ISSN 2052-0603 (DIGITAL)
RED ALERT! 6 of the best Bloody Marys
LICENSED TO CHILL The coolest ice buckets
GREECE IS THE WORD 48 hours in Athens + Win tickets to an evening of sheer deco-dence at Harrods
On the cover Moody looks, great drinks and
Gatsby glamour at Bar Américain at Brasserie Zédel
ONLY ONE ANGELIQUE IS WORTH TAKING HOME TO MEET YOUR MOTHER We believe that only fresh, natural ingredients deliver razor sharp flavours and that’s the difference between any cocktail and the One.
The best ingredient is always flavour
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IN-tro
W E’ R E G O I N G
STRAIGHT FOR THE
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IN THIS ISSUE Nothing saucy though, we’re talking Gatsby, glamour and gin. Baz Luhrmann’s cinematic rendition of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic released this May was the inspiration for our cover and style shoot – and why wouldn’t it be? We’ve seen the trailer and it’s a visual feast. The same can be said for Bar Américain at Brasserie Zédel. Every inch of the place bristles with the energy and decadence of the Bright Young Things of yesteryear. We asked Lee Hyde, Francesco Lavilla, Vilte Bertulyte, Monika Gac and Alberto Jiminez from the bar to strike a pose in the myriad fashions inspired by the film. Set against the glorious Art Deco backdrop of their place of work, they capture the opulent mood of the period down to a tee (p. 42). That’s the Gatsby and glamour part taken care of but as gin was the spirit of choice for the author (apparently he was a sucker for a Gin Rickey), we thought we’d take a look at that too. Ben Norum charts the rise, fall and rise of London’s distilleries (p. 20), we head over to Brooklyn to check out how they do things at the New York Distilling Company (p. 40), and toast the re-release of Malacca gin (p. 32). Bloody Marys first made an appearance in the 1920s so we also salute six of London’s best (p. 24). And while hip historians Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown could have taught us a thing or two about this grandiose era, we chat to them about their work together instead (p. 38). There’s more of course, including tips on where bartenders drink when off duty (p. 12), gorgeous craft barware (p. 16) and city guides to Bristol (p. 52) and Athens (p. 54). Pour yourself a drink and dive in.
Happy imbibing! Ms S & Mr G www.thecocktaillovers.com
The Cocktail Lovers - 3
IN-gredients
6. IN-the know
30. IN-focus
54. IN-ternational
25 reasons to be a cocktail lover this season
Elaborate vs. low key
Greece is the word
Which side of the garnish fence are you sitting on?
Everybody’s talking about the bar scene in Athens, now we know why
32. IN-focus
58. IN-vite only
Spice up your life
Snap-shot!
What’s all the fuss about the rerelease of Tanqueray Malacca gin? We talk to Barrie Wilson to find out
Honouring The Deans of Drink
Booking classes in the cocktail caravan and serving up tasty punches – just two of the things we’re looking forward to in the next three months
10. IN-terview In the hotseat – Cleo Rocos On tequila, Kenny Everett and the power of positive drinking
12. IN-spire Where bartenders drink off duty From whisky bars in Scotland to member’s clubs in Barcelona, Ryan Chetiyawardana and co. share their favourite off-duty spots
16. IN-spire Raising the bar Quality crafted barware for when the bog standard stuff won’t do
18. IN-spire A few of my favourite things Up close and personal with Agostino Perrone from the awardwinning Connaught Bar
20. IN-the spotlight Made in London Ben Norum charts the rise, fall and rise of London’s gin distilleries
22. IN-the spotlight A question of taste Why you need a bottle of Angostura aromatic bitters in your kitchen cupboard as well as your bar
34. IN-dulge Licensed to chill The coolest ice buckets for impressing your guests
38. IN-dustry greats Two’s company: Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown Drinks historians Miller and Brown on working together, working in the drinks industry and how they complement each other personally and professionally
40. IN-dependent spirits New York State of mind Gin is the tonic at the New York Distillery Company and its adjoining bar, The Shanty
42. IN-style Get the drinks in at… Bar Américain at Brasserie Zédel. Gatsby glamour finds its home in Chris Corbin and Jeremy King’s sumptuous space
47. IN-formed Mains and Martinis Three London restaurants where the cocktails are a match for the food
24. IN-the spotlight
48. IN-formed
6 of the best Bloody Marys
Word up…
Inspiring variations on the vitamin C-enriched classic
Last orders from R&B star Ne-Yo, why we’re loving the Orderly app and things that make us go, ‘ooh!’
26. IN-the spotlight World Class trends The clothes, soundtracks and settings inspired by this year’s World Class competition trends
52. IN-sider’s guide One night in Bristol Richard Tring and Michael Sharpe’s guide to 24 hours in the city
On the cover: Lee wears bespoke black tails and dress trousers, £1,115, waistcoat from bespoke 3-piece dinner suit, £6,030, both from Huntsman; white collar attached Marcello wing collar shirt, £125, white Marcello bow tie, £75, both Budd Shirtmakers. For clothing in the background, see p. 43. Editors Sandrae Lawrence, Gary Sharpen Sub-editor Susannah O’Grady Creative Director James Cheverton at Burnt Studio www.burntstudio.com Illustrations Melanie Milne www.seriousaboutdesign. me.uk; Nick Schon www. nickschonillustrator.com; Becky Roberts www.doodleyboo.co.uk Photography Johnnie Pakington www.johnniepakington.com Contributors Ryan Chetiyawardana, Ben Norum, Michael Sharpe, Lauryn Tomlinson, Richard Tring With special thanks to Thanos Prounarous, A for Athens hotel For all editorial and advertising enquiries, please contact: mail@thecocktaillovers.com 020-7242 2546 www.thecocktaillovers.com Printed by Polestar UK Print Ltd. Reproduction in whole or part of any contents of The Cocktail Lovers magazine without prior permission from the editors is strictly prohibited. Cover photography by Johnnie Pakington Issue No. 7 April-June 2013
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REASONS TO BE A COCKTAIL LOVER THIS SEASON Cocktails in caravans, colour-coding our spirits and embracing the Golden Age of Cocktails – just a few of the things we’re looking forward to in the next three months
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Checking out the Berry Bros & Rudd No. 3 bar at the Royal Albert Hall. We’ve always loved this historical music venue but now that Berry’s are running things on the bar front, it’s gone up a notch on our culture-ometer. Top tip? Pink Martini on 29 April – great name, truly fab tunes. www.royalalberthall.com 6 - The Cocktail Lovers
IN-the know
02
NSTEPPING 3 OUT IN STYLE o
PUFFING ON QUALITY CIGARS Salvatore Calabrese is back in consultancy mode at The Lanesborough London hotel, advising on the dark and delicious cocktails to pair with Neil Millington’s choice of luxury smokes. Our pick is The Havana Connection (Havana Club 15 year-old rum, Laphroaig Whisky 10 Year Old, fresh lime juice, tobacco liqueur and sugar syrup), expertly matched with a Ramon Allones Specially Selected cigar. Cool and classy gangsta style. www.lanesborough.com
in these l’il babies by Nicholas Kirkwood. Designed to complement the deep, rich jewel-tones of Chambord black raspberry liqueur, they’re gorgeous with a capital ‘G’. www.nicholaskirkwood.com
RELIVING OUR GIRL GUIDE/BOY SCOUT YEARS
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by being totally prepared for any cocktail-loving occasion with this handy gizmo. The bar10der (geddit?) includes muddler, stirrer, knife, channel knife, zester, reamer, jigger, bottle opener and strainer – it’s the Swiss Army knife of the bar world. www.firebox.com
MAKING LIGHT WORK OF MIXING UP OLD-FASHIONEDS
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Seriously, just add rye, whisky or bourbon to the milk section of this ultra-cool milk jug/sugar bowl combo and you’ll have the classic recipe pretty much licked. Available from www.carolinemcgrath.co.uk
Lighting up our lives while being totally green. Check out the funky recycled lamps made from Bombay Sapphire, Jägermeister and Gordon’s gin bottles from reupcycled – they’re just the ticket for spirited eco-warriors. www.reupcycled.com
07. ADDING AN ADULT TWIST TO CHILD-LIKE DESSERTS
By serving up boozy jellies. To make, cube up a 135g pack of fruit jelly and dissolve in 150ml of boiling water. Add 200ml of cold water and 250ml of quality vodka. Pour into this kitsch vodka bottle jelly mould and leave to set overnight. Simple. Jelly mould available from www.prezzybox.com
Colour-coding our spirits and storing them in these beautiful cut-glass decanters. Available in six fashionable shades – that’s one for each of the major drinks categories. www.jasmineway.co.uk
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Embracing The Golden Age of Cocktails
Tout le monde has turned the clock back 80 or so years, inspired by the lushness of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan. Try The Gatsby and The Daisy cocktails, together with the Flapper’s Platter on the menu at The Milestone Hotel. Available from early May. www.milestonehotel.com The Cocktail Lovers - 7
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MAKING FACES The new vibrant Cocktail Collection from Swedish brand Make Up Store includes micro shadows in Cosmopolitan, Mint Julep and Curaçao shades. Inspiring? We certainly think so. www.makeupstore.se
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Keeping mint perky and fresh for spring-time Mojitos. Check out this Herb Keeper – it fits perfectly in your fridge door. www.mocha.uk.com
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13. COMING OVER ALL VOGUE-LIKE
CALLING THE SHOTS
in the new season’s monochromatic trend. Strike a pose at the bar in 1960s Brigette Riley-esque op-art. Our favourite black-and-white look of all time? Cecil Beaton’s highly stylised Ascot scene in My Fair Lady. Our favourite look from the catwalk? Ralph Lauren’s white shirt and long, sweeping skirt, no question. www.ralphlauren.co.uk
Yes, it’s silly but you can’t be serious all the time. Try shooting your tequila from a novelty gun. www.firebox.com
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Getting down with it How’s this for ingenuity? Zane Lamprey’s Drinkmaster hoodie includes a bottle opener zipper, built-in drinking mitt and a pocket for your flask. We’re not saying drink irresponsibly but if you’re ever stuck in a forest, it’s good to be prepared, no? www.drinkingmadeeasy.com
16.
DEVELOPING A CRUSH ON BATHTUB GIN
SUPPORTING THE BEST OF BRITISH Not just its drinks but the independent set-ups such as The Littlecote Soap Co. Trust us, the junipery goodness in its G&T range of soaps, diffusers, hand wash, body lotion and candles is as good on the grooming front as it is in the glass. www.littlecotesoap.co.uk
8 - The Cocktail Lovers
Nothing illicit, we’re talking about the delicious range of homemade jams created with a healthy tot of spirit. The range includes London Pink Gin, and Manhattan Red Marmalade – perfect for perking up your toast and adding a whole new dimension to cocktails. www.bathtubginonline.com
17.
Shaking up our shower routine
with the three-in-one Senorita Margarita shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath from Philosophy. Not only does it leave you feeling tingly and fresh from top-to-toe, it also features a Margarita recipe on the bottle. Now that’s what we call a multi-tasking product. www.philosophy.com
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Serving up spring punches
Getting flowered up
in the quirky and elegant cup and saucer sets from Tipsy Tea Cups. Tea-time has never been so swish. www.tipsyteacups.co.uk
at Belgraves, A Thompson Hotel. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, its Terrace will feature a living wall of edible flowers with complimentary Edible Flower Cocktail Classes. Bloomin’ marvellous. From 21-25 May, early booking advised. Email: restaurantbelgraves@thompsonhotels.com
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Investing in cocktail jewellery Life’s too short to mess around with costume pieces, so treat yourself to the real bling. Top of our wish-list: hot rocks and cool metals from H.Stern at Harrods. www.hstern.net
TWENTY THREE...
GOING ALL OUT FOR GLAMOUR
at Gerry Calabrese’s Baroque at The Playboy Club. What could be more decadent than a Champagne Tower made with two Jeroboams of Louis Roederer Cristal 2004 and 100g of Beluga Caviar on the side? We might not be able to stretch to the £11,350 for that little lot but a Caviar Spoon and a mini coupe of champers for £60 will do just nicely thank you very much. www.baroquemayfair.com
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SPORTING A TOP TITFER Weddings, polo matches, days at the races – all key cocktail moments and mega hat-wearing opportunities. Ladies, seek out one of the new creations by William Chambers for Coast – very well-priced and seriously chic. www.coast-stores.com
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…and gents, discover the titfers in the musicinspired Lock & Roll collection by James Lock & Co. With names such as R&B, The Jive and Summer Reverb they’re guaranteed to strike the right note. www.lockhatters.co.uk
LOOSENING OUR WAISTBANDS to partake in the fabulously indulgent Not Afternoon Tea at the Oxo Tower overlooking the River Thames in London. Choose from four menus of everso-slightly wicked sweet treats, each accompanied by a specially created cocktail. Available daily between 3pm and 5pm. www.harveynichols.com
25. Booking classes in The Cocktail Caravan Two hours, three drinks, one helluva cool setting, it’s our new favourite vehicle of all time. Also available for weddings, parties and tea-time gatherings – ideally all three. www.thecocktailcaravan.co.uk The Cocktail Lovers - 9
- IN THE HOTSEAT -
CLEO ROCOS A WOMAN OF MANY TALENTS, CLEO ROCOS IS PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR WORKING ALONGSIDE COMEDIAN KENNY EVERETT IN THE 1980S. SINCE THEN SHE’S CARVED OUT A NAME FOR HERSELF IN THE DRINKS INDUSTRY, PRODUCING HER OWN TEQUILA AND BECOMING PRESIDENT OF THE TEQUILA SOCIETY. HER BOOK ‘THE POWER OF POSITIVE DRINKING’ IS PUBLISHED IN APRIL.
IN-the spotlight
How did Kenny Everett’s sexy sidekick become an expert in drinks? “Kenny took me for my very first Margarita in Cafe Pacifico in Covent Garden and I’ve enjoyed my cocktails ever since. Mind you, I did have some really horrendous experiences with inferior tequila – horrid hangovers, shoddy cocktails and cheap shots – enough to make me think all tequila was bad. After tasting 100% agave tequila I couldn’t believe the difference. I was furious that I, along with many other people thought shoddy tequila was the norm. That’s when I became passionate about spreading the word. The UK’s Ambassador to Mexico heard about what I was doing and I was invited to his residence to taste these wonderful tequilas that weren’t available in the UK. I worked on getting them stocked in stores like Harvey Nichols before I decided to create my own.” Is it true that you and Kenny Everett were engaged for four days? “Four and a half actually! Yes, it’s true and no, it wasn’t alcohol-induced, it was a genuine engagement. But people made judgements and Kenny called it off. Of course I knew he was gay but that didn’t bother me at all – the two of us created such happy mischief together, we were almost beyond marriage. If he came back today and asked me again to marry him, I wouldn’t hesitate.” Your big spirit is tequila, what’s the appeal? “It reminds me of the reason I got into show business – it’s happy, glamorous, exuberant and fabulous. It allows people to be the best version of themselves.” What led you to produce your own tequila? “The more I got to know and taste various tequilas, the more I realised what was missing was a tequila for the UK palate. I went to Mexico and spent 10 months working with producers to come up with the recipe for AquaRiva – it’s 100% organic. I’m really proud of it; it’s very accessible, very pure and very, very tasty.” You’ve written, produced, acted, presented and created your own spirit. What’s on your passport? “Good question! I’ve recently renewed my passport and I honestly can’t remember what I’ve written down!” Is there a fine line between making drinking fun and drinking irresponsibly? How did you pitch the book to publishers? “There’s so much negativity surrounding alcohol but so many people drink. I’m not saying drink to get drunk, I advocate drinking responsibly. That means knowing what goes into your glass. Do you know how many chemicals there are in wine? It’s pretty shocking. I want to educate people – not in a patronising way but inform them to make better choices. Because I’ve been involved with spirits across all categories – gin, tequila, vodka, rum – I was able to propose it as a genuine, light-hearted but no-gimmick book – something that hasn’t been done before. I wanted to take the dentist chair element out of drinking and make it accessible.”
Do you have a favourite section in the book? [Big pause]: “Ooh, not really”. [Another pause] “Every section was fun to work on – is that boring?” What’s your favourite cocktail to (a) make at home; (b) order at the bar? “A Margarita every time. At home I’ll mix up a jug using my AquaRiva tequila, adding the organic agave syrup I’ve developed – it’s so much better than sugar and not at all fattening. It’s become a real favourite with my female friends, including Holly Willoughby. Richard Branson is also a big fan.” And your preferred drinking spots? “In London I love Cafe Pacifico, Coburg Bar at The Connaught hotel, the fabulous upstairs bar at Rules and, I haven’t been there yet but I’m looking forward to checking out Radio, on the rooftop of the recently opened ME Hotel.” Who are your favourite drinking characters, fictional or real? “Definitely James Bond for the glamour. When you think of him drinking, he’s always in the right setting and it leads to something exciting involving a gun or a girl!” What’s your one essential tip for positive drinking? “Drink quality alcohol and avoid the sugar – not only does it pile on the pounds but sugar causes massive mood swings, leading to depression. Substitute sugar with organic agave syrup instead.”
