Mulled Wine Inspired Christmas Martini

08-12-2017 Local Black BookBlogmas, Christmas, cinnamon, cocktail, cocktails, cointreau, Cosmopolitan, cranberry, drink, drinks, festive, mulled wine, orange, vermouthLeave a comment

‘Tis the season for Christmas parties & a little festive tipple!

And in that field, things don’t get any better than a tangy Christmas Martini.

I first tried them at the Borough Kitchen Christmas press do, and they immediately became a seasonal staple.

They are a modern take on traditional mulled wine and a real Christmas cracker of a drinks recipe!

Super easy, quick and completely delicious, I have it on good authority that Mr & Mrs Claus enjoy a few of these on the run up to Christmas eve.

Just make sure you drink them responsibly… ‘elf & safety first, promise?!

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More festive inspiration & recipes

The A to Z of Christmas in London

Cranberry & turkey sausage rolls

Christmas orange salad (VE)

DIY Christmas bingo cards

Cocktails and Magic at Mr Fogg’s

07-09-2017 Local Black Bookcocktails, drinks, Mr Fogg's, Mr Gladstone Curious EmporiumLeave a comment

We all like to pretend that adulting is all glam n’ brunch – but the truth is, it’s more, as the French say, metro-boulot-dodo.

But when the daily routine gets too much, I know the perfect spot to escape it all…

Welcome to Mr Fogg’s, the Mayfair home of the fictional Victorian explorer of the name.

Stuffed to the gunnels with stuffed animals, hunting rifles, flags, maps and all sorts of bits and pieces Phileas alledgedly collected on his travels.

As it so happens, Mr Fogg’s is also home to some of the most creative cocktail masters in London – and quite the selection of spirits!

The latest addition to that impressive collection: the brand new, retro confectionary inspired Mr. Gladstone’s Curious Emporium fusion beverage range.

Think Rhubarb & Custard, Pear Drop, Pineapple Cube and Strawberry Bon Bon meet wine.

Playful and quirky, the new range is right at home at Mr Fogg’s!

If you have quite the sweet tooth, you’ll love them simply poured over ice.

If you like your drinks to be bit more tart, mix them with soda or tonic water.

You can also take it one step further and add a few secret ingredients to create your own extraordinary concoctions!

My favourite?

The Lushington Bazoo – a dangerous yet delicious combination of Russian standard Platinum vodka, raspberry puree & fresh lemon juice, topped up with Mr Gladstone’s Curious Emporium Rhubarb & Custard.

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Berry nice indeed… and even better served with a side of magic tricks!

Traveling cards, disappearing foam balls… this guy just aced it all!

Curious cocktails, great company and a bit of (non-compulsory) magic… the perfect way to shake up your daily routine!

Classic Old Fashioned

02-01-2017 Local Black Bookclassic cocktail, cocktail, cocktail of the month, drinks, old fashioned, recipe, whiskey, whiskyLeave a comment

I’m the most useless person when it comes to New Year’s resolutions.

New year, new me simply isn’t for me. The thing is, I don’t want things to change completely.

So what I’m wishing you & myself for 2017 is some more balance. Just as many cakes, cocktails, burgers and general naughtiness, but also some extra greens, vitamins and general healthy things.

Starting things as I mean to go on (and introducing the new ‘Cocktail of the month’ feature on Cake + Whisky!) with an Old Fashioned.

Simple, strong & smooth, it’s a true Mad Men-worthy cocktail and the perfect introduction to the world of drink mixing.

First of, peel a wide slice of orange peel and place it in a tumbler glass.

Top with 10ml simple sugar syrup (2 bar spoons) and muddle lightly using a bar spoon.

Add a double mesure (50ml) of your fave cocktail whisky (I used Woodford Reserve Bourbon).

Add 3 ice cubes and a few dashes of Angostura bitters.

Stir with a bar spoon.

Pel another slice of orange peel and twist over the drink to release citrus oil, then rub the inside of the peel on the rim of the glass before adding the peel to the drink.

Repeat as many times as you have guests and serve immediately.

Oh, and if you’re going away some time soon (lucky you!), make sure you pick up one of Tipplesworth’s genius cocktail kits* to get everything you need to make the sassiest drinks on the go (or without having to leave your couch)!

What’s your favourite classic cocktail? Also, what sort of drinks would you like to see featured in this new ‘Cocktail of the month’ feature?

*The old fashioned cocktail kit I used to mix this drink was sent to me by Tipplesworth but all pictures, opinions and inability to take new year’s resolutions my own.

Halloween Cocktail – Bloody Ghoul’s Goblet

24-10-2016 Local Black Bookcocktail, cocktails, drinks, ghoul's goblet, gin, ginger ale, halloween, halloween cocktail, halloween cocktails, recipe, tanqueray1 Comment

Bonfires burning & bright pumpkin faces in the night…

Witches, ghosts, vampires & zombies gathering in the shadows…

It’s definitely time to get ready for the most frightful night of the year!

Line up the candy apples, befriend a few spiders, get working on the pumpkin carving & dust the old potion book…

… For there’s no Halloween party without a spooky (witches’) brew of a Halloween cocktail!

Bloody Ghoul's Goblet Halloween Cocktail | Cake + Whisky

My elixir of choice? How about a Bloody Ghoul’s Goblet*?!

The perfect mix of sweet & sour, this spooky serve, inspired by thebar.com Smirnoff Ghoul’s Goblet, is sure to cast a spell on your guests!

Just don’t be alarmed when you see some creepy creatures at the bottom of your glass, for if you don’t garnish drinks with worms & tarantula brains on Halloween, then when?

Bloody Ghoul's Goblet Halloween Cocktail | Cake + Whisky

Bloody Ghoul’s Goblet (serves 1)

Ingredients:

35ml Tanqueray gin
150ml ginger ale
2 slices blood orange + juice of 1/4
a few drops red food colouring
Gummy worm sweets, mini plastic spiders, pomegranate seeds & small blackberries

1. Fill an ice tray with gummy worms sweets, plastic spiders & small blackberries (a few to each square) and add water. Add a few drops of food colouring, then freeze.

2. Add 2–3 gummy worm sweet ice cubes to a tumbler glass.

3. Pour Tanqueray gin into the tumbler, add the blood orange juice and top with ginger ale.

4. Garnish with blood orange slices and pomegranate seeds & serve immediately.

PIN FOR LATER:

* This post was sponsored by thebar.com and the featured recipe was inspired by their Smirnoff Ghoul’s Goblet but all text, pictures and Halloween cocktail excitement my own.

Raspberry Wine Spritzer

16-05-2016 Local Black Bookcocktail, cocktails, drink, drinks, raspberry, recipe, rosé, Sparkling Ice, spritzer, summer, wineLeave a comment

There’s something about the sunny weather that just calls for everyday mini-garden parties and evening cocktails.

Yes, even on Mondays. The beginning of a long week deserves a celebratory long drink.

Especially when it’s as easy to make as these Raspberry Wine Spritzer!

Raspberry Wine Spritzer is the lazy alternative to Sangria.

Less ingredients, less prep time but that same ‘summer in a glass’ vibe!

Serve in your favourite patch of sunshine, sit back, smile and relax!

Truly the ultimate summer drink!

Raspberry Wine Spritzer (for 1 glass)

Ingredients: 80ml Black Raspberry Sparkling Ice Sparkling Water (chilled), 150ml chilled rosé wine (I used Côtes de Provence), 4 ice cubes, berries to serve

1. In a large wine glass, place the ice cubes and a few berries (I used blueberries).

2. Pour in the rosé, then top with Black Raspberry Sparkling Ice.

3. Garnish with yet more berries (redcurrants here) and serve immediately.

PS: If you want to make a big batch (for a party for example), simply combine the wine and Sparkling Ice water into a large drink dispenser and serve ice and berries on the side for your guests to garnish their own drinks.

Sparkling Ice Launch at German Gymnasium

15-05-2016 Local Black Bookcocktail, cocktail mixer, drinks, launch, mixer, product, product review, review, Sparkling Ice, sparkling water2 Comments

When it comes to cocktail mixers, there are the classics (tonic water, soda water etc.) and then there’s the rest.

To be honest, I usually don’t care much about said ‘rest’. Coke? Nah. Strange-flavour soda. No thank you.

But there’s a new kid on the block and it’s going to change your Summer cocktail game forever.

Sparkling Ice UK Launch | Cake + Whisky

I first discover Sparkling Ice at its UK launch party at the swanky German Gymnasium a few days ago.

Sparkling Ice UK Launch | Cake + Whisky

And OMG is this place stunning!

Sparkling Ice UK Launch | Cake + Whisky

Breath-taking architecture, spotless service and loads of delightful little details, it’s the sort of place restaurant-lover dreams are made of.

A dream made even better by perfectly mixed cocktails, highlighting Sparkling Ice products.

Hitting the shelves of supermarkets later this month, the range includes three creative flavours: Black Raspberry, Peach Nectarine & Orange Mango.

Each is bursting with real fruit flavor and just the right amount of fizz, but without any of the calories you’d usually get in that sort of drink.

Now, I must admit I’m no big fan of those by themselves (but if you’re a tiny bit less sensitive to the taste of sweetener than I made, I reckon you should be just fine), but they were a revelation when used as cocktail mixers.

Sparkling Ice UK Launch | Cake + Whisky

The tartness of the Peach Nectarine flavour pairs perfectly with the deep herbal notes of basil and gin…

While the Orange Mango one makes for a very tropical drink when mixed with rum & vanilla.

Add a few nibbles…

Teeny tiny guac’ and goat’s cheese cones

Battered scampis with lemon mayo

And (of course) delightful Currywurst bites (when in Germany…)

And there you have it: the perfect summer party!

Saying I’m excited about Sparkling Ice’s launch would be quite an understatement.

I’m already dreaming up delightfully fruity recipes for picnics and garden parties (coming soon, keep your eyes peeled!) and keep my fingers crossed that Sparkling Ice soon bring the rest of its extensive range to our shelves.

Because if the possibilities already seem endless with just 3 flavours, just imagine what it would be like with all 19 of them!

Sparkling Ice will be available in all major supermarkets in the next few week and is already available at WHSmith. I was invited as a guest to the Sparkling Ice launch event.

Dusk til Pawn, Manchester

11-04-2016 Local Black Bookbar, cocktail, cocktail bar, drinks, Dusk til Pawn, gin, Manchester, recommendation, review, travel, UK, whisky2 Comments

Manchester is a great city by day, but it only comes truly alive at night.

Famous across the country for its buzzy nightlife and eclectic music scene, Mancurian bars & clubs are second to none and a visit to one of the city’s top cocktail bars is an absolute weekend must-do.

Manchester’s hip Northern Quarter is full of great places to spend the night, but top of my list is Dusk til Pawn.

Find the big ‘Pawn Shop’ sign in the window and make a beeline for one of Manchester’s coolest speakeasy bars.

Popular with locals and visitors alike, Dusk til Pawn is famous for both its creative cocktail menu & its great atmosphere.

… not to mention its impressive liquor collection (and that’s not even all of it!)!

Grab a seat at the bar, pick your poison and watch in awe as the bartenders work their magic, stirring, mixing and shaking glass after glass of delicious creations for you to taste.

Favourites included The Sinnerman (Bourbon, cinnamon, cherry juice)

The Bail Bond (House celery gin, elderflower, rosemary, tonic)

The Brass Ball (Whisky, marmelade, ginger, bitters)

Make sure you also order ‘A Million Dollars’.

You might not end up quite as rich as you’d expect, but you certainly are in for a treat…

… And a bit of a show!

Dusk til Pawn, Manchester | Cake + Whisky

Let the oak smoke infuse into the barrel-aged fig old fashioned for as long as you can bare it.

Then delight in the strong smokey notes, balancing perfectly against the sweetness of the fig.

Another highlight was the Diamond Glove (Gin, rhubarb, rosemary, grapefruit).

And even if you’re late to make it for your restaurant reservation (#truestory), you must have a Hustle (oh, the irony!)

Combining house plum gin, bail, lime and pomegranate, it’s one of the most surprising cocktails I’ve ever tasted.

Quite worth the risk of ending up without a table to be honest…

So whether you live there all year round or are just visiting for a couple of days, make sure you include Dusk til Pawn into your Manchester weekend plans.

And in case you were wondering, yes, we did make it in time for our dinner booking in the end.

But that my friends is a (burger full) story for another day (tomorrow)…

Dusk til Pawn, Stevenson Square, Northern Quarter, Manchester M1 1FB

London’s First Mulled Wine Festival

13-11-2015 Local Black Book#MulledWineFest, Christmas, drinks, event, festival, Lic, London, mince pies, mulled wine, Mulled Wine Festival, things to do in London, winter, yelp, Yelp London1 Comment

There is no better way to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season (yes, it’s only mid-November, I know, I know!) than with a cup of spicy mulled wine.

Oh wait. Yes there is.

Several cups of it.

Plus mince pies and candy canes.

And London first Mulled Wine Festival, organised by Yelp London, has it all and then some more, making it the best thing that could have happened to your weekend.

To find it, easy, just follow the Christmas trail!! (or you could check it out on Yelp…)

Strong Christmas sweater game? You’re probably getting close…

Yelp #MulledWineFest London | Cake + Whisky

Giant reindeer? Getting hot!

And when you see a big group of Santas, you know you’re in the right place!

Download the app and check into the event, get your wristband from one of the fantastic Yelpers on site (and say hi! for me), and you’re all set to go!

Go where I hear you say? The most wonderful place of them all.

Mulled wine land!

A hot cup of the Christmas staple will make you forget that winter is coming.

And soon you’ll be saying that it’s ice cream weather.

(YES, mulled wine ice pops are a real thing. A really, really good real thing even!!)

A side of mince pies is pretty much obligatory.

But that’s if you can resist the inviting smell of MeatLiquor‘s burgers (don’t even bother trying.)

Eat, drink and be merry!

London’s first Mulled Wine Festival sure is the best way to welcome the festive season!!

Yelp’s #MulledWineFest is in full swing on Covent Garden Plaza today and tomorrow (November 13-14), 12-9 PM. Entry is free if you download the Yelp app and check into the event.

Summer’s coming | Virgin Watermelon Fizz

09-06-2015 Local Black Bookcocktail, drinks, easy, juice, mocktail, recipe, summer, watermelon4 Comments

It’s a well-known fact that the weather in London is not always the nicest and it has kind of been playing with my nerves lately. One day, it’s perfectly nice and sunny and the next, it’s windy and cold and November-ey.

But I found the perfect way to trick my brain into thinking that Summer is on its way no matter what the colour of the sky. And that trick my friends, is my new favourite mocktail: the Virgin Watermelon Fizz!
For 2 glasses, you’ll need: 1/4 of a small watermelon, diced and de-seeded; juice of 1/2 lime (+ a few slices to serve), mint leaves, ice cubes, sparkling water.

Put some mint leaves at the botom of your glasses and muddle lightly. Juice your watermelon (I have a juicer but you can also do it with a hand blender as watermelon is pretty much just water anyway!). Share the juice between the glasses (they should be about half-full). Top with lime juice, ice cubes and sparkling water. Dress your glass with lime slices and serve immediately.

VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg’s

02-06-201504-06-2015 Local Black Bookbar, drinks, gin, London, Mr Fogg's, quirky, review, VII Hills Gin8 Comments

“Little nips of whisky, little drops of gin,

Make a lady wonder where on earth she’s been” – Anon.

Gin is, in my mind, intimatelly linked to London. Even though its origins can be traced back to both Holland and Italy where it’s most probably been invented, Londoners very quickly fell head over heels (quite literally, see Gin Craze) for that spirit and it’s been included in many typically British cocktails, and stars in one of my own favourites, Gin & Tonic.

I’ll admit that I’m far from being an expert, but I’m working on it. And what better way for that than being invited over to taste London’s latest gin blend, VII Hills?

VII Hills was created by three of London’s best bartenders, who are behind award-winning bar Mr Fogg’s: Danilo Tersigni, Filippo Previero and Francesco Medici. True to their Italian roots, they created a blend combining ancient Roman botanicals with the great British art of distillery to create a unique flavour of past and present.

Just like Mr Fogg’s incomparable atmosphere, VII Hills Gins end up being somewhere juggling between tradition and quirkiness.

The promise of cocktails was the perfect excuse to catch up with some of my absolute favourite London bloggers, Rosie of A Little Lusciousness and Jasiminne of Posh, Broke & Bored. While discussing each other’s current projects (Rosie is planning a few pop-up dinners in July and they look absolutely ace!), we couldn’t help but click too many pictures of the surroundings… but in my defence, aren’t those bowl hat lamps the cuttest?After some plotting to take various pieces of the decor home (we didn’t), it was time for the tasting to begin! We started with VII Hills Gin by itself, which was quite wonderful as it had very pleasant sweet orange notes on top of the usual juniper, with fairly spicy, almost Szechuan-like mid-tones. Very unlike anything else I’ve tried before and definitely on my radar for this summer’s G&Ts!We also got to try the VII Hills Gin in two of Mr Fogg’s signature cocktail, starting with the ridiculously pretty Cape of Good Hope (VII Hills Gin, pear puree, fresh rosemary, lavender tincuture, egg white & soda)Surprisingly enough, it looks almost as pretty when it’s empty! I mean, look at those swirls!
The Kiouni (VII Hills Gin, St Germain liqueur, apple juice, lime juice and peach bitter) might seem a lot simpler but tasted of summer. Since the weather doesn’t seem to want to take the calendar into consideration, I suppose this is the next best thing. One last cup of coffee and we were on our way. Up, up and away?