ON THE COVER... Turning on the glamour at The Beaufort Bar
Martinis at the movies Take your seat at the plushest cinemas in town
The Best of British Flying the flag for the best British cocktail ingredients
Shake it baby! How to mix things up in style
+25
REASONS TO BE A COCKTAIL LOVER THIS SEASON.
TANQUERAY® No. TEN™ has a crisp and smooth finish with refreshing citrus flavours. The distinctive flavour profile is created by the citrus heart, which is added to a small pot still, the ‘Tiny 10’, during the fifth distillation. TANQUERAY® No. TEN™ was launched in 2000 and was voted the best among all white spirits for three years running at the San Francisco International Spirits Awards. Inducted into the World Spirits Hall of Fame.
The TANQUERAY and TANQUERAY No. TEN words and associated logos are trade marks. © Charles Tanqueray & Co. 2012.
IN-tro
IS IT JUST US OR IS EVERONE
FEELING THE
GLAMOUR
VIBE THIS SEASON?
With Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby due for release at the end of the year and Johnny Depp taking on the role of the most stylish Martini drinker on celluloid, Nick Charles in The Thin Man, it’s only a matter of time before we’re all holding court at the bar in cocktail dresses and dapper suits. Take your lead from Chris Moore, Gaby Moncada Pena and JeanBaptiste Duroc-Danner from The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy. In keeping with the sumptuous setting of their place of work, they show you how to carry off modern day elegance to perfection (p. 26). There’s more on the glamour front as we talk to industry legend Peter Dorelli about tending to the stars (p. 32), highlight the growing trend for plush cinemas (p. 12) and check out a selection of snazzy shakers (p. 24). We do slip into casual mode though. In fact, we put forward our cases for frequenting uptown versus downtown bars (p. 18), as well as pushing our trolley around the drinks aisle in the supermarket (p. 20). We also big up the best of British drinks ingredients (p. 14), have fun profiling four distinct cocktail personalities (p. 22), while our columnist Rebekkah Dooley puts her questions to author, bartender and all round top bloke, Gaz Regan (p. 10). There’s also travel, food and recipes, plus 25 things on our radar for the next few months. Here’s to a summer of fun. Cheers! Ms S and Mr G
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THE WORLD’S MOST AWARDED RUM RANGE The Gold Standard of Rum
Angostura’s premium rum range picked up a total of 7 gold medals at the Rum Masters Competition 2012, in the categories of Tasting and Design and Packaging. But the story doesn’t end there... over the past 7 years our rums have received top honours around the globe, earning the title of the World’s Most Awarded Rum Range.
IN-gredients
6. IN-the know
26. IN-style
48. IN-vitation only
25 reasons to be a cocktail lover this season Keeping Sundays sacred, cooking with bitters, getting ahead with a hat and 22 other things we’ll be doing in the next three months
Get the drinks in at… The Beaufort Bar Chris Moore, Gaby Moncada Pena and Jean-Baptiste Duroc-Danner turn on the glamour at The Savoy
Snapshot Pictures from our favourite parties, competitions and events from the past three months
10. IN-the hot seat Gaz Regan The drinks creator, author, educator and all round ardent spirit talks favourite smells, first loves and things that wake him up in the morning
12. IN-the spotlight Cocktails at the cinema Where to enjoy magical moments at the movies whilst sipping an ice-cold Martini
14. IN-spire The Best of British Flying the flag for the best British cocktail ingredients
18. IN-focus Uptown vs. downtown Five-star hotel bars in the West or funky independents in the East, which gets your vote in The Cocktail Lovers debate?
