The Cocktail Lovers

Our penultimate episode sees us looking back on some of our favourite people, places and products from the past 12 months including:PlacesAmaroCommon DecencyHimkokLineSeed LibraryVelvetProductsBeefeater Crown JewelCapreolus DistilleryFords Sloe GinNixta Corn LiqueurWoven WhiskyPeopleSimone Caporale & Marc AlvarezDrew FlemingGiacomo GianottiDan & Joe SchofieldWhat we're mixing:Chicago15ml cognac15ml triple sec orange liqueur2 dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters1 brown sugar cube100ml Champagne or sparkling wine to topOrange peel garnishMethod:Drop the sugar cube into a champagne coupe or flute and a couple of dashes of the Angostura Aromatic Bitters on to it. Add the cognac and and triple sec. Carefully top up with the Champagne or sparkling wine. Squeeze the orange peel over the drink to express the oils and discard.The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

Hands up if you've still got the Christmas shopping to do? Yup, us too… Don't worry, there's still time to get your Santa on (Royal Mail permitting) and to help you, we've picked out a list of gifts for the cocktail lovers in your life – from £10 and under to blow the budget.see thecocktaillovers.com for gift ideas and website detailsWhat we're mixing:Julie's Sherry Cobbler ( 1 large or 2 small serves)90ml Lustau East India Solera Sherry30ml dark rum15ml double cream15ml simple syrup or cinnamon syrup)1 small eggGrated nutmeg to garnishMethod:Combine the sherry, rum, cream, syrup and egg in a shaker and shake without ice (30-45 seconds) to emulsify the egg. Add ice to the shaker and shake again, until chilled. Strain into a wine glass over fresh ice and garnish with grated nutmeg.Taken from The Craft Cocktail Party – Delicious Drinks for Every Occasion by Julie ReinerThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

Martini anyone? Whether you're a gin or vodka fan, we've got a winning base for you. In the vodka corner we have Elit, smooth-as-you-like thanks to its signature freeze-filteration process, and representing gin we have the re-released Beefeater Crown Jewel, weighing in at a hefty 50% ABV.Martinis feature in our book choice, 'Cocktails, A Still Life', written by Christine Sismondo and James Waller and starring stunning oil paintings by Todd M. Casey, while artfully made drinks are on the menu at Line in Athens, the latest offering from Vasilis Kyritsis, Nikos Bakoulis and Dimitri Dafopoulos.In the hotseat we have Dawn Davies, Buying Director at Speciality Drinks and The Whisky Exchange. Who better to ask how to buy, what to try and what we'll be drinking in 2023.What we're mixing:The Franklin30ml dry vermouth75ml London Dry Gin1 dash Orange Bitters2 green olivesMethod:Add the vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir. Discard the vermouth, then add the gin to the ice with Orange Bitters and stir. Strain into a chilled Martini or Nick & Nora glass, add the two olives and serve.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:Beefeater Crown JewelCocktails, A Still LifeElit VodkaLine AthensSpeciality DrinksThe Whisky ExchangeThe Cognac Show – 10-11 March 2023The Rum Show – 14-15 July 2023The Whisky Show – 29 Sept-1 October 2023The Champagne Show – November 2023 dates tbcThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

It's getting chilly here in Cocktail Towers so we're gravitating towards the rum corner of our cocktail cabinet. Our first review sees us warming up with Rum Union, a new product from the Holyrood Distillery in Scotland (!), before we succumb to the tropical heat found in La Hechicera Rum, hailing from sunny Colombia.We've always liked the look and feel of velvet as a fabric but the new bar at the Corinthia Hotel in London, takes our love of Velvet to another level. Check in for live music, lush interiors and a stunning cocktail list from Salvatore 'The Maestro' Calabrese and his talented team. Then there's our book review, the clever Pour Me Another by J.M. Hirsch – we urge you to dive in to discover your new favourite drink.Lastly, we catch up with Leo Robitschek, Vice President of Food & Drinks at Sydell Group. Tune in to hear how he rose from medical student to Bar Director at Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park and Managing Partner of Food & Beverage at NoMad Hotel, as well as getting his top tips on making drinks for the Holiday season.What we're mixing:Perfect Manhattan50ml rye whiskey or bourbon25ml sweet vermouth2 dashes Angostura aromatic bittersMaraschino cherry to garnishMethod:Add ingredients to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir until chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry pierced on to a cocktail stick.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:Common Decency at NoMad London*La HechiceraPour Me Another – 250 ways to find your favourite drink by J.M. HirschRum UnionVelvet*Holiday Spectacular pop-up at Common Decency runs for six weeks from 16th November.NoMAD Eggnog Recipe (serves 20)6 eggs, separated8 oz sugar16 oz cream32 oz milk2 oz Frangelico4 oz Chivas 12 yr6 oz Michters bourbon6 oz Martell Cognac6 oz Havana Club Selecion de Maestros rum1 whole nutmegMethod Place the egg whites in a 5-quart bowl and the egg yolks in a separate 5-quart bowl. Add 6 ounces of the sugar to the bowl with egg yolks, then whisk until the yolks turn pale yellow and thicken. Whisk in the cream, followed by the milk, Frangelico, whisky, bourbon,Cognac, and rum. Grate the nutmeg over the top and whisk until combined.Add 2 ounces of sugar to the egg whites and whisk until stiff peaks form. Slowly whisk in the egg yolk–spirits mixture. Reserve in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, pour a serving into a single rocks glass and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

