The Cocktail Lovers

For everything you want to know about choosing, using and infusing teas there's only one woman to call, that's Henrietta Lovell aka the Rare Tea Lady. She talks to us about her passion for teaand shares her incredible knowledge on how teas can enhance all manner of drinking experiences – in the home, restaurant and bar.But before we hear from her, there's the business of our product reviews to attend to… We start with Witchmark Black Lime Single Origin English Gin produced in Wiltshire and follow with Sacred Triple Sec, proudly distilled in Ian Hart's north London home.Our book sees us getting into full disco mode as we enter the spirit of Natasha David's 'Drink Lightly – A lighter take on serious cocktails, with 100+ recipes for low and no-alcohol drinks', then it's time to get serious in our bar pack of the week, which is the classic Vesper Bar at The Dorchester in London.Then it's over to Mexico City where we talk tea with Henrietta Lovell.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're mixing:Strawberry Mojito3 straberries10 mint leaves60ml white rum15ml lime juice10ml simple syrup 1:1Soda water to topMint sprig (garnish)Method: Muddle all ingredients except soda water in a tall chilled glass. Fill with crushed ice, top with a little soda water. Pull though to combine all ingredients. Serve with a metal straw next to a sprig of mint.Drink Lightly – A lighter take on serious cocktails, with 100+ recipes for low and no-alcohol drinks by Natasha DavidSacred Triple SecRare Tea CompanyWitchmark GinVesper Bar at The DorchesterHenrietta Lovell's Tea Martinis Masterclass is at El Minutito, Mexico City from 6pm on 16th July. See elminutito.com for detailsThe Green Rhino Bakery is at Tonalà 121, Roma Norte, Mexico City @greenrhino_mxWith thanks to our partners:Australian Bitters CompanyThe Can MakersThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

Sometimes we theme our episodes, sometimes we offer a mixed bag of tastes and goodies. This episode is all about the latter…We start with the first of our products, the unique and delicate spirit distilled from the flower of the coconut palm, Ceylon Arrack. Our second pick takes the ABVs up a few notches, it's Redbreast Single Pot Irish Whiskey, but the Cask Strength version coming in at 57.5% ABV.There are an abundance of drinking suggestions in our book choice, How To Drink by Victoria Moore, as well as in this week's bar, none other than the exceptional establishment which sits at No 1 on The World’s 50 Best Bars list. It is, of course, Handshake in Mexico City.Our guest is equally fabulous, it's the co-founder of Paradiso in Barcelona, the driving force behind Women and Hospitality, owner of hospitality design company MS Bar Trends, and now co-founder of flower-inspired bar Gardenias in Lisbon, the one, the only Ms Margarita Sader.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're mixing:Sparkling Rita30ml reposado tequila15ml Cointreau150ml grapefruit soda/sparkling grapefruitMethod: Fill tumbler with ice, pour tequila and Cointreau. Top with the soda, Stir and serve. Garnish with candied organ and lemonsFrom 3 ingredient cocktails – 60 drinks made in minutes by Kate CalderCeylon ArrackGardenias LisbonHandshake SpeakeasyHow To Drink by Victoria MooreMSBartrendsParadisoRedbreast Single Pot Irish Whiskey – Cask StrengthWith thanks to our partner:Can MakersThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

If you know anything about us, you’ll know we love us a Martini. So with National Martini Day coming up on Thursday 19th June, followed by World Martini Day on Saturday 21st June, it would be rude of us not to give a little nod to our signature drink.With that in mind, we’ve picked out two very different bases for our Martinis, we go high proof with Beluga Gold Line Vodka and low – not in quality, but volume – with Second Sip, a new, recently released 20% abv gin created very much with sessional Martinis in mind by industry stalwarts Leo Robitschek and Nick Strangeway.Make Mine A Martini – 130 cocktails and canapés for fabulous parties by Kay Plunkett-Hogge, is our book choice and it does exactly what it says on the tin. That’s if you’re staying in… if you’re going out, we can’t recommend the seven-strong Martini List at Twenty8 NoMad in London highly enough.  In the hotseat, we have Tibor Krascsenics, group beverage director at LPM Dubai. He gives us the lowdown on the brand new, extremely stylish cocktail menu, conceived and perfectly presented as a glossy fashion magazine as well as sharing his tip for the perfect Martini.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're mixing:Turf Club45ml gin (Plymouth or London Dry)45ml dry vermouth7.5ml maraschino liqueur2 dashes absinthe2 dashes orange bittersYour choice of lemon twist /olive/maraschino cherry to garnishMethod: Stir all ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with your choice of lemon twist/olive/maraschino.Method:Add a handful of fresh mint leaves and the sugar syrup to a Julep cup or Rocks glass, then lightly 'muddle' together. Add bourbon, then stir, before adding plenty of crushed ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint.28 NoMadBeluga Gold Line VodkaLPM DubaiLPM RestaurantsMake Mine A Martini – 130 cocktails and canapés for fabulous parties by Kay Plunkett-HoggeSecond SipWith thanks to our partners:Australian Bitters CompanyThe Can MakersThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

We're counting down the days until Simone Caporale and Lorenzo Antinori open their destined-to-be-hot, new destination bar in Hong Kong but before we hear from them on the what, why and how of their first collaboration, there's our usual housekeeping to attend to.Starting with our product reviews… Gary gets the ball rolling with the latest expression from Johnnie Walker, Johnnie Walker Black Ruby, and Sandrae cracks open a bottle of Gin Mare Capri. Our book choice is definitely one for the bartenders out there, it's the Spirited Awards nominated Bubbles: A Guide to Carbonated Cocktails by Bart Miedeksza and Valentino Girotto.Next we head over to Scarfes Bar in London where the works of British artist and caricaturist Gerald Scarfe are reimagined in the latest menu: Long Drawn Out Sips. Then it's time to hear from two of our favourite Italians, Simone Caporale and Lorenzo Antinori about their new joint project, Montana, which combines 1970s Miami with Cuban hospitality.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're mixing:Mint Julep60ml Maker's Mark Kentucky Bourbon Whisky20ml sugar syrup (1:1)A handful of mint leavesMethod:Add a handful of fresh mint leaves and the sugar syrup to a Julep cup or Rocks glass, then lightly 'muddle' together. Add bourbon, then stir, before adding plenty of crushed ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint.Bubbles: A Guide to Carbonated Cocktails by Bart Miedeksza and Valentino GirottoGin Mare Capri Mediterranean GinJohnnie Walker Black RubyMontanaScarfes BarWith thanks to our partners:Australian Bitters CompanyThe Can MakersThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

In the first of our city specials, we're in New York where we spent three nights in seven incredible bars – eight if you count the two at Sip & Guzzle. As well as trying the drinks we caught up with the movers and shakers behind them to find out more about their respective venues and what they think makes the bar scene in New York tick.We also booked in to Great Jones, the first working distillery in Manhattan for 100 years and chatted to Hanna Lee and Michael Anstendig from Hanna Lee Communications to get their perspective on what's making the city pop right now and about hear more about their recently launched project, New York Bartender Week.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comWhat we're mixing:The Big Apple (serves 1)45ml Great James bourbon45ml cloudy apple juice10ml freshly squeezed lime juice10ml sugar syrup (2:1)I egg whiteCinnamon stick/cinnamon powder to garnishRecipe from Difford's Guide; adapted from 60 Second Cocktails by Neil Ridley & Joel HarrisonMethod:Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and dry shake to emulsify the egg white. Add ice and shake hard. TStrain into chilled coupe. Garnish with grated cinnamon or cinnamon powder.Bars visited in this episodeBar SnackClemente BarDouble Chicken PleaseGreat Jones DistilleryMartiny'sschmuck.Sip & GuzzleSuper BuenoBars mentioned in this episodeAmor Y AmargoAttaboyBar ContraBemelmans BarDear StrangersEventi HotelMister ParadisePDTPortrait BarShinji'sThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