20. IN-focus Supermarket sweep For proof that cocktails are big business, look no further than the supermarket shelves
22. IN-focus Which cocktail personality are you? We identify four key cocktail types – which one sums you up?
24. IN-dulge Shake it baby! How to mix things up in style
32. IN-dustry greats Peter Dorelli: Living legend Fifty years in the business and still going strong, Peter Dorelli gives his views on the world of cocktails, past and present
35. IN-the mix This season it’s all about… gin Raise your glasses to Her Majesty’s favourite tipple
37. IN-formed Mains and Martinis Restaurants where the cocktails are as good as the food
38. IN-formed Word Up Last orders from Bompass & Parr; music for cocktails from The Rat Pack, goodies from Gin Monkey and The Cocktail Girl is smitten with The London Cocktail Club
40. IN-dependent spirits What Kammerling did next The former bartender and brand ambassador is on a mission – to make us all healthier drinkers with his herbaceous spirit
42. IN-sider’s guide Great Scot! World Class UK 2011 winner Jamie MacDonald takes us to his favourite eating and drinking spots in his hometown, Edinburgh
44. IN-ternational Paris Fall in love with cocktails in the city of romance
On the cover: Gaby Moncada Pena wears black halter neck jumpsuit, £360, Jaeger Black at Jaeger; Crystal Lips head piece, £260 by Emma Fielden; Opal pearl and crystal bracelet, £260 by Erasmus Sophia, available from Elizabeth Galton Studio. Stockist details, p. 31 Editors Sandrae Lawrence, Gary Sharpen Contributors Forest Collins, Rebekkah Dooley, Wilfred Jones, Jamie Macdonald, Susannah O’Grady, Lauryn Tomlinson Art Director James Cheverton at Burnt Studio www.burntstudio.com Photography Johnnie Pakington www.johnniepakington.com With thanks to: Natalia Condroy, Duncan Green, Julien LaFond, Gregory Messaoudi, Brett Perkins, Travis Watson. For all editorial and advertising enquiries, please contact: mail@thecocktaillovers.com 020 7242 2546 07801 932 941/07816 202 547 www.thecocktaillovers.com Reproduction in whole or part of any contents of The Cocktail Lovers magazine without prior permission from the editors is strictly prohibited. Issue No. 3 April–July 2012 PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY
CLICK THE LINKS THROUGHOUT THE MAGAZINE FOR DETAILS ON THE PEOPLE, PRODUCTS AND PLACES.
You can read The Cocktail Lovers Magazine on your iPad and iPhone, as well as other tablets and smartphones. The Cocktail Lovers - 5
25
REASONS TO BE A COCKTAIL LOVER THIS SEASON. Cooking with bitters, packing a punch and going for the burn with fiery chilli vodka, just a few things to keep us busy in the next few months
one Taking inspiration from the catwalk‌
6 - The Cocktail Lovers
www.albertaferretti.com
come on, those gorgeous flapper-style dresses from Gucci, Roberto Cavalli and Alberta Ferretti are just begging to be accessorised with a Classic Dry Martini.
02 06
IN-the know
www.brooksbrothers.com
…DITTO THE SMARTAS-YOU-LIKE GREAT GATSBY-ESQUE FASHIONS FOR MEN.
Creating old-school desserts…
03
SHOWING OFF OUR ARTY SIDE…
taking herbs, juices, petals – in fact anything that captures our imagination, and making fancy ice balls to add personality to pitchers and punches. Available from www.divertimenti.co.uk.
GETTING HIP WITH A FLASK… we’ll be decanting our favourite tipples into a stylish hip flask ready for impromptu picnics. Try Pickett, www.pickett.co.uk
waking up and shaking up a host of dishes with just a few drops of Angostura Bitters. Check out the new book The Taste That Changed The World, available from www.amazon.com.
5
GOING FOR FLOWER POWER...
by adding a touch of rose syrup here, and a dash of hibiscus syrup there in honour of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show from 22-26 May. Syrups available from Monin. Visit www.b-opie.com for stockists.
Zoning in on citrus…
www.jaeger.co.uk
04
Cooking with bitters…
SEVEN
think jellies with added ‘oomph’. Soften 4 leaves of gelatine in cold water, squeeze and discard excess water. Add 100ml of pink Champagne to a bowl placed over boiling water. Mix in the gelatine leaves and 55g of caster sugar and heat slowly. Add another 250ml of Champagne and 150g of fresh red fruit. Pour into moulds and leave to set. Moulds available from www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk.