What do we do when there's a nip in the air? We warm up with some gorgeous drinks.First out of the drinks cabinet is Stauning Smoke Whisky – our pick for Bonfire Night, or any autumn/winter night for that matter. We follow that with an indulgent but dairy-free treat, Black Lines Oatnog.Sterling in Manchester ticks all of the boxes that we look for in a bar that we want to hunker down in all winter: sexy lighting, plush leather seats, great service, good vibes, and onehelluva drinks and food list.Our book choice is just the ticket for staving off the cold, it's The Cocktail Edit – Everything you need to know about how to make all the drinks that matter by Alice Lascelles.Then ahead of the Athens Bar Show next week we talk to Thanos Prunarus, owner of Baba au Rum and In Love Again to talk about the bar scene and warming hospitality in one of our favourite capitals in the world.What we're mixing:Benny & Hot50ml Bénédictine D.O.M. liqueur50ml hot waterSqueeze of lemon juiceMethod:Stir ingredients together in a heat proof glass and serve.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:Athens Bar Show 8 & 9 November 2022Athens Rum & Whiskey Festival 9 & 10 December 2022Baba au RumBlack Lines OatnogIn Love AgainStauning Smoke WhiskySterlingThe Cocktail Edit – Everything you need to know about how to make all the drinks that matter by Alice LascellesThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

As born and bred Londoners, we're always chuffed when we have any opportunity to shine a light on all that's great about our beloved capital.We start with our two products: East London Liquor Company Kew Gin made in, you guessed it, East London, then take our tastebuds West to Chiswick to sample Sipsmith Cacao & Orange Gin.Our book is 'The Cocktail Cabinet – The art, science and pleasure of mixing the perfect drink' by London-based flavour expert Zoe Burgess and as London Cocktail Week is in full swing, we highlight a few of the many events taking place in every corner of the capital.Our guest this week is one of the OGs of the Cool Britannia bar scene, Nick Strangeway, who reflects on the London bar scene, past and present.What we're mixing:Shaky Pete's Ginger BrewCreated by Pete JearyIngredients50ml homemade ginger syrup*50ml freshly-squeezed lemon juice35ml London Dry Gin (we used Beefeater)100ml London Pride aleMethod:In a blender, blitz the ginger syrup, lemon juice, gin and half a cup of cubed ice for 10 seconds so ro. Strain through a coarse sieve into a frozen beer mug, so you still have a few ice chips in with the drink. Top with the London Pride and drink straight from the glass, as you would a beer.*Ginger syrup150g fresh root ginger, peeled and sliced350g caster sugar250ml waterOver a low heat, bring all the ingredients to the boil. Cool, strain, bottle, refrigerate.Recipe from Hawksmoor at HomeFor more from The Cocktail Lovers, including signing up for our digital and print magazine, visit our website, thecocktaillovers.comTo see the products featured in this episode, check out our Instagram page @thecocktaillovers and see their websites below:East London Liquor CompanyHepple GinSipsmith Orange & Cacao GinThe Cocktail Cabinet – the art, science and pleasure of mixing the perfect drink by Zoe BurgessFor the full London Cocktail Week programme and to sign up for your £15 wristband to entitle you to £7 cocktails, masterclasses and events across London, visit londoncocktailweek.comThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox