NEW BARS
…We’ll have to wait until the latter end of the year before Alex Francis and Barney O’Kane open their much anticipated Bar De Vie in Paris, but in the meantime you can sip on their drinks and enjoy the dishes in Comptoir De Vie, its suited and booted cousin.
Like the bar when it comes, the emphasis in the adjoining restaurant is on sustainability, not just as a buzzword but really and truly getting stuck in, championing and working with local farms and producers. The partnerships culminate in a hyper-seasonal, six-step dining menu which comes in at 90€ per head, with five signature cocktails that complement the flavours, priced at €55. There’s also the option to go for the drinks experience on its own, served with a selection of savoury and sweet bites, alternatively, skip the food and go a la carte, with drinks priced at €15 each.
NEW MENUS
…Destination Athens for the recently launched menu at Avra, the gorgeous bar at Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel. Cleverly, bar manager Manon Kapfer has tapped into the number four and run with it, producing four menus a year, each of which highlight the same four local ingredients as they change throughout the seasons.
Orange, pine, pear and dairy are the protagonists and throughout the year, everything from the seeds, leaves, flowers – you name it, will be utilised. For first of this year’s menus which launched last week, the focus is on the blossom, tree needles, Kristali (local pear) and goats cheese respectively. We’ve tried them all and can attest that each drink is light, bright, exceptionally well balanced and super-duper tasty – perfect for soaking in the fabulous five-star setting and its stunning Athens Riviera location.
…Meanwhile in Tokyo, at Tokyo Confidential, bar manager Holly Graham has gone hard on one of her favourite things outside of the bar, cats, yes cats! And in case there were any doubts, the Neko No Densesu menu which launched earlier this week is called Legend of the Cat. Illustrated by local artist Touré Grantham, highlights include C.R.E.A.M (or cats rule everything around me) created by an ex-member of the Mew Tang Clan (!), using bourbon, mugi shocho, raspberry, coffee and cream.
…The Recipe Book, the new menu at the Punch Room at The London EDITION, does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a recipe book filled with ingredients, methods – even tips on glassware – so guests who like what they taste in the bar, can recreate the drinks for themselves at home. Take your pick from Punch Room classics like the signature Milk Punch, or go for bold with new creations including A Sweet Treat with whisky, cream cheese, matcha, sherry, lemon juice and milk.
NEW BOTTLES
…Another week, another batch of whisky releases. That said, we’re only highlighting our favourite three…
Our first pick is the latest from our favourite independent bottlers, husband and wife team, Georgia and Fabrizio at The Heart Cut. This is one company we urge all whisky lovers to get down with – particularly if you, like us, have a penchant for special, read exciting drams that perk up the palate and spark conversation. Trust us, whiskies that proudly bear The Heart Cut label are truly one of a kind.
Their latest partnership with Stork Club Distillery in Germany sees them tapping into their sweet side. The Heart Cut #13 is a single cask malted rye, matured in a German Napoleon Oak cask and with its notes of ripe cherries, dark chocolate, and subtle hint of sponge cake it’s giving distinct Black Forest Gateau vibes.
…Whisky number two is another beauty, and one that collectors of gorgeous objects, not to mention those who are partial to limited-editions of The Macallan will already be clamouring for. It’s onehelluva collaboration, bringing together Ephemerus Concepts, The East Asia Whisky Company and Bill Amberg in a project called A Study in Oak. What’s the story? It’s a mighty big deal. This is a rare twin-bottling of a 33-year-old Macallan single malt, offered alongside the very same whisky finished in a Japanese Mizunara oak cask. In fact. it’s the first time in whisky history that a single cask has been divided to create two expressions which can be enjoyed side-by-side. And, as befits a whisky of such status the packaging is pretty special too. The decanters are crafted from top-notch Glencairn Crystal and the handsome cabinet is created by leather supremo Bill Amberg. The price? Put it this way, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it…
…Lastly, on the whisky front there’s the latest release from Jack Daniel’s. What’s so special about this one you ask? Well, it’s a 10-Year-Old and just happens to be the brands first permanent age statement in over 100 years. Limited to 2,500 bottles in the UK, it comes in it a very reasonable £110.