08
another spring/summer 2012 trend that unites cocktails and fashion. If twists of orange and lemon don’t suit your skin tone, add them to your glass instead
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09 DEVELOPING A TASTE FOR TOBACCO... not inhaling though, we prefer ours in a glass. Try the delicious Perique Tobacco Liqueur by Jade Liqueurs or go for The Dalmore’s heady Cigar Malt Reserve. Both available from www.thewhiskyexchange.com.
Seeking out boozy chocolates…
12
13.
we’re loving the new Charbonnel et Walker truffles laced with Appleton rum. Goodbye Lent, hello indulgence of the tastiest kind. www.charbonnel.co.uk.
CREATING OUR OWN SCOTCH…
by choosing precise measurements of seven styles of whisky, then bottling and labelling it, all from the comfort of our armchair. Go play Master Blender at www.whiskyblender.com.
10. PERKING UP OUR TOAST...
with the super-tangy, über tasty Cuban ‘Mojito’ Breakfast marmalade made with chunks of lime, mint and a nice tot of rum, from www.thepickledvillage.com.
11
14 Smelling of alcohol…
SIXTEEN
in the nicest possible way, of course. We’ll be spritzing ourselves with L’Humaniste, a bracing blend of juniper, lemon, tonka bean, bergamot and thyme, from Cognac makers Frapin. Available from www.lessenteurs.com.
15. Getting ahead with a haT... with all those seasonal events, including Royal Ascot, Cartier International Polo, Goodwood and the Henley Royal Regatta coming up, it would be rude not to. Take your pick from the stunning collection at www.hat-gallery.co.uk.
8 - The Cocktail Lovers
CELEBRATING THE BANK HOLIDAYS… between April and July we have five, count them, five official days off in the UK. That’s reason enough to crack open the gin…
KEEPING SUNDAYS SACRED... and worshipping the Sunday Bloody Sundays menu at The Paradise By Way of Kensal Green. As well as D.I.Y. Bloody Mary’s at your table, specials include Bloody Mary meatballs and fillet of halibut with Bloody Mary sauce. Oh yes! www.theparadise.co.uk.
17
Investing in sexy glassware… to improve the taste of our wine and add the wow factor to our dinner table. We’ve fallen for the lush new goblets from Baccarat. www.baccarat.com.
20
Keeping meticulous notes… of our cocktail consumption in the sleek ‘ Brunches, Lunches, Suppers, Dinners’ notebook from Smythson. www.smythson.com.
18. STEEPING SPECIALITY TEAS… and adding them to cocktails. Seek out the fabulous selection championed by the Rare Tea Lady, Henrietta Lovell at www.rareteacompany.com.
SPRING 23 CLEANING OUR HOME BAR... and making way for the new essential bar tools from the Modern Mixologist, Tony Abou-Ganim. www.themodernmixologist.com, available from May.
24.WEARING OUR ART ON OUR SLEEVE… that means cocktail glass charms from www.linksoflondon.com for ladies and Martini glass and shaker cufflinks from www.thecufflinkstore.co.uk for men.
21 25.
MIXING THINGS UP WITH CHERRIES...
Visciolata del Cardinale cherryinfused dessert wine to be precise. The sour notes sure perk up cocktails, puddings and chutneys (and tastes absolutely delicious straight from the bottle). Available from www. thewhiskyexchange.com.
BECOMING GRADE-A STUDENTS… by attending the monthly guided tasting sessions at Flûte Bar’s Champagne School. www.flutebar.com.
19 MANNING UP… and going past the burn that comes from sipping the exceptionally fiery 100,000 Scovilles – Naga Chilli Vodka from www.masterofmalt.com.
22 Perfecting the punch... forget jabs, hooks and upper-cuts, this season the only hits we care about are the ones served up in tasteful bowls. Check out the Warranted Jubilee Punch by Nick Strangeway at Mark’s Bars at Hix. www.marksbar.co.uk. The Cocktail Lovers - 9
IN-terview
IN THE HOTSEAT Gaz made his first cocktail 45 years ago and has published nine books and contributed to numerous newspapers and magazines on the subject. Born in England, he divides his time between New York and Lancashire and travels the world writing, judging and teaching people about cocktails. When he isn’t thinking about or creating drinks, he likes to flirt, sniff nail-polish remover and practice Shamanic rituals. Name three things that make you happy? Being warm, spending time being instead of doing, flirting.
of my old friends still hang out there and the staff know how to tease me, so I’m very much at home in The Bay.
