Carb loading on Giorgio Bargiani’s Martini sauce pizza, checking out The Cultural Exchange Series at Viajante87 and stocking up on the new Compass Box Hedonism – just a few of the things we’re looking forward to in the coming week…
NEW TASTES
*** The only thing better than a gin Martini with a pizza is a pizza with a Gin Martini Sauce topping. Oh yes, you read that right. Giorgio Bargiani, Assistant Director of Mixology at the Connaught Bar has partnered with Alley Cats to create a special-edition pizza. And being the Martini Maestro that Giorgio is, said pizza just had to include his signature cocktail.
So, close your eyes and imagine biting into the crisp-as-you-like pizza base, then here it comes – the topping: rich with tomato but made all the more creamy and delicious with the botanicals that shine in Fords Gin. Add in extra dry vermouth, fior di latte mozzarella, fresh basil and Calabrian chillies and you’ve got yourself a flavour bomb of a twist on its vodka-based counterpart. And just when you thought it couldn’t get better, Giorgio and team Alley Cat have also created a Negroni dip to complement their creation. Honestly, we think we’ll be eating pizza all month long… Available at Alley Cats Marylebone and Chelsea from 25th February to 25th March.
NEW BARS
***Dalston already has one bar dedicated to agave spirits in the shape of the excellent Hacha. From 5th March Daniel Corrochio and Amy McQuarrie introduce Cinco into the mix. Staying true to the name (cinco is five in Mexican), the menu will be made up of five agave cocktails, five Mexican spirit cocktails and five non-alcoholic cocktails, all made with Mexican ingredients. To go with? Five small plates, all made in their much-loved, family-run restaurant Corrochio’s upstairs.
NEW SERIES
***We mentioned (and recently sampled) the v. cool new Cocktail x Culture menu which launched at Viajante87 last week. This week the team are back in the spotlight with round two of their fabulous initiative, The Culture Exchange Series.
ICYMI last time, this is where bar director Pietro Collina and brand manager Veronica Di Pietrantonio invite the best bars and restaurants from across Latin American and asks them to create a special paired menu which showcase the flavours of their region.
Buenos Aires get the new series started in fine style with Tres Monos (number 7 on the World’s 50 Best Bars) on drinks and Niño Gordo (number 34 on Latin America’s Top 50 Best Restaurants) on food. Book up for the seated four-course menu which starts at 6pm and comprises exciting grilled dishes, expertly matched with bespoke Patrón Tequila cocktails from Tres Monos. And if you just want to sample the drinks, at 9pm the bar is taken over by Sebastián Atienza from Tres Monos who will be serving more of those signature cocktails.
***Bartender, bar owner, speaker, author, educator and drinks visionary Ryan Chetiyawardana aka Mr Lyan announced this week that he’s adding travel presenter to his already impressive CV. The soon-to-be aired Mr Lyan’s Taste Trips sees him travelling the world, tasting, exploring and highlighting some of the pioneers in food and drink. Tune in to the first episode focusing on Japan when it drops via Reach TV on 26th March. We can’t wait.
NEW BOTTLES
***Did you know that Compass Box Hedonism was the first ever whisky to feature a female form on its label when it launched in 2000? Neither did we but we like it. We like it a lot. We also like the fact that the Compass Box Scotch Whiskymakers have a tradition of collaborating with female artists to design the labels that grace the bottles of Hedonism. This year the talent in question for its second limited annual release is Argentinian artist Sofia Bonati. As for the contents: it’s a single grain from the Cameronbridge Distillery, further matured for two years in a first-fill Marsala barrique and comes in at a voluptuous 46% ABV.
***Female art of a very different kind adorns another whisky bottle. Chivas Regal have partnered with cult mouth artist Dolly Cohen for its special-edition Chivas Regal XV bottle. Not exactly subtle, it’s housed in a sculptural 14 karat gold cage, which very much echoes the ‘grillz’ the French designer is renowned for. Only 200 bottles are available to order exclusively at Selfridges and online for a limited time.
***Buttery, rich and gorgeous, those are the three words that spring to mind when we conjure up the delights of the recently launched Four Pillars Croissant Gin. Made in partnership with Lune Croissanterie, hailed by the New York Times as ‘making possibly the best croissants in the world’, the gin is infused with vanilla pods, macadamia nuts, roasted wattle seed, nutmeg, lemon myrtle and that clarified butter that makes Lune croissants taste oh-so very good.
Unfortunately, the gin is a very limited series and only available in Australia but if you’re in Oz or heading there any time soon, our tip is to add a bottle to your shopping list (or feel free to send it our way).
AND ALSO…
DATES FOR THE DIARY
***until 27th February: India’s very first India Bartender Week is currently underway. Set up by industry stalwarts Minakshi Singh, Vikram Achanta and Yangdup Lama in association with Hanna Lee and Michael Anstendig of New York Bartender Week, it’s divided into two parts. The first is Beverage Week (21-25 February), which showcases the talents of 60 bars, all championing local Indian ingredients. The second is The Summit, (26-27th February) a two-day event for industry leaders featuring panel discussion, product showcases, masterclasses and takeovers.
***until 21st March: It’s Margarita Day on 22nd February but at Side Hustle at the NoMad London, they’re not having one day of celebrations, they’re celebrating with specially created margs all month. Take your pick from five variations including, Mango, Almond & Chamoy (Patrón Silver, mango skin, orgeat, hibiscus, chamoy and lemon), Verdita (Vida Mezcal, Verdita, avocado, fino sherry, lime and agave).
REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL
3rd March is… Irish Whiskey Day. Get the drinks in at either Homeboy or The Sun Tavern in London and obviously, The Dead Rabbit if you’re in New York or Austin, Texas . As for Ireland, well, get the drinks in any and everywhere!
5th March is… National Absinthe Day. Get the drinks in at the absinthe fountain at The Green Bar at Hotel Café Royal and The Absinthe Parlour at The Last Tuesday Society in London and in Brooklyn, New York, pair your absinthe based cocktails with oysters at Maison Premiere.
LOOKING AHEAD
April 6th-9th: After the success of last year’s launch event Iain McPherson, Jamie Faulds and Gary Anderson have announced that the Edinburgh Bar Show is returning with an expanded programme. As well as the requisite bar takeovers, seminars and brand experiences, highlights from the agenda for 2025 include The Johnnie Walker ‘Drop’, an immersive multi sensorial journey at Johnnie Walker Princes Street; the Glenmorangie ‘Wonder Cinema’ experience – a curated bartenders event at the Scotsman cinema highlighting creativity in cocktail development, plus distillery tours and experiences at the newly opened Edinburgh Gin Distillery.
April 7th-13th: Following a brief hiatus, Florence Cocktail Week is back for its eighth edition. “I was convinced that the city of Florence had reached such a level in the national and international mixology scene that it no longer needed an event to keep the spotlight on it,” says Paola Mencarelli, the show’s creator. “Then, some of Florence’s most renowned cocktail bars, along with prominent figures in the local mixology scene, convinced me otherwise, and I couldn’t resist.” Over seven days cocktail enthusiasts, connoisseurs, and industry professionals can enjoy a packed programme made up of dedicated menus, masterclasses, brunches, aperitifs, Tuscany Cocktail Week Pop-Up Bars guest shifts and cultural initiatives.
