Mr Fogg’s

Cocktails and Magic at Mr Fogg’s

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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…

A curious evening of cocktails and magic at Mr Fogg's • Cake + Whisky

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.

A curious evening of cocktails and magic at Mr Fogg's • Cake + Whisky

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!

A curious evening of cocktails and magic at Mr Fogg's • Cake + WhiskyA curious evening of cocktails and magic at Mr Fogg's • Cake + Whisky

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!

A curious evening of cocktails and magic at Mr Fogg's • Cake + Whisky

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!

A curious evening of cocktails and magic at Mr Fogg's • Cake + Whisky

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.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:31]

A curious evening of cocktails and magic at Mr Fogg's • Cake + Whisky

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

A curious evening of cocktails and magic at Mr Fogg's • Cake + WhiskyA curious evening of cocktails and magic at Mr Fogg's • Cake + Whisky

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

A curious evening of cocktails and magic at Mr Fogg's • Cake + Whisky

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

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Cocktails and Magic at Mr Fogg’s

Gin Odyssey London Tour with Planet Pass

Local Black Book, , , , , , , , , , 4 Comments

Being a tourist in our own city is something we should all do more often.

And if you’re lucky enough to call London, this crazy, massive, fascinating city home, you know what I mean when I say there’s always something to explore.

And one of the very best ways to do so is a good walking tour.

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

Now, I know what you think: a walking tour? You mean you want me, a local, to voluntarily join a group of tourists and follow a guide around to see things I’ve already seen a billion time? And my answer is no, absolutely not.

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + WhiskyGin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

The time of tacky, pressed-for-time, flag-waving guided tours are over (thank goodness!), and the range of tours available in London are going far beyond the Beginner’s main sights round-up.

From Harry Potter-themed tours, to historical pub walks, street art focused tours to gourmet ones, and even a Pokétour to catch them all (!!), my favourite trick to find London’s best tours is Planet Pass.

Offering dozens of private guided tours in London, it’s a handy little tool to find a tour perfectly customised to your interests and schedule + book everything online in just a few clicks for a set price (the more the merrier!).

Which is just what I did last week, when I went on my own private London Gin Odyssey with Planet Pass*.

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

As you’d know from that shocking revelation I made a while ago, I do love my gin!

But I would never have ima-gin‘d that the history of London and that of the juniper-flavoured spirit are linked quite the way they are…

Now, I don’t want to give away to much (because what’s the fun in that eh?), but every step of the history of gin left marks in London’s landscape that are still visible today.

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

You’ll never pass by Gordon’s Wine Bar quite the same way once you learn that nearby York Watergate is reminiscent of gin’s first appearance on the British market as a medicine to treat stomach complaints and other ailments…

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

Nor will you ever that some of London’s most impressive buildings, built under the reign of William of Orange, probably were fulled by more than a few drops of ‘Mother’s Ruin’…

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + WhiskyGin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

Instead of looking for the best crowd-free angle to click yet another picture of the changing of the Guards at the Horse Guard Parade, you’ll be dreaming of G&T…

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

And most certainly will insist on dropping by Fortnum & Mason any opportunity you get, just so you can take a look at their beautiful (and ever-growing) collection of gin.

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

With bottles from every corner of the world, plus a tonic selection and truly knowledgeable service to match, it truly is any gin lover’s dream come true!

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

And if you time everything juuuust right, you might even be able to witness Mr Fortnum & Mr Mason’s hourly bow…

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

Passing by St Martin’s in the Fields will bring back memories of the dreadful Gin Craze and the story of the woman who kill her own child, so she could sell his clothes to buy gin will send chills down your spine.

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

There are countless anecdotes to be told, each one more ama-gin that the last!

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

Plus you’ll discover the very best spot for gin in the City.

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

Boasting London’s largest gin collection, Mr Fogg’s super retro Gin Parlour just unveiled a magnificent menu of over 300 gins from around the world.

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

From well-known international brands, small batch and local distillers, to rare vintage gins, as well as a selection of unique gin liqueurs and a handful of superb gin cocktails to choose from, it’s the best place to end a gin-themed tour with your tipple of choice!

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + WhiskyGin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

Especially if said cocktail comes with a side of debating which London bar should make it to the top of my list for classic cocktails with a man than knows his liquors!

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

Having taken a few guided tours in the past, I can tell that the guide’s passion is truly what makes the tour, and my guide, James was definitely one of the best in town!

A London historian by day, you’d be hard pressed to find something (or someone!) he doesn’t know about the City!

With the amount of stuff he knows about London & gin, you really could call him a gin-ius & as a result, the whole tour was an absolute delight!

So next time you’re stuck on what to do on the weekend, I absolutely recommend you gather a group and check out Planet Pass’ London tour selection.  The booking system itself is a Y-generation dream come true and all in all, it truly is a brilliant way to discover more of London’s secrets!

PIN FOR LATER:

Gin Odyssey London tour with Planet Pass | Cake + Whisky

*my Gin Odyssey Tour was complimentary but opinion, pictures and love of gin my own!

Gin Odyssey London Tour with Planet Pass

VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg’s

Local Black Book, , , , , , , 8 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.

Cake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonCake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonCake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonCake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonCake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonThe 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. Cake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonCake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonCake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonWhile 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?Cake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonCake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonCake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonCake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonAfter 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!Cake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonCake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonCake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonWe 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)Cake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonSurprisingly enough, it looks almost as pretty when it’s empty! I mean, look at those swirls!
Cake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonThe 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. Cake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonCake + Whisky | VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg's LondonOne last cup of coffee and we were on our way. Up, up and away?

VII Hills Gin tasting at Mr Fogg’s