speaker light, the Sony XB40 wireless speaker comes in several bright colours and is reminiscent of a pub jukebox – gaudy, loud and above all else, good fun. The clear audio and deep, resonant bass which this little unit emits are perfect for a foot-tapping evening in, talking about those old nights out.
Sony’s certainly added all its bells and whistles to this flashy speaker. With its overblown light effects and quality audio, this is one speaker that is perfect for a lively evening in. £200 sony.co.uk
WHAT TO LISTEN TO?
“Happy music is when you hear it; you start moving and shaking. You smile a lot too,” so says Maceo on this live 1992 recording from the Stadtgarten in Cologne, Germany. Make your night go with a swing with this renowned live album from James Brown’s right-hand man.
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Bluetooth preserves battery life as it requires far less power to deliver music to a speaker than standard cables or wires
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Images: Nick Bluth / Noun Project
Specifications › Battery life: 24hrs › Size: 28cm x 10cm x 10cm › Bluetooth range: 33ft › Weight: 1.5kg
CALIBRE VERDICT
WORTH £ 995!
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37
CULTURE
Ben Fogle
One With Nature Since rising to fame on Castaway, Ben Fogle has become the UK’s favourite unlikely adventurer W O R D S : Josh Stephenson P H O T O G R A P H Y: Oskar Proctor / oskarproctor.com S T Y L I N G : Anderson & Sheppard / anderson-sheppard.co.uk
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ou have been known throughout your career for travel and adventure, have you always held this passion? “Yeah, my dad’s Canadian, so I spent a lot of my childhood in Ontario. I grew up in Central London above my father’s veterinary surgery, which was right in the centre of W1, and then for the summers I’d disappear off to Canada, which was all canoeing and camping and moose and beavers. I loved the wilderness. I loved the wildlife and I think that’s probably where my wanderlust began. “When I finally got the opportunity to travel, I was 18, and I didn’t really care where. I looked through an atlas and literally put my finger down. It landed on Ecuador and that was the beginning of a long relationship with Central and South America. “I went to university in Costa Rica for four years. I loved climbing mountains, exploring the jungle, getting into trouble in the cities. It was just so exciting! It was then I resolved I would make travelling part of my life.” Travelling to South America must have been a huge adventure at that age? “It was pretty gritty. I bought a one-way ticket to Sao Paulo in Brazil and the first thing I did was to hitchhike on a boat all the way up the Amazon. Three thousand miles on a tough, hardworking boat – it was a baptism of fire. It was unbelievably dull mind you. That was my abiding memory. It was the slow life and really quite harsh, but I came to love it.” What did you glean from those early experiences? “I think confidence is what I really got. I was a hopeless 38
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academic; I failed most of my exams. I left school and I didn’t have a university place. What I achieved was confidence in myself that, somehow, there were other options. It opened a wealth of opportunities that had been effectively taken away from me by my appalling A-Level grades.” Do you think it’s something more people should experience? “If I went into politics – which I wouldn’t, because it’s a thankless task, but I’ve dabbled with the thought of it – I would scrap the education system’s insistence that everyone must do something up to age 18, turn it to 17, and that one year would become a voluntary service year. “It would be a conscription-type year. You could spend a year either working in the NHS, or travelling with a purpose, doing some kind of aid work. “You could work for a charity, work in an overseas hospital, or work with the army, the navy or the air force. I firmly believe at least six months of being out of your comfort zone, and involving travel of some kind, would benefit most people immeasurably. What do you think about the teenagers who go travelling now and the whole ‘gap yah’ image? “You’ve just named it – the ‘gap yah’ – it’s kind of become the realm of the wealthy public school elite and it shouldn’t be. I paid for my gap year myself, working super hard –
Images: Simon Robers / REX / Shutterstock
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Why do you think survival shows are so popular? “Because we’re all stuck in our houses, many of us within
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What memories do you have of the island from Castaway? “It’s hugely important to me. I love the Outer Hebrides; I still rate them as one of the most beautiful places in the world. “It was a life-altering year because it changed me in so many ways. It changed my outlook on life. It changed my opportunities. It changed me as a person.”
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After travelling you found work at Conde Nast and began progressing in media, only to chuck it all in to live on an island. “Everyone was a bit surprised. My parents were probably disappointed as I’d finally gotten a job! It was a huge gamble going on Castaway. When I say gamble, I didn’t do it because I thought I could get work from it. It was a gamble putting my life on pause for another year, delaying the inevitable.”
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Do you think you can still get the same things out of a gap year at age 50? “No, it’s different. When I was 18 I went on a gap year and I saw all the poverty. I thought I could save the world. But, as you get older, you realise it’s tough to ever change things. I think you’ll get a different perspective and have a very different experience.”
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Recently there has been a trend towards adult gap years. Do you think that’s a good idea? “Yeah, absolutely, I love that idea. I’m just counting down the days for the children to leave home! Let’s by-and-large say most people are going to be between the age of 50 and 60, I would imagine, depending on how old you are when you have kids. That’s the perfect time to take a year out: get out of the children phase and into the couple phase again.”
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scooping ice-cream for Häagen-Dazs was my first job – and I worked every hour of the day, every month, to save money. “I think it has become the realm of the elite, or certainly the upper and middle class, which is a shame because I think anyone should benefit, irrelevant of their social or economic situation.”
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I On Castaway each contestant was granted one luxury item, so while some chose pianos, beds and beer, Fogle chose his beloved labrador, Inca
cityscapes; we’re a heavily urbanised society. Even if you do live in the countryside in the UK, by-and-large, you’re going to have neighbours quite close. I think we all imagine what would it be like to live a wilder, more visceral life. It just goes back to where we came from, the days when we really did live in little shelters in the ground. “People are fascinated by how we would survive if we didn’t have Ocado or a Starbucks on the corner. We’ve become so soft as people – we have – and I don’t care who you are. Even the toughest people out there are comparatively soft to our ancestors and how they once lived.” These ideas of isolation and separation from society seem to be a theme throughout your career. Your latest show, Native Lives In The Wild, looks at people who have left it all behind. “I love things out of context. I love eccentricity. And eccentricity in my mind is people who don’t seem to fit where they are. Whether that’s within society or the landscape. The series I did prior to New Lives in the Wild was Extreme Dreams, where I took people on life-changing journeys over nearly 30 different expeditions. They were people that were overcoming their own personal obstacles: illness, bereavement, separation, all those things. There was something beautiful about taking these depressed people and giving them a form of rehabilitation by being out in the wild. “I think there’s a fascination everyone has with how you could make your life simpler and cheaper. Everyone’s watching their pennies now. That’s what fascinates me about individuals who have genuinely made that leap of faith and they’ve given it up to go and live very basic lives. “There was a millionaire American couple in the last series who gave all their money away. They just gave it away. Then they moved to live in a mud house in the middle of the Moroccan desert, because it’s what they wanted to do.” Is there a part of you that envies them? “Of course, because I think we make our lives very complicated. Look, I love London. I love the finer things in life because this is what I’m hooked into. I’m part of this big synergistic mass