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The Cocktail Lovers

News, reviews and how-tos for cocktail lovers and the cocktail curious


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  • 7. New season, new products, new bars

    01:11:44||Season 11, Ep. 7
    Autumn is always a time for exciting new projects on the cocktail front. We’ll be talking about five new, destined to be hot spots around the world in our news section, before talking to the uber talented Mr Joe Schofield about the opening of the much anticipated Schofield’s bar making its way to London next monthAlso new, we’re giving the bottles a rest in this episode, instead our product section sees us delving into the recently published ‘The Irish Whiskey Cookbook – 50 recipes to cook, sip and savour’ by proud Irishman, Oisin Davis. With everything from double barrel hot sauce, chicken with whiskey and mushroom sauce, and Irish coffee brownies – as well as some tasty tipples, it’s one we’ll be making good use of during the chillier days and nights ahead.And then there’s our featured establishment, the beauty that is Ugly Butterfly… More than a restaurant or bar, Chef Adam Handling’s masterpiece is truly a work of art – not just in looks or the masterful tastes that come from the kitchen and bar, but the entire experience. While its second home at the Headland Hotel may have come a year ago, for all intents and purposes – it’s new to us, plus its in Newquay so it fits the theme perfectly. We urge you to visit and try for yourself.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're drinking:New Fashioned60ml Woodford Reserve bourbon30ml Disaronno15ml simple syrupOrange peel to garnish Method:Stir ingredients over ice. Garnish with orange peelBar CCBeaufort Wine BarBrumaDos AgavesTayer + Elementary Vibes Only NegroniThe Irish Whiskey Cookbook – 50 recipes to cook, sip and savour by Oisin Davis Ugly ButterflyUtopicCompetitions:Celebrate Her x Fernet Branca Celebrate Her have teamed up with Fernet-Branca on a collaborative competition inviting the industry to design a limited-edition Celebrate Her x Fernet-Branca coin.Submissions open until 27th November. Submit your designs hereRise To The Table from Rosewood FoundationCreated to help connect emerging female talent with the skills, networks, mentorship and opportunities needed to build lasting careers. Open to women from all backgrounds and countries, the program welcomes applicants with a minimum of five years’ industry experience, regardless of educational background. Applications open, close 28th October. Find out more hereEvents:Until 25 October: Venice Cocktail Week. For tickets and details26-27 October: Tales on Tour Miami. For tickets and detailsThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

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  • The 50 Best Bars 2026

    37:49||Season 11
    Rather fittingly for 2026 The 50 Best Bars which took place in Milan last week, featured bars from 26 countries. Which is not only neat as far as numbers go but also makes us think just how global this whole cocktail malarkey has become.We remember when the list was dominated by bars from two cities: namely London and New York. These days it’s exciting to see representation from all kinds of venues – from fancy five-star hotels to unapologetic dive bars – from all corners of the globe – we’re talking from Buenos Aires to Bratislava and Sao Paulo to Seoul as well as Tirana, Lima, Guangzhou and Medellin.So on to the meat and potatoes of this year’s newly branded, The 50…In total, there were 14 new entries on this year’s list, all of which deserve a huge shout outAngelia from Madrid at number 50Bar Snack from New York at no 49Gokan, Hong Kong at 41Barro Negro, Athens 40Bar Carmen, Medellin, no 39Montana, no 36Waltz, London 32Victor Audio Bar, Buenos Aires, no 31Schmuck, New York, no. 11Dry Wave Cocktail Studio, Bangkok, no 27De Vie, Paris 23Mamba Negra, Medellin, 22Eximia, Sao Paulo, no 20schmuck, New York, 11Bar Mauro, Mexico City, 10And just as worthy of a mention are the re-entries:Martiny’s at no 46Argo, Hong Kong 25We also have to highlight this year’s Special awards which went to some of our favourite people in some of our favourite bars. Congratulations toShingo Gokan, Roku Industry IconTakuma Watanabe, Altos Bartenders’ BartenderPanda & Sons, EdinburghSiete Misterios Best Cocktail MenuAlquimico, Cartegna, Michter’s Art of HospitalityLine, Athens, Ketel One Sustainable BarSeven rooms Best Bar Design, Saikindo, Abu DhabiThree Horse, Melbourne Campari One to WatchThe 50 Best Bars Scholarship, Isa MejiaParadiso, Remy Martin Legend of the list awardFor the full list, see thecocktaillovers.com but if you haven’t already heard who made the top 10the rundown goes as follows:10. Bar Mauro, Mexico City9. Lady Bee, Lima8, Connaught Bar, London7. Zest, Seoul6. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City5. Line, Athens4. Bar US, Bangkok3 Alquimico, Cartegna2. Moebius Milano 1.Bar Leone, Hong KongWe caught up with the winners, good friends Lorenzo Antinori and Paola Mariotti from Bar Leone Hong Kong; brothers Ricardo and Eduardo Nava, and their proud mum, of Bar Mauro, winners of the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award, and husband and wife team Giacomo Gianotti and wife Margarita Sader, owners of Paradiso, Barcelona, recipients of the Remy Martin Legend of the List award. Which goes to prove: work with people you know, love and trust, and ideallyFor more, see The 50 Best Bars 2026

  • 6. Martinis in the spotlight

    01:01:01||Season 11, Ep. 6
    We make no secret of the fact that the Martini is our favourite cocktail. It’s a classic that been around and enjoyed for well over 100 years. But, right now, it seems that everyone is getting in on the Martini action with all kinds of variations taking star billing on cocktail menus around the world. So rather than wait for World Martini Day to roll around in June, we couldn't think of a better time to celebrate this truly iconic drink.We open the episode by highlighting some of our favourite gins and vodkas for making our Martinis at home. Then, as well as our bar review, which sees us heading to the recently opened Brutes of Mayfair, we highlight some of our top spots for enjoying a Martini in London. One of which is Hawksmoor St Pancras & Martini Bar, where we meet this week's guest, Liam Davy. As Beverage Director of the Hawksmoor Group he's the man behind the dedicated Martini menus across all of the sites in the UK, Ireland and US and one of the nicest people to share our favourite cocktail with.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:Liam's Ultimate Home Martini Batch (for a 700ml Bottle)450ml Good Quality Gin or Vodka (we love Fords or Finlandia)100ml Vermouth (Dolin Dry is our house pick)150ml Filtered Water (unless you live somewhere with great tap water!)Optional extra: replace 50ml of the water with preserved lemon brine.Beefeater Crown JewelBeluga Gold Line VodkaBrutes of MayfairConnaught BarClaridge's BarDonovan BarDukes BarGordon's Export Strength GinFords GinHawksmoor GroupHawksmoor St Pancras & Martini BarJo VodkaStolichnaya Elit VodkaRulesSacred GinSipsmith GinTanqueray GinTwenty8 NoMadX Muse VodkaThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

  • 5. Cork and Copenhagen calling!

    01:02:12||Season 11, Ep. 5
    Other than Negronis, there is an ever-so slight connection to the featured items in this week's episode and it's cities beginning with the letter 'c'… First there's our recent visit to Copenhagen where we went specifically to visit Victory, a bar that’s as cosy as it is creative and one that we think you'll be hearing much more about in the future.We’ve also got something of an Irish angle or two, thanks to a recent visit to Cork for the Jameson Hosts Global Summit. We start by opening up a bottle of the rich and oh-so-smooth Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey and continue with a chat with three of the global champions of this year's Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series Competition .What we're drinking:Old Pal30ml Rye Whiskey30ml dry vermouth30ml CampariOrange or lemon twist to garnishMethod:Stir ingredients over ice. Pour into chilled cocktail glasses and garnish with an orange or lemon twist.Jameson Black LabelJameson Black Bartender Barrel Series Victory, CopenhagenDiary dates:25 & 26 Sep: Drink Japan (London)drinkjapan.uk For trade tickets, register here (accreditation required)25-27 Sep: Kolkata Cocktail Weekend (Kolkata)@30bestbarsinUntil 27 Sep: Barcelona Hotel Bar Week (Barcelona)barcelonahotelbarweek.comUntil 27 Sep: Negroni Week (Global)negroniweek.comUntil 18th Oct: Artesian x Seventy One GinArtesian Bar at The Langham (London)@artesianbarlondonUntil 30 Sep: House of Negroni at Brooklands Bar, The Peninsula (London)houseofnegroni.comThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

  • 4. Refined, reimagined, rebooted

    01:20:37||Season 11, Ep. 4
    Nothing is new, not really. Things are simply reimagined, refined – given a reboot if you will, all with the aim of making our lives just that little bit easier. Or a tastier, as is the case with everything we’re talking about this week.We start by looking at two hotels that have jooshed up their cocktail cabinets with own-label products – not novel granted, but purposely created to elevate the guest experience. We have a tasting of The Krasnapolsky Thai Blend Geneva from Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam, and explore the range of bespoke products on offer at Virtú at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi. Eve Bar in London’s Covent Garden has done much the same by focusing on three classics: Champagne, Caviar and Cocktails – each of which they showcase in a fabulous selection of in-house products and an array of clever servesAnd last but by no means least, on to this week’s guests: Maura Lawrence Milia and Liana Oster. We talk to them about how what was the old American Embassy has taken on a new lease of life as the luxury five-star Chancery Rosewood and their respective roles as the dream team heading up two very distinct spaces at Eagle Bar.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're drinking:Apple Blossom45ml calvados45ml sweet vermouth3 dashes Orange BittersDehydrated apple or slice of apple to garnish (optional)Method:Stir ingredients over ice. Garnish with the dehydrated apple or apple slice and pour into chilled cocktail glass.Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky AmsterdamEagle Bar Upper East at Chancery RosewoodEagle Bar Upper West at Chancery RosewoodEve BarVirtù at Four Seasons OtemachiDiary dates:3 Sep-30 Oct: A Man Under The Influence: 63 Days of Steven Soderbergh’s Selects at Everyman at The Whiteley6-8 Sep: The Cambridge Global Series at the Cambridge Public House, ParisGuest shifts at Cambridge Public House(from 5.30-8.30pm)6 Sep: True Laurel, Donna NYC and Smoke & Bitters7 Sep: Bar Gabriel, Mius and Tres Monos 8 Sep: Mirror Bar, Alquímico and AngelitaSeminars at Bonnie Club7 Sep: (from 12- 4pm)On Education: Bar Gabriel, Mius and Tres Monos.On Environment: True Laurel, Angelita and Smoke & Bitters,On Community : Mirror Bar, Alquímico and Donna NYC. 14-20 Sep: Aperitivo Week21-22 Sep: Tales on Tour at the Square Washington. For tickets and detailsThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

  • 3. A dash of elegance

    01:10:14||Season 11, Ep. 3
    There’s more than a dash of elegance in the mix in this episode, and we make no apologies for that. In fact, we positively applaud ourselves that we've made a feature of it.We start by opening up a very distinctive bottle to unveil the unique taste of Bitter Cedrino – a very special Italian liqueur, blended from Mediterranean herbs with a touch of Sardinian sea water.Then we head off to Ma/Na, an ever-so stylish, incredibly hot new spot in London’s Mayfair - to experience Japanese inspired precision, rhythm and heat in an exceptionally aesthetic space, serving equally exceptional cocktails.We’ve also news of cocktail glassware innovations, which are as chic as they are functional. Hardly surprising when one is the creation of Giorgio Bargiani, of the Connaught Bar. While the other comes from Lorenzo Antinori of Bar Leone, with another two from bartenders creating barware in gorgeous ceramics.And our guest is elegance personified, it's Minakshi Singh who shares her story from the challenges she faced as a young, female bartender in India 20 years ago, up to the present day, where she’s now one of the driving forces on the country’s bar scene, as the co-founder of five venues.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're drinking:Lillet Rose Spritz50ml Lillet Rose100ml tonic waterGrapefruit wedge to garnishMethod:Add the Lillet Rose to an ice-filled wine glass. Top with tonic water and gently combine. Garnish with the grapefruit wedge.Amar The MakerAriane Fine Porcelain x Whyte Tales BarwareBar/Giani x NudeBar Leone x BOBO GlasswareBar StormyBitter CedrinoMa/NaNine LivesSidecar The Standard, LondonDiary dates:20th August, 5pm-9pm: Sprout Sessions x A for Athens, Templeton Garden, 1-15 Templeton Place, London SW5 9NB1st September, 5.30pm-11pm: Equal Measures Charity Auction, Nancy's Cocktail Bar, Coelchurch House, Bridge Walk, London SE1 2SXTickets and more info available hereOnline auction opens 23rd AugustThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

  • 2. Bringing on the flavour (and flava)

    01:17:08||Season 11, Ep. 2
    We’re zoning in on flavour in this episode – that’s flavour with ‘ou’ as in the taste of our featured product which is the super lush Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch Whisky, and the Indian ingredients highlighted at newly-opened bar Tryst. It’s also found in the veritable smorgasbord of goodies we’re highlighting in our new news section. Then there’s the flava with an 'a', used in hip-hop and informal speech, the kind of flavour that describes the style, vibe and distinct effervescence of our very special guest – the force of nature that is Kapri Robinson, bartender, educator, mentor and all-round bringer of good vibes. We're thrilledFor more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're drinking:Lagerita45ml blanco tequila20ml triple sec25ml fresh lime juiceMexican Modelo Especial beerLime wheel to garnishMethod:Shake first three ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Pour into chilled tall glasses rimmed with salt (optional). Top with a light Mexican lager beer (about 100ml). Stir gently and garnish with a lime wheel.AllegoryArchive & MythAvra at the Four Seasons Astir Palace, AthensBar StormyBar Visconti at Castello di CasoleChocolate City's BestEmory Rooftop Bar Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch WhiskyMonkey Shoulder SelectsTales of the CocktailTrystGuest shift:From 6pm, 26th August: Sip & Guzzle at Scarfe's BarThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox