End of the summer

August was an exciting month for us… celebrating the end of summer with our annual day out, launching our internship opportunity with the Drink Trust’s Drinks Community and going nuts over SheepDog’s new peanut butter whiskey.

Every year we like to get out and celebrate all of the team’s hard work, whilst also enjoying each other’s company outside of a work setting. Our adventure this year began with a delicious breakfast at our new team favourite ‘Eggbreak’ - whether you fancy some fantastically cooked eggs, or a huge stack of pancakes, this is the place! After a hearty breakfast, we headed out around West London for a fantastic day of solving clues and crimes in an interactive murder mystery game. Of course, we had a few cocktail stops on the way… Once we’d pinned the criminal, we headed over to Windsor to explore the new Soho House pop up - Summer River House. Amidst the picturesque setting the team sipped on Soho House’s signature rosé, toasting to all the achievements 2021 has seen for Domino so far, and all of those still to come… That said, let’s take a look at some of the exciting things September is set to bring. 

As you may have read recently on our various social channels, Domino has paired with The Drinks Trust to offer a fantastic opportunity for an individual to kickstart a career in drinks PR supported by joint funding. 

The paid internship is a great opportunity for someone whose career in the drinks industry has been affected by the pandemic, as it offers a chance to get some experience on the other side of the bar. Ross Carter, CEO of The Drinks Trust said: “As we have all seen during the reopening of the industry, there is a real staff and skills shortage out there at the moment, and initiatives like this will be instrumental in turning that around.” We’ve had an incredible response so far, and can’t wait to introduce a new member to our team. For more details on this fantastic opportunity, and how to apply, read here.

Sheep Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey was an August highlight. What’s The Best described Sheep Dog as “totally unique”, and we couldn’t agree more. This nutty delight took the UK by storm indeed. The team were delighted to secure 33 pieces of coverage over the course of the campaign, but this wouldn’t be possible without such a delicious product to pitch! Luxe Bible put it best “Why haven’t we tried such a delight before? This whiskey is just incredible.” Although our campaign is over, Sheep Dog is in the UK to stay - so grab a bottle here to see what all the fuss is about.

To finish on a high, Crystal Head Vodka received a great accolade from British GQ reviewed as being the ‘best for a clear head’ in their ‘Best vodkas for a Martini’ (shaken not stirred)... Take GQ’s advice this weekend, and pour yourselves a Crystal Head Martini - check out their recipe here… Cheers!

The Big Comeback

This week on our social channels we focused on all the places we can’t wait to try now that everything is opening up. So along these lines, this month’s blog post is dedicated to all the bars, clubs and restaurants that have been affected by the pandemic and are finally getting the chance to return to business as usual. Here is a shout out to a few more favourites, and what we would recommend sipping on…

Our first pick is the illustrious Sexy Fish. This incredible asian restaurant and late night bar offers a feel of ‘mid-century glamour and opulence’. Sporting some incredible artwork, by the likes of Damien Hirst, Frank Gahry and Michael Roberts, Sexy Fish is the perfect location for a luscious evening of escapism. 

If you do find yourself in this sultry venue, firstly say hi to the effervescent Sophie Bratt (one of London’s leading hospitality heroes) and why not try sipping on a Clog Nine? It’s their twist on a vodka soda, made with applewood infused Crystal Head vodka, jasmine, coriander seed and Mt Fuji bitters. 

Fancy toasting our recent Aussie-style heatwave? Then head over to newly opened Cin Cin Fitzrovia and sip on one of Regal Rogue’s delicious Australiano cocktails. Light and low abv meaning you don’t need to hold back! Perfect for al fresco dining, Cin Cin is the ideal location tucked behind Oxford Street so great for some post-shopping refuelling. Their outdoor seating area is the perfect spot to watch the world go by.  

A new addition to our growing list of personal favourites is NoMad London. With its atrium-lit restaurant and super-stylish British pub-style cocktail bar, Side Hustle, this place has it all. Their vision is to represent an ‘artfully lived life’ at NoMad, which is why the walls are home to so many fantastic pieces of art. Combining character with comfort, NoMad is a great place to visit, and certainly has our vote.

What to drink you ask? Well the menu is Mexican-inspired so fill your boots with the bar’s insane selection of agave-laced delights, the Paloma we tried was pure perfection. You could also ask to try the brand new Sazerac de Forge cognac, it’s top-shelf material, literally, so the bar team will scale the heights of the back bar to get it for you!

Whatever you do to celebrate the re-opening of the hospitality sector, please ensure you treat the staff well, a lot of them are working double shifts and finding their feet again. Leave a tip, give them a big smile and tell them how amazing they are doing!

Cheers!

Team Domino

Freedom Day

So here we are, Freedom Week at last...giving bars, restaurants, cafés and clubs the chance to welcome people back through their doors in some manner of normality. That and glorious sunshine, there’s definitely all the summer vibes going down at Domino HQ!

Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to so far this month…

*New client alert* The delightfully nutty Sheep Dog Peanut Butter; an amazing peanut butter laced whiskey liqueur, which has already proven to be a huge hit in the US, and we have no doubt will be lapped up over here! Check out their website for a bit of inspiration for the best way to drink it, whether you like an Old Fashioned, Hard Shake, Espresso Martini or a straight-up chilled Sheep Dog sipper, we know you’ll love it as much as we do. Click here to get your paws on some.

We are also working with Sazerac de Forge ‘Finest Original’ Cognac. Taking a step back into the history of cognac, Sazerac de Forge, is “rich and floral” with a distinct texture that is creamy and leaves “exotic spice on the palate, with a long, soft finish and a hint of natural sweetness”. It sounds idyllic to us.

Head to Master of Malt to purchase a bottle, then visit the website to try your hand at making ‘The Sazerac Cocktail’ and get to understand the aroma, flavour and finish that has been created.

Pride Month may have drawn to a close, but, as Crystal Head Vodka said, “it’s important that we celebrate and spread the message of love all year!”, and we couldn’t agree more. This is exactly why Crystal Head is continuing to sell their Pride 700ml and Magnum bottles for the foreseeable future, with a contribution from each bottle sold going to UK LGBT+ human rights charity Kaleidoscope Trust.

 If you want to find out more about Crystal Head alongside some epic, insightful listening, make sure you tune into co-founder Dan Akroyd talking about his ultimate last supper on the Off Menu podcast, available either on Apple Podcasts , Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

As it feels like Bondi Beach in London at the moment, why not reach for one of Australia’s finest exports, Regal Rogue vermouth, the closest we’ll be getting there let’s be honest? The Regal Rogue Australiano is a fun, new twist on the classic Americano cocktail, flipping it ‘upside down’ with a twist on ingredients. A delicious accompaniment to brunch, lunch or pre-dinner sipper, choose from their four variants, each featuring a different Rogue, and start enjoying the sweet taste of freedom, cheers to that.

Here’s the recipe for the Wild Australiano for you to try, G’Day Summer!

Ingredients:

• 37.5ml Regal Rogue Wild Rosé

• 12.5ml Aperol

• 100ml Fever-Tree White Grape & Apricot Soda

• Sprig of Mint

• Lemon Slice

Fill a tall glass with ice, add the Regal Rogue and Aperol, then top with the Fever-Tree White Grape and Apricot Soda. Stir with a bar spoon and garnish with lemon & mint.

See how ours turned out here.  

And get your hands on whichever Rogue takes your fancy at Master of Malt.