International Women’s Day is March 8, so we're celebrating the incredible contribution of women across the drinks industry.Our products are Nc'nean founded by Annabel Thomas and Casa Dragones Tequila Blanco founded by Bertha González Nieves. Our book is The Cocktail Parlour - How Women Brought The Cocktail Home by Nicola Nice and we highlight a few bars founded and run by women around the world. Our guest is Marissa Johnston, Executive Director of OurWhisky Foundation who tells us about the work they're doing to empower women in whiskyWhat we're mixing:Earl Grey MarTEAni(For 2 cocktails)Infuse one Earl Grey tea bag in 120ml London Dry Gin50ml lemon juice40ml simple syruo1 egg whiteMethod:Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake without ice. Add ice and shake again. Strain into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.In this episode:Artesian BarBar SwiftBlack PearlBrujasCasa Dragones TequilaClover ClubCopperBayDoñaDouble Chicken PleaseCafe ArixiEgo DeathHappy AccidentsMilady'sMostly HarmlessNc'Nean Botanical SpiritOurWhisky Foundationschmuck.SelvaTayer + ElementaryThe Flying DutchmenThe PontiacTokyo ConfidentialThe Cocktail Parlor by Nicola NiceVesper Bar

In this episode we're taking our tastebuds on a journey that goes from London via Latin America, Kentucky to England and various stops in between. We start with Never Say Die, a whiskey distilled in Kentucky, then shipped to England for its final maturation. We then head to Sweden for a taste of Bex Almqvist's fresh take in a traditional Nordic spirit, Rejmyre Akvavit.This week’s read is a must for anyone who wants to know anything about the history of American drinks, it’s the incredible Imbibe! From Absinthe cocktail to whiskey smash, a salute in stories and drinks to Professor Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar by David Wondrich.That’s north America’s drinks history sorted, in west London the team at Viajante87 celebrate the flavours, tastes and traditions of Latin America in their new menu Cocktail + Culture. Then we’re in New York where we catch up with this week’s guest, the much travelled vision in pink and violet that is ms. franky marshall. We chat to her about her love of craft bartending, the joys of Cognac and her unwavering positivity.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're mixing:Jameson Cold Brew Tonic50ml Jameson Cold Brew125ml tonic waterOrange wedge to garnishMethod:Fill a Highball glass with ice. Pour in Jameson Cold Brew, top with tonic water. Garnish with orange wedge.In this episode:Almqvist Destilleri Rejmyre AkvavitImbibe! From Absinthe cocktail to whiskey smash, a salute in stories and drinks to Professor Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar by David Wondrichms. franky marshallNever Say Die Rye Whiskey Viajante87With thanks to our partners at Cider Mill PressThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

It wasn't planned, but Martinis pop up a few times in this episode. Not in our product reviews, which feature Planteray Cut and Dry Coconut Rum and Tito's Handmade Vodka (although, come to think of it, the latter would make a fab base if vodka-based Martinis are your thing).As the title suggests, they're front of centre of our featured book 'The Martini – The Ultimate Guide to a Cocktail Icon' by Alice Lascelles; then they pop up in fine style in our bar review at one of the oldest restaurants in London – Rules, as well as in this week's Cocktail Hack with Simon Ford.With more than 20 years experience in the drinks industry under her belt, it's fair to say that this week's guest Charlotte Voisey knows her way around a Martini. But rather than that, we're talking to her about her brand new, exciting role as Executive Director of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. Tune in to find out more.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're mixing:Split-base Sazerac10ml absinthe rinse30ml cognac30ml rye whiskey10ml sugar syrup4 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters1 dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters10ml Absinthe rinseMethod:Chill an old Fashioned glass, then swirl with absinthe to coat. Then add remaining ingredients to mixing glas and stir over ice. Strain into glass them=n garnish with a lemon twist.In this episode:Planetary Cut & Dry Coconut RumRules RestaurantThe Martini – The Ultimate Guide to a Cocktail Icon by Alice LascellesThe Winter Garden Cocktail Bar at RulesTito's Handmade VodkaThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox