… we will remember him. It was last Summer that I conjured my last creation, in the form of a rum based cocktail to mark the occassion of Jimmy Anderson’s 500th test wicket. That was a Summer of rum, the West Indies were in town and while the weather wasn’t all that great the cricket…
So, the last test match of the Summer in this surprisingly entertaining test series against the West Indies. With one to play the teams are all square after a remarkable recovery from the tourists, marked by my previous creation – in collaboration with the Guardian’s Over by Over readers – the Zombie homage, “Back from…
Who’da thunk it!? The sun’s out on an August Bank Holiday weekend and it looks like we’ve got a test match on our hands. Remarkable, when you consider the apparent demise of West Indies cricket in the first test. So, cricket on the tele, sun in the sky, and booze in the bar equals a…
This just delivered from those fine people at The Craft Gin Club, a handsome new gin for the collection. This one a London Dry Gin of unusual strength at 50.2% volume. And sadly just a day late for inclusion in Sunday’s “cocktail of the day”. What could have been more appropriate for the occassion of…
I only recenty started reading about ‘Tiki’. Like most, I expect, I assumed it was just a loose concept of Polynesian styled grass roofed outdoor bars and lairy looking cocktails with big straws and paper umbrellas. Well, it’s mostly that … but there’s a real, culture movement behind it too. Apparently started by a guy…
At last the first test match of the Summer is here as England host South Africa at Lords. And I’ve largely missed the fun so far due to marathon road trip escorting child 1 to various university open days. But as I sweltered around various university campuses (or is it campi?) it seems that my…
Again a bit late but here’s introducing one of my favourite bits of kit. Made for me by the very talented Michael Vasilakis from the Lemon Tree bar in Agios Gordios in Corfu. We were holidaying on the island towards the end of last Summer, just the two of us for a week, and we…
A long time hobby of mine is pyrotechnics – fireworks to you! And around bonfire night I usually end up firing 3 or 4 smallish displays, including one for a local scout group. They can range from a few whizz bangs in the garden with friends to something that you’d recognise as a choreographed display.…
Better late than never they say, so here’s a little update on an end of season home fixture from last year. The first attempt at a Halloween bar party seemed to go well. A bit of dry ice and some “blood bag” cocktails helped but as usual it was friends and family that made the…
I previously uploaded a review of the Craft Gin Club and I’ve continued to subscribe to those guys for nearly a year now. I’ll update that review soon with a sneak peak at my burgeoning gin collection! But, in last month’s box I received an invitation to a free month’s subscription to a…