Who or what was your first love? Catherine Booth was my first girlfriend and I was very much in love with her. She and her family moved away though and I never heard from her again. We were five or six years old.
Who would play you in the movie of your life? Marty Feldman. I’ve no idea why his name leapt to mind, but there’s no denying that I like to be the centre of attention, and he certainly was that. I like to think I have a good sense of humour and he had that, too. And since I’m a bartender and bartending is a “look-at-me” job, I guess he also fits into that category.
What did you last dream about? I did dream last night and it was a dream about organising stuff, but I can’t remember specifics. I believe that dreams are lessons for the soul, when the spirit helps us through our earthly lives. What is your greatest fear? I no longer have fear. What is your biggest regret? I have absolutely no regrets, though I do have quite a few “cringing moments” when I remember saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. All the things that I might really regret though have turned out to be lessons that have led to good things. Where is home? New York and Lancashire. I really couldn’t pick between them. What is your favourite smell? Sweat, earth, mushrooms, vinegar, nail-polish remover, whisky and coffee. In that order.
Photo: Jim Ferrara
What gets you out of bed in the morning? I usually get up at around 5.30am and get straight to work on my laptop. Work is what gets me up. I rush to answer emails, spend time on Facebook and see what the day has to offer. I love life, so I almost bound out of bed soon after my eyes open. And one more thing gets me out of bed: I like to make coffee for my girlfriend and in the colder months I also start her car so it’s nice and warm for her when she drives to work at 6.30am.
What is your most treasured possession? I don’t have one. Possessions have no value to me. I enjoy lots of my possessions of course – I love my car, my laptop, my coffee machine and myriad old cocktail books and memorabilia, but if I lost everything, it truly wouldn’t bother me in the least. Head or heart? Gut. What is success? Being happy. Describe your proudest moment… Pride is something I try to avoid – it feeds the ego – but it is, at times, unavoidable. I guess I’m most proud when people recognise me for who I am, rather than for whom they want me to be. I’m just an old bartender who enjoys people, loves life and tries to be of service to others whenever possible. I’m certainly not a master mixologist. What would be the theme tune to your life? “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need). The Rolling Stones. What can’t you live with? Anger and negativity. And can’t live without? Love and happiness.
What is your preferred nightcap? Manhattan on the rocks with too much Angostura Bitters.
Tell us something we don’t know about you I practice Shamanic rituals as part of my spiritual life.
What is your favourite drinking hole? The Bay Horse, Station Road, Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire. It’s the last pub my parents ran (1968 to 1984), and it’s still my local when I’m back in Lancashire. The landlord and landlady, Tony and Cath Duncan, are quintessential hosts and are tried and true publicans who really care about their locals. Plus most
And something you don’t want us to know? Amazingly enough, my answer to this one is identical to the answer that Tomas Estes gave when you asked him the same thing: “Sometimes I drink too much”. --- Interview by Rebekkah Dooley
The Cocktail Lovers - 11
COCKTAILS AT THE
cinema
CHECK OUT THE SMOOTH OPERATORS WHO HAVE TURNED CINEMA-GOING INTO A COMPLETE EXPERIENCE. If there’s one thing guaranteed to get us sitting still in the dark for 90 minutes or more, it’s the growing trend for cocktails at the cinema. There’s nothing about bogstandard tip-up seats, cardboard-like popcorn and supersized cartons of watery soda that could possibly tempt us to part with our hard-earned cash. But plush leather seats, gourmet snacks and a Martini perched by our side? Well, that’s a different matter entirely. Order your drinks, settle back and enjoy the film at our favourite cinemas with cocktail lovers in mind…
IN-the spotlight
Best for a special occasion:
Best for al fresco:
Martinis at the Movies
Classics in the Courtyard
One Aldwych hotel, One Aldwych, WC2B 4BZ. T: 020 7300 1000. www.onealdwych.com.
Hush, 8 Lancashire Court, Brook Street, W1S 1EY. T: 020 7659 1500. www.hush.co.uk.
One Aldwych have been doing glamour at the movies for years. This season it’s got even better by partnering with Grey Goose vodka to offer Martinis at the Movies – what’s not to like about that? Screenings start with, yup, you guessed it, a Martini, followed by a three-course meal in Axis restaurant. Then it’s down to the sumptuous 30-seater cinema to enjoy a cool selection of retro and classic films. Make the most of the pop-out drinks holder and order another cocktail in the Lobby Bar to enjoy with your film. £42.50 inc a glass of champagne, three-course meal, movie and popcorn. Cocktails from £11.50. Best for a pimped-up cinema experience:
The Lounge at The Odeon Whiteley’s, 144-151 Queensway, W2 4YN. Filmline: 0871 22 44 007 (10p per min). www.odeon.co.uk/thelounge. Nuff respect to The Odeon for this fabulous cinema offering. Close your eyes as you walk past the entrance for the ‘regular’ cinema and only open again once your concierge has guided you to the specially appointed bar. This is where the magic starts happening: your coat and baggage are spirited away, leaving you to chillax and fully enjoy the experience. Pitch up half-an-hour or so before your film to enjoy a drink and a bite at the bar, or arrive at the starting time and order fab food (from renowned chef Rowley Leigh) and excellent cocktails from the comfort of your cinema seat
Saturday night at the movies takes on a new dimension at this refreshingly low-key open-air set-up. There’s nothing fancy about the director’s chairs or oversized TV screen but we’re rather smitten by the setting – a charming, very quiet courtyard just off Bond Street. If it’s chilly, wrap up in the supplied blankets and either order from the a la carte cocktail and food menu or munch on delicious bespoke popcorn. £1.50 cover charge. Food from £4.50; cocktails from £8.95. Best for City Slickers:
Monday Night Film Club Prism, 147 Leadenhall Street, EC3V 4QT. T: 020 7256 3888. www.harveynichols.com. Set in the rather grand former Bank of New York building in the heart of the City, this is a cinema club in name only – everyone is invited to attend. Held twice a month (usually the second and fourth Mondays but always check for details), it’s a delightfully decadent way to start the week, particularly with the fab choice of retro movies, well made cocktails and delightful nibbles. £15 includes entry, cocktail on arrival and bar bites.
A word on those seats: there’s room for you and one more in the opulent leather chairs. We absolutely loved the fact we could tip back our heads, outstretch our feet and summon our food and cocktails – all via a handy button nestled on the armrest. Great fun and very luxurious. Highly recommended. Seats from £15; food from £6.50; cocktails from £7. Best for an upgrade:
Ambar at The Odeon 96 Finchely Road, NW3 5EL. Filmline: 0871 22 44 007 (10p per min). www.odeon.co.uk. This Odeon doesn’t have the same swagger of The Lounge but it does have a separate bar/restaurant where you can enjoy a selection of sharing platters and mezze. Cocktails are a work in progress; instead, choose from 25 wines available by the glass. As for the cinema: all standard seats have been fitted with Pro Bax seat to reduce backache, while two cinema screens feature club chairs and side tables. Club seats from £12.50; food from £4.95, cocktails from £5.95. Clockwise from top: Ambar at The Odeon; gourmet burgers at The Lounge; Martinis at One Aldwych; seats with style at The Odeon Swiss Cottage
The Cocktail Lovers - 13
THE BEST OF
BRITISH Get out the bunting, start flying the flag – this summer is all about the Union Jack. The patriotic love-in kicked off on St George’s Day, 23 April, which also happened to be Shakespeare’s birthday. It continues in style with no less than 8,000 torchbearers running through the UK for the Olympic Torch Relay from 19 May-27 July. And if that wasn’t enough, in between, there’s the small matter of someone’s Diamond Jubilee on 5 June… So while the world is in Rule Britannia mode, we thought we’d crack open a bottle of something fizzy – homegrown of course (Breaky Bottom Brut 2006, Sussex; Nyetimber Classic Cuvee 2006, West Sussex, or Camel Valley Brut 2008/09, Cornwall, seeing as you’re asking) and raise a toast to the best in the biz.
IN-spire