THE POSITIVE DRINKING MARGARITA 50ml 100% organic agave tequila (AquaRiva) 1-11/2 freshly squeezed limes 20ml organic agave syrup Twist of orange peel Wedge of lime Method: Take a piece of orange peel and squeeze around the rim of the glass. Fill a large tumbler with ice cubes to the rim. Put a large handful of ice cubes in a cocktail shaker. Add all the ingredients and shake hard and fast for five seconds or until the shaker becomes frosted on the outside. Pour into the glass and finish with a wedge of lime, gently squeezed into the Margarita and placed on the ice in the glass. The Power of Positive Drinking published by Random House books is available from all good bookshops. RRP £9.99.
The Cocktail Lovers - 11
IN-spire
WHERE THE BARTENDERS DRINK THANK HEAVENS FOR THE AFFABLE BARTENDER. THEY’RE THERE WHEN YOU WANT TO CELEBRATE, COMMISERATE OR SIMPLY CHILL OUT WITH FRIENDS, BUT WHERE DO THEY GO WHEN THEY WANT TO DO THE SAME? WE PUT THE QUESTION TO RYAN CHETIYAWARDANA OF UPCOMING MR. LYAN BAR AND A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE BARTENDERS AROUND THE WORLD. I tend to index the places where us bartenders drink off-duty into two broad camps: the after work powerhour and the wider category of ‘the bartender’s night off ’. There is a crossover between the two – often in terms of venue and the drinks themselves, but the objectives are quite different. For instance, after a long shift, we’re both physically and (surprisingly, this often hurts more) mentally drained. We’ve been on our feet for hours, running around the bar, tasting drinks, problem solving and playing host to many different groups. Much like the patrons we’ve been chatting with over the past few hours, a tasty drink would relieve many problems. Often a beer with comrades at the end of the shift hits the spot but sometimes something altogether more involved is called for. The problem is, the motivation is either to exorcise the demons of a tough night, or to celebrate a particular glory from a great one. Both tend to point towards a more raucous scenario, which is something bartenders are well trained in. Having cleaned down the bar, the hours left to unwind in different surroundings are few and far between, and maintaining the reserves of energy are crucial. Generally we gravitate to bars offering good beer and shots of tasty bourbon, tequila and/or rum. The venues we choose when off-duty need to be energetic and these drinks fit the bill. This is why bars such as Garibaldi’s in Edinburgh and El Camion in London are such good bartender spots. They’re unpretentious, fun and cater to the community’s need; namely somewhere open late serving tasty drinks with some pumping music. Often I recommend the bars I’m happy to drink in to friends or guests. It’s an honest recommendation and one that I’m confident to endorse. I do also recommend bars I’ve not been to (an unfortunately large number in London), but usually on good words from friends and always with the disclaimer that it’s not from personal experience.
12 - The Cocktail Lovers
Sometimes you need to be spoilt, or you need to spoil someone, and there are bars that do this with aplomb in London. I put this down to the bar teams at the venues more than the settings (although, they too are far from shabby); Tom, Daniel, Erik and co. at The American Bar at The Savoy; Alex, Simone and the team at The Artesian and Rusty and Ago at the Connaught Bar are respected the world over for good reason. They make you feel like a million bucks – everyone needs to feel like a playboy every now and again. Similarly, there are bars with the ‘wow’ factor, perfect for cocktail newcomers and aficionados alike and experiences at Purl, Nightjar and Milk & Honey certainly bring a sense of theatre to a night of drinking. Then there are the bars that are simply great to drink in. This could be for a number of reasons. I love drinking cocktails, but a good cocktail isn’t always enough. I’m constantly upset by rudeness, so it’s great when you see some genuine examples of consummate service, or when there’s energy and passion in a bartender. Similarly, it’s wonderful to be in a bar that simply has the right balance to create an atmosphere that feels so special yet you can’t quite pin down why: it is so much more than the lighting, the music, the crowd, the hosting – different bars have it at different times, and sometimes it’s simply because they are reflecting a certain mood that you did or didn’t know you were after. A well chosen bar can really enhance any mood or occasion. Bramble in Edinburgh is still my favourite bar in the world, but in terms of London, notable favourites are Happiness Forgets, Callooh Callay, Hix, the Hunter S, Dabbous and the Hawksmoor bars. No doubt I’ve forgotten some, and certainly there’s many more to visit but we’re certainly spoilt for choice in London.
Often a beer with comrades at the end of the shift hits the spot but sometimes something altogether more involved is called for
THE BON VIVANT EDINBURGH & STOCKBRIDGE
POLITE PROVISIONS
SAN DIEGO