travelling the world one drink at a time
Champagne, Wine, Cocktails and more…
Each month I will be updating some of my favourite drinks and the stories behind them. This will cover cocktails, wines, champagnes, spirits, beers and much more.
paul young
Espresso Martini
Paul takes me on an interesting journey and shows me how to make his version of this classic cocktail.
merry christmas
MERRY MULLED WINE
Guys sorry its been a mad year so far.
Sharing my great mulled wine recipe with you for a tasty alternative to the normal bottle of red!
sheffield
THE SIDECAR
This is a true classic that dates back to the 1920’s.
It’s about getting the perfect balance between the sweet and the sour.
I grew up in a pub in Sheffield and my dad was brilliant at making cocktails and I understand in the 70s & 80s he was known for them. I remember him making a sidecar and was fascinated watching him make this and also the name too.
This recipe is a classic using cognac.
new orleans
THE SAZERAC
It is claimed that this is the oldest American cocktail from pre civil war New Orleans. I cant fully clarify this
According to legend, the world’s first cocktail was invented by apothecary owner Antoine Peychaud in New Orleans. He decided to name the cocktail after the drink’s main ingredient: Sazerac French brandy.
My research on this revealed….
Around 1850, Sewell T. Taylor sold his New Orleans bar, The Merchants Exchange Coffee House, to become an importer of spirits, and he began to import a brand of cognac named Sazerac-de-Forge et Fils. Meanwhile, Aaron Bird assumed proprietorship of the Merchants Exchange and changed its name to Sazerac Coffee House. On October 2, 2019, the Sazerac House opened to the public as a museum and immersive experience that shares the history of the New Orleans cocktail culture, including the Sazerac.
Legend has it that Bird began serving the "Sazerac Cocktail", made with Sazerac cognac imported by Taylor, and allegedly with the bitters being made by the local apothecary, Antoine Amedie Peychaud. The Sazerac Coffee House subsequently changed hands several times, until around 1870 Thomas Handy became its proprietor. It is around this time that the primary ingredient changed from cognac to rye whiskey, due to the phylloxera epidemic in Europe that devastated the vineyards of France.
At some point before his death in 1889, Handy recorded the recipe for the cocktail, which made its first printed appearance in William T. "Cocktail Bill" Boothby's The World's Drinks and How to Mix Them (1908), although his recipe calls for Selner Bitters, not Peychaud's. After absinthe was banned in the US in 1912, it was replaced by various anise-flavored liqueurs, most notably the locally produced Herbsaint, which first appeared in 1934.
By the early 20th century, simple cocktails like the Sazerac had become rare, which eventually rekindled their popularity.
So, on this note I am going to rekindle this cocktail and make sure we serve this within our properties.
I love a good story…..
Give it a try.
cape town - south africa
Long Island iced Tea
I have read that this drink originated in the late 70’s by a Robert Butt at Oak Beach Inn, Babylon, New York, this area is known as Long Island.
Either way it has become a very popular drink over the years.
My first taste of this was when I was living in Cape Town South Africa. After a long shift where I was the Executive Chef one of the managers and her boyfriend invited me for sundowners at this beach bar down the road. Of course I decided I needed a drink after an incredibly busy service. They told me the long islands iced teas here were excellent, so one led to a few as the sun set that day. Chilled long islands, nibbles and great conversations and laughs.
Perfect on a spring or summers day.
Get the ingredients and make one or a few…
beach bar in Mexico
MARGARITA
The history of this delightful drink is a little sketchy as no one really knows who invented it but they say it was likely for a beautiful woman.
One story that I have read is that the drink was first created by Mexican restaurant owner Carlos (Danny) Herrera in 1938 for the gorgeous Ziegfeld showgirl Marjorie King. King was allergic to all forms of alcohol except tequila which I would say is great, but didn’t like to drink it straight. Herrera supposedly solved the problem by adding salt and lime and creating the world’s first margarita.
Another I researched claims that it was the brainchild of Texas socialite Margaret (a.k.a. Margarita) Sames, who first mixed one up at a house party in Acapulco in 1948. Or it may have been named for actress Rita Hayworth, who was offered one by a bartender during a theatre gig in Tijuana in the 1940s. Hayworth’s real name was Margarita Cansino. Either way it was a gift to mankind.
The margarita is one of those essential cocktails that is a must on any list but also on sunny days whether you are in the city for end of day drinks or the weekends or even better on beach.
The traditional margarita recipe is 2 parts tequila, 1 part triple sec and i part freshly squeezed lime juice. The delivers a perfect drink that is slightly sour but also has the sweetness in there too.
Today there are many variations of this classic cocktail and it is one of the most ordered cocktails.
So I will say the best Margarita I have had were sitting at a beach bar in Mexico, this is the perfect scenario to capture it well. But also by my good friend Paul Young one day as we cooked together at his home.
rooftop bar in Hong Kong
TOM COLLINS
For me a Tom Collins is one of those drinks/cocktails thats an easy drink. It's a great introduction to gin and also with the lemon and soda it’s very refreshing at anytime of the year especially summer. The first time I actually tried one was at a fabulous rooftop bar in Hong Kong overlooking the harbour.
This is one of the oldest and most classic cocktails around and is a sure fire hit. It has been around since the late 19th century. It was first published in Jerry Thomas’ Bartenders Guide on How To Mix Drinks in 1876. The name has some slight contention. In his original book the name is associated with a whole family of drinks combining similar ingredients, later it became associated with gin base.
There are many stories around its origins and history but whatever is true the classic Tom Collins has existed for a long time making it one of the oldest cocktails.
Excelsior Hotel in Venice
Bellini
From the famous Harry’s Bar in Venice the iconic Bellini is one of those drinks that can be drunk all year round in my opinion.
My favourite for a couple of reasons was at the Excelsior Hotel in Venice made by Tony. Sat drinking these as the sun sets with a cigar in hand and the perfect company. Well enough said…..x
NEW YORK - summer 2012
whiskey Sour
My first experience of a whiskey sour was in the Four Seasons Hotel, East 57th Street, New York. It was a great introduction to a whiskey cocktail and has now become one of my favorites!
Milan - 2010
Espresso Martini
The first time I had one of these I drank it like I was drinking iced coffee, 4 later I realised 2 things, one I loved them and secondly I needed to slow down. I introduced them to a friend a couple of years later over a Christmas lunch in London, shall we just say he has a few too many.
If you haven't tried them well you need to!
Milan
Negroni
This is a classic cocktail that is very popular around the world. I enjoyed many of these whilst spending many weeks in Milan when I opened the ME Hotel there. Using three ingredients this drink is refreshing and truly Italian.