…If there’s one brand renowned for bringing bright, orangey goodness to our glasses, it’s Cointreau. And now the brand are expanding their winning ways with zingy fruits with the Cointreau Citrus Series, a new range of limited-edition products aimed at professional bartenders. Created by Cointreau master distiller Carole Quinton, each release will zone in on a particular citrus, the first being Pomelo, a distillate made from the finest single estate Corsican pomelos.
…When Snoop riffed about Gin and Juice back in 1994, we wonder if he knew that he and producer Dre would be partnering up on their own canned Gin & Juice cocktail? And their foray into the booze biz x rap tracks continues with Still G.I.N., a gin that takes its name from Still D.R.E, from Dr Dre’s 2001 album. And if you’re thinking that this might be a gimmick, Dre is having none of it: “Everything is us from the ground up: the gin, the flavour, the packaging… Everything had to be perfect.” We’ll see…
AND ALSO…
It’s busy, busy, busy on the cocktail front in the next few weeks. If you happen to be in Barcelona, Oslo, Florence or Bratislava, or are looking for somewhere to go for a nice break with good drinks, check these…
…30 March: Giacomo Giannotti, team Paradiso and Ketel One partner up for the fourth edition of their much lauded Paradiso Sustainability Summit which brings together seminars, masterclasses and a public cocktail festival showcasing the finest sustainable brands, bars and cocktails from around the world.
Hot topics on the carefully curated programme include diversity, inclusion, empowerment and of course, environmental challenges. “I’m delighted that we are once again able to bring the drinks industry’s most innovative minds to share their expertise on sustainable practices,” Giacomo says proudly. “Our goal with the summit is not just to spark discussion for the global community but also to create a platform where we drive greater change for our local community.” Consumers at the event in Palo Santo can enjoy Espresso Martinis that taste good and do good too. Tickets available here
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…4-6 April: To celebrate reaching double figures Himkok is marking 10th birthday in fine style, with three days of takeovers, talks and good times.
Day one is Scandinavian flavoured, with Hampus Thumholm of Roda Huset and Hedda Bruce from Tjojet, both in Stockholm; Peter Altgenburg from BIRD, Copenhagen and Øyvind Lindgjerdet of Britannia Hotel in Trondheim.
Day two is dedicated to international friends, courtesy of Pernod Ricard’s SIP. Guests to the bar can expect drinks from Bar Leone and The Opposites from Hong Kong; Line and The Clumsies from Athens and Bar US from Bangkok.
Day three features a roundtable discussion hosted by us and covering insights into longevity, creativity and innovation in the ever-evolving drinks landscape; followed by a bar takeover from Himkok alumini, Moe Aljaff from schmuck. New York, Monica Berg from Tayer + Elementary, London and Alex Ruas from the fab Behind Bars design agency.
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…7-13 April: After a couple of years off, Florence Cocktail Week is back! And good job too, it’s a brilliant excuse to head to one of the most beautiful cities in the world and, as well as soaking up the culture, taking in the specially curated signature cocktail and low abv drinks on the menus of the 60 bars, caffés and hotels participating in the event.
But there’s more, including masterclasses, brunches, cultural initiativies, recreational activities and international guest shifts.
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…14-27 April: People of the UK, take note: the Diageo World Class GB Cocktail Festival is back! Taste the offerings from the Top 100 finalists of World Class GB, across 23 cities including Glasgow, Exeter, Birmingham, Reading, Southampton as well as London and Edinburgh. More details to follow.
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…16-19 April: The team at Peaches & Cream bar are not only on a mission to showcase the talents in their own bar but the rest of Zagreb as well. Now in its second year, Copy Taste brings the community together for seminars and an open air festival, plus guest shifts from Himkok, Oslo; Line, Athens; Mirror Bar, Bratislava and Handshake, Mexico City.
Last but by no means least
…We mentioned Mr Lyan’s Taste Trips a few weeks back but that was before the official launch. If you didn’t tune in to the first episode which aired on Wednesday, add it to your must-do list for the week ahead. It’s definitely worth the watch.
