Hello September

There’s a slight chill in the air....rummaging for that jumper and reaching for a brolly and sunnies just in case? Us too! It’s officially autumn and whilst we’re reminiscing of alfresco spritzes a tad, there are just too many exciting things on the horizon – so sharpen those pencils, September’s here and she’s looking good!

London Cocktail Week announced it’s all go next month, with it being extended to a whole month! We’re very excited to announce that BrewDog Distilling Co. will be taking part with two amazing events showcasing their Five Hundred Cuts rum and the latest to the wolf pack LoneWolf Cactus & Lime gin.  With delicious bespoke cocktails and a series of fun interactive events on the cards, this is definitely an industry highlight and a chance to support all the incredible bars taking part. 

Ever heard of baijiu? Perhaps you should as it’s the world’s most popular category of spirit, globally consumed more than whiskey and vodka combined, which is why we’re delighted to be working with Ming River, a traditional Sichuan Baijiu, produced at the oldest continually operating distillery in China, beginning operations in 1573. With notes of pineapple, spicy peppercorn, guava and papaya it makes the perfect spirit in Tiki-style cocktails.

Highball serves have definitely been a hit this summer, and autumn will be no different with the M.C.T (Mezcal Coffee Tonic) from Corte Vetusto, the world’s most awarded mezcal. This is a great and delicious way to bring in some richer flavours to your palette whilst still being light and refreshing. 

Ingredients:

·     30ml Corte Vetusto Espadín

·     60ml Cold Brew Coffee

·     80ml Premium tonic

Method: Pour all the ingredients over ice, into a hi-ball glass, stir well and garnish with an orange wedge

So, who’s ready to jump into Autumn?! 🙌🍃🍂

THE GLOW OF SUMMER

With heatwaves incoming, there’s nothing better to draw us out of lock-down than the chance to enjoy London’s bars and restaurants again, preferably on a sun-soaked terrace, almost feeling like it’s the Med! We’re lusting after Pineapple Daiquiris, Mezcal highballs and Clean & Press hard seltzers served icy cold!

With nearly 8 million adults in the UK buying a CBD product since the start of the year, it’s no surprise this is one of the fastest growing drinks categories. Leading the trend is Kolibri CBD, non-alc cocktails with a 20 ml full spectrum CBD dosing cap all in one, so the CBD stays ultra-fresh and you can put in as much as you want. It comes in 2 flavours: Citrus Grove and Dark Forrest so easy to just pour over ice and feel that stress slip away. Perfect to try out on National CBD day on Saturday 8th August, available online or instore from Holland & Barrett

National Rum Day means it’s officially summer, incoming on Sunday 16th August, with multi-award winning Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum teaming up with everyone’s favourite tropical rum-joint, Laki Kane, for some serious Caribbean style vibes.

Swing by for complimentary Stiggins’ Daiquiri and catch the Plantation global brand ambassador host rum tastings in the evening, pre-booking essential.

Or drop a bottle into your virtual basket (from Master of Malt) and shake up your very own Pineapple Daiquiris at home, quite possibly the tastiest, simplest cocktails ever..

If you haven’t heard of hard seltzers, where have you been? The biggest new spiked soda to hit the UK that’s THE drink if you’re looking for something light, refreshing, low abv and park-picnic friendly. BrewDog Distilling Co’s Clean & Press hits the spot being zero sugar, zero calories, zero carbs and made with Rogue Wave single malt vodka. Available in Cactus and Lime, Crushed Black Cherry and White Peach and Mango from BrewDog.com the perfect work (out) hard, play hard drink.

Enjoy those rays guys, don’t forget the sunscreen!

New Beginnings

Bars & restaurants are opening on the 4th of July and we couldn’t be more excited! Whilst we’ve loved seeing all the creative and innovative ways people have kept the industry alive, bars and restaurants have suffered greatly, opening their doors again and getting people back to work will be monumental, we hope you will all be supporting your locals as much as we will be!

Here’s a snapshot update of what we’ve been up to this past month:

We started working with Kolibri Drinks, launching their new CBD-infused alcohol-free drinks, helping people find the calm in the chaos, especially poignant in current times. Complete with their patented Smart Cap technology they ensure you control your dose. Launching in two flavours, Dark Forest and Citrus Grove, available from Holland and Barrett.

Kolibri Drinks are also hosting a free online retreat on Sunday 5th July, helping you combat feelings of stress and enjoy some ‘me-time’. Hosted by Kamila Sitwell (CEO of Kolibri Drinks) and Elaine Grundy (founder of The Reiki Centre and author of ‘Reiki – A Path to Freedom’), with Elaine introducing the power of Reiki and creative manifesting and Kamilla discussing how to find the calm in the chaos

·      Access is FREE and the first 25 to sign up will win luxury bath salts from Verdant Alchemy, and one lucky guest will win a wellness hamper worth £150. Sign up here

BrewDog Distilling Co. called on the renegade rum-lover with the launch of limited edition Distiller’s Cut rum, a barrel aged spiced rum. Aged in Oloroso sherry casks with bold flavours of blood orange peel and spiced botanicals. Ever the maverick, head distiller Steven Kersley breaks the mould by combining the flavour properties of spiced and sherry-cask rum; a ground-breaking concept and we can vouch that it tastes delicious, loaded with blood orange flavours and spice.

We celebrated National Martini Day in style with the effortlessly stylish Kavka vodka – vodka ‘how it used to taste’. Pro tip for the ultimate Martini from Jan Woroniecki, owner of Kavka vodka - deep freeze your vodka and use a chilled martini glass to allow the flavour profile to subtly change as the martini warms up.

With summer in full swing, we’re bringing our summer hols closer to home by perfecting our Margarita-making skills with Corte Vetusto mezcal. If we close our eyes, it *almost* feels like we’re in Oaxaca, Mexico! Try out the Tommy’s Vetusto Margarita recipe below:

·      50ml Corte Vetusto Espadín

·      25ml fresh lime juice

·      10ml agave syrup (or sugar syrup)

·      A lime for garish

Shake hard all the ingredients over cubed ice, until the outer shaker is covered in frost. Strain over cubed ice into a rocks glass and garnish with a lime. ¡Salud!