The Bartender of Your Dreams

P. J. Clarkes Doug Quinn

I truly respect the skill of a bartender. Being able to memorise what I want, how to make it, and to do it efficiently. The NY Times have a nice piece about Doug Quinn, who works at P. J. Clarke’s, which shows that he is in his own league!

How else to explain the way he muddled mint for a mojito — and went on to make the rest of the cocktail — while glancing alternately at the door to see if anyone new was coming in, at the far end of the bar to see if anyone was telegraphing thirst, and at the guy in front of him, who was babbling anew about something or other? Not once did Mr. Quinn look down at the drink. It was like bartending in Braille.

Full article over at the NY Times website

Martinez

Ingredients
Dash of Boker’s bitters
2 dashes of maraschino
12.5ml Old Tom gin
50ml Italian vermouth
1/4 lemon slice

Method
Put all the ingredients into a mixing glass and fill with ice. Cap with a Boston shaker and shake for a few seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass.

Hendrick’s Horseless Carriage Awaits

Hendricks Carriage Job Search

Those that know me, know that I do enjoy my Gin, and one brand that I do like a lot is Hendrick’s. Especially due to their quirky marketing and events, and I’m pleased to say that they have done it again, with their Horseless Carriage

The hottest cocktails in London?

Anise Spiced Martini

Channel4 Food have come up with a list of drinks and places – The Top 10 Hottest Cocktails in London



Including the Anise Spiced Martini, Russian Rose Martini and Cucumber Cooler.

Review: The Vaults, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham

Negroni & Martini - Vaults

The other evening, on the way home from dinner I was walking past The Vaults, spotted the bright red door, and thought a little Martini to finish the night off would be a good plan.

It may have been this moment, in retrospect where it all went wrong, but wrong in a good way as I’ll explain. The Vaults has been open for a while, but it had been a long time since my last visit where we had spotted that some of the staff were good at making cocktails.

Purl, London – New Bar Opening

timthumb.php

Cocktails. No matter where they are, we will go out and about trying to seek the best. We reckon that Purl, a new bar opening in Marylebone by Tristan Stephenson (and other Fluid Movement partners will be high up on our ‘to visit’ list.

Rhubarb Gin, two ways.

One of our fellow drinking friends has conducted some rigorous scientific research into Rhubarb Gin.

Outside of drinking interesting booze I’m also rather interested in making it. However, lacking both license and equipment to distill and the patience to brew at home I’m currently sticking with the joys of flavouring spirits. I’ve done a few vodka based experiments (with the liquorice vodka being a repeated success which never lasts very long) but after discussing flavour extraction with the chaps at Hawksmoor (where the horseradish gin in the bloody marys is rather nice) and trying Bob Bob Ricard’s rhubarb G&T I decided to try making rhubarb gin.

Take a look at his findings, Billy’s Booze Blog – Rhubarb Gin, two ways

Anyone tried anything similiar, a sloe gin perhaps?

Hendrick’s Curiositorium – New Site

Whilst this might not be the most ground breaking news ever, Hendrick’s have relaunched their website:

Go checkout the Hendrick’s Curiositorium

Negroni

Negroni, Rules, London

Now, if you ever fancy a refreshing summer drink you really should consider a Negroni.

To make a Negroni, you’ll need

  • 50ml sweet vermouth
  • 50ml gin
  • 50ml Campari (or Aperol)
  • Orange slice for garnish.

Review: Nuvo, 11 Brindley Place, Birmingham

Negroni, Novu, Brindley Place

Nuvo, 11 Brindley Place, Birmingham

It’s always good to see more bars opening, especially those that are literally moments away from my doorstep and seem to promise a good cocktail.

At first glance it feels like Nuvo might be onto a real winner, it’s early days (open for three days so far) and no doubt will take a while before the place beds in.