The Cocktail Lovers The Cocktail Lovers

It's World Gin Day on 8th June, so what better reason to crack open not one, but two bottles of tasty gins? Our first is Citadelle Rouge from France, the other is Garden Swift, a deliciously crafted gin lovingly made in the Cotswolds.
Jim Meehan is no slouch when it comes to writing ace cocktail books and in his latest The Bartender's Pantry – A Beverage Handbook for the Universal Bar, he's partnered up with Bart Sasso and Emma Jantzen to bring another cracker to add to your cocktail library. This one comes highly recommended by us.
As does our bar pick, Kioku, a new bar in the Raffles hotel which specialises in all things sake. Then we go to the wonderful Artesian at the Langham where we catch up with Giulia Cuccurullo to talk about forgoing a career in architecture and choosing instead to build a future for herself in front of and behind the bar. Which she has done. Big style. Tune in to find out more.

For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.com
For the products featured in this episode, see websites below:
What we're mixing:
The Pearl
90ml premium sake (we used Toku)
30ml vodka
3 slices of freshly peeled ginger
I piece of candied ginger to garnish (optional)
Method:
Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously to bruise ginger. Pour into a chilled Cocktail glass. Garnish with candied ginger (optional).
Featured in this episode:
Artesian Bar at The Langham
Citadelle Rouge Gin
Garden Swift Gin
Humble Chicken
Kioku Bar at Raffles
The Bartender's Pantry – A Beverage Handbook for the Universal Bar by Jim Meehan and Bart Sasso with Emma Jantzen

The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before we get started, please accept our apologies: there are some shocking pronunciations coming up. But what we lack in Mexican fluency, we certainly make up for in passion for the spirits the country produces.
In this episode we open two bottles of tequila, Avíon Silver and Patrón Extra Añejo; get all scholarly delving into The Essential Tequila & Mezcal Companion – How to select, collect & Savor Agave Spirits by Tess Rose Lampert and taste an amazing array of mezcals and agave-based cocktails at the fabulous Mexican-inspired bar The Mezcalaria at Kol.
As for our guest, we’re thrilled to be joined by the incredible Jesse Estes, global brand ambassador at Ocho tequila. Here he shares his passion for all things agave, respect for his late father Tomas and the upcoming launch of The Tequila Ambassador V.O., containing personal stories from Tomas’s journals, interviews he conducted with industry experts and everything you wanted to know about all things agave. One for agave fans and newbies alike.

For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.com
For the products featured in this episode, see websites below:
What we're drinking:
Tommy's Margarita
60ml tequila (we used Olmeca Altos)
30ml freshly-squeezed lime juice
15ml agave nectar
Lime wedge to garnish
Salt rim (optional)
Method:
Rim the edge of a Rocks glass with salt if using.
Combine ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into your Rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Try it at Tommy's Mexican Restaurant, San Francisco

Featured in this episode:
Avíon Silver Tequila
Ocho Tequila
Patrón Extra Añejo
The Essential Tequila & Mezcal Companion – How to select, collect & savor agave spirits by Tess Rose Lampert
The Mezcalaria at KOL
The Tequila Ambassador V.O

The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Foodies have Michelin stars, and now, thanks to Hannah Sharman-Cox, Siobhan Payne and Dan Dove, the drinks world has an equivalent with the long-awaited launch of The Pinnacle Guide. But before we catch up with the terrific trio we have some business to tend to, in the form of our usual reviews.
On the agenda, our pick of products… The first is Ramsbury Raspberry and Wildflower Honey Gin, a delicious, summery spirit highlighting ingredients sourced from the Ramsbury Estate. The second has very much been created with travellers in mind, it's the dinky bottle of Air Mary, a flavoursome spice mix devised to pimp up your in-flight Bloody Mary.
Our book choice is 'Mixed In Minutes' by Dan Whiteside which features 50 'quick and easy cocktails to make at home' – what's not to like about that? But if you do fancy heading out for some five-star bar action, we highly recommend The Spy Bar at Raffles London. Here, in the 006 and 007 rooms frequented by Ian Fleming, you can drink in the very rooms where Winston Churchill conducted his briefings and taste the array of delicious concoctions that he, Fleming and MI5 and MI6 agents have inspired.
Then we check in with the three fabulous founders of The Pinnacle Guide to hear how and why they set up the world's first recognition system for bars and learn about the very specific boxes that venues have to tick in order to be awarded the much coveted pins.

For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.com
For the products featured in this episode, see websites below:
What we're drinking:
Corpse Reviver #1
30ml Calvados
30ml cognac
20ml sweet vermouth
Method:
Stir ingredients over ice. Pour into chilled cocktail glasses and enjoy (responsibly!)

Featured in this episode:
Air Mary Bloody Mary Spice Mix
'Mixed In Minutes – 50 quick and easy recipes to make at home' by Dan Whiteside
Ramsbury Raspberry and Wild Honey Gin
The Pinnacle Guide
The Spy Bar

The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every day’s a school day here at cocktail towers – and, as ever, we’ve enjoyed our lessons on the people, places and products featured in this episode.
We’ve learned about The Heart Cut, the single cask, small batch spirits company founded by Georgie Bell and her partner Fabio; been tutored on armagnac courtesy of Marquis de Montesquieu armagnac and genned up on sharpening our tastebuds by studying Mandy Naglich’s book How To Taste – a guide to discovering flavour and savouring life.
Our bar pick is Wacky Wombat where we get a geography lesson on the flavours of Australia by way of the fun but tasty menu devised by founder Nico de Soto and inspired by his travels.
Lastly, we speak to Aurélie Panhelleux who gives a masterclass on creating inclusive cocktail menus, cocktails in Paris and the art of hospitality as she talks us through the three fabulous iterations of her maritime focused CopperBay bars : one in Paris, another in Marseille and the brand new spot in the chic home-from- home just of Champs Elysee – Hotel Lancaster.

For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.com
For the products featured in this episode, see websites below:
What we're mixing:
Oaxaca Old Fashioned
45ml reposado tequila
15ml mezcal
1 bar spoon agave nectar
2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
Orange peel to garnish
Method:
Add the liquid ingredients into an Old Fashioned glass filled with ice. Stir until chilled. Squeeze a piece of orange peel over the glass to express the oils and serve.
Featured in this episode:
CopperBay
CopperBay at Hotel Lancaster
How To Taste – a guide to discovering flavour and savouring life Hotel Lancaster
Marquis de Montesquieu armagnac
The Heart Cut
Wacky Wombat

The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re on an international journey in this episode. First, we head to warming climes for the new, limited-edition Equiano Ominira – a special blend of rums from the Caribbean and Africa. Then from one of Japan’s coldest regions, we’re tasting the delicious Toku Saké.
As for our book, we’re opening up 101 Cocktails to try before you die from Belgium born, Madrid based, Francois Monti
Back in London’s Soho we drop into the brand new incarnation of Three Sheets, from Max and Noel Venning and finally, we return to Japan, this time to Tokyo, as we catch up with our guest – the fabulous Holly Graham who tells us about her new bar, Tokyo Confidential.

For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.com
For the products featured in this episode, see websites below:
What we're mixing:
Dirty Martini
60ml vodka
10ml dry vermouth
10ml olive brine
1 or 3 pitted olives to garnish
Method:
Stir liquid ingredients over ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with 1-3 pitted olives pierced on to a cocktail stick.
'101 cocktails to try before you die' by François Monti
Equiano Ominira Rum
Three Sheets Bar
Tokyo Confidential
Toku Sake

The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our inaugural episode of the season is pretty damned special, it's the first one where you can watch as well as llisten in to our featured interviewee. And it's a good one, where award-winning film director Paul Feig tells us about making movies, how and why he created a gin and how to make the perfect Martini.
But before the chat, we review two products from Scotland: the brand new, super-stylish The Aberturret gin and the Bruichladdich, the new face of single malt whiskies. Our book choice deserves a drum roll all its own, it's The Connaught Bar – recipes and iconic creations by the fabulous Agostino Perrone, with Giorgio Bargiani and Maura Milia.
Then from the drinks behind one of our favourite five-star hotel bars in London, we head to Birmingham for the fab cocktails and kitchen party vibes at Passing Fancies. All in all, it's good to be back!

For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.com
For the products featured in this episode, see websites below:
What we're mixing:
Gimlet
60ml London Dry Gin
15ml freshly squeezed lime juice
15ml sugar syrup (1:1)
Method:
Shake over ice and strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Artingsall's Brilliant London Dry Gin
Bruichladdich – The Classic Laddie
The Aberturret Gin
The Connaught Bar – recipes and iconic creations by Agostino Perrone with Giorgio Bargiani and Maura Milia
Passing Fancies Bar
Cocktail Time! The ultimate guide to grown up fun by Paul Feig
Matt Arnold Bigging Up Birmingham Bars
With thanks to Hue & Cry Agency for the venue
Riedel for glassware

The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.