Presenting… Monkey Shoulder DIY Drinks Kitchen with The Bon Vivant

If I am honest, it was not the best start as this London Cocktail Week pop up was running both a bar upstairs and a DIY kitchen event downstairs and we were a bit confused which queue was which; most annoying when it is also raining. But we got there in the end, and joined the crowd around three large butcher block type wooden tables to enjoy an evening with The Bon Vivant’s team from Edinburgh.

Now this was all the way back in October so I cannot remember exact details, but I know there was:

- Cured salmon and pear

- Smoked duck and fig

-  Monkey shoulder infused Christmas cake

And along with all this food we watched then tried to replicate the cocktails we were taught, a mixture of stirred, shaken and then the infused whisky straight. Here are some lovely pics to give you an idea of the evening:

It was good, with a nice crowd of people and the cocktail styles covered all palates. However, we were just starving – and tipsy – by the end and the cake infused shot didn’t do it for us which was a shame – in theory it should have been fab. All I do know is that every time you go to Edinburgh, you should visit these guys. They really know their stuff. 

The Blind Pig, Soho: 20/20

Location: 58 Poland Street, London, W1F 7NR

Website: www.socialeatinghouse.com 

Visit: Every time you are free!

To Note: Enjoy some nibbles if you cannot get a dinner table downstairs

Scores
Ambiance 5/5
Design 5/5
Drinks 5/5
Staff 5/5 

The Blind Pig. From the minute I walked in (through the wrong door, take the wooden door to the right of the restaurant which has both a pig's head on it and is under the optician's sign) I felt like I may have found another of those gems on the bar scene - and the proof is that I keep going back.

The decor is reminiscent of Hawksmoor with lots of leather and dark wood alongside burnished metal. (It is not a speakeasy by any standards but) the low lighting and cosy booths make this place feel wonderfully illicit, even if you are sitting on the exceedingly comfy leather bar stool watching the magic happen. 

The drinks - as group bar manager and legend Gareth Evans says - are already being copied elsewhere in the capital and we all know this is the sincerest form of flattery. In particular their thermo-nuclear daiquiri - though not a recipe that they can claim - is served with bio-hazard tape and a glow stick so look out for this serve! Cereal killer is served in a clear plastic milk carton and garnishes are divine. And the menu is well proportioned with all the bar staff working together to ensure a menu that covers the bases without overwhelming you. I have tried several drinks over my visits and the currently trending Slap and Pickle - yup, gin with pickle juice - still stays with me as both intriguing and worth another order! 

Speaking of staff, these guys are polite and friendly, and under the tutelage of Gareth Evans (Diageo's World Class star 2012) are also knowledgeable in both spirits and cocktails. 

I cannot say enough good things about The Blind Pig; and they have followed up this success just a few months later with Berner's Tavern in Editions Hotel. It is barely 5 minutes walk away and utterly decadent - Jason Atherton's empire knows no bounds and long may this continue. 

Presenting... Sette Vie Liqueurs

Kensington Place Restaurant, perhaps not the first place you would think of to host a "Cocktail Academy" but that is exactly what they are doing, once a month.

We turned up in September to see what Sette Vie liqueurs were all about. The class started with a glass of prosecco, very civilised, and then we sat down on a big table and Paul Pavli of Boutique Brands explained how they first came across this family company and their shelved recipes, now restored and relaunched. All local herbs and flavours are used from their region of Abruzzo (for the wine lovers).

Brief history done, we moved onto tasting where we started with my favourite of the evening and something I have not come across before - Ratafia. This is a cherry and almond liqueur that can simply be described as bakewell tart in a bottle. This was then made into a twist on the French 75 but we preferred it over ice.

Christmas present for friends all round!

Then came their amaretto, universally declared as better, more real shall we say, than the "biggest name on the market" and made a delicious Amaretto Sour (shake with lemon juice, gomme and egg white). This was topped with a Ratafia soaked cherry, yum.

And lastly my nemesis of sorts as there are not many things I won't drink but Limoncello is one of them. I just think it tastes too much like cleaning product but no doubt this is a psychological block from my adolescent drinking experiences! However, mixed with vodka, lemon juice and sugar - I know, I also thought that would not work! - it became the best cocktail of the evening.

This is a lovely way to spend a Monday evening and we stayed for excellent fish pie too. The next one is in November - Dalmore Whisky - and they fill up fast so pop onto the website and join Imants and his fabulous bar team as soon as you can! 

London Cocktail Week: Disaronno Sour Station

LCW 2013 is back for its third year, and its second year in its Seven Dials home. I headed to the Ketel One hub early afternoon on Monday morning (although they had opened the hub the weekend before to collect your wristband if you were organised enough). No big queues like last year, though this was late afternoon, and friendly staff on hand to get your registration through an ipad. 

I grabbed the literature (a book of all the bars offering £4 cocktails, a trial Time Out card and a Seven Dials map) and fully intended to head away as I had an event on. However, any free space in the area has been packed out with treats like the Monkey Shoulder DIY kitchen, the Belvedere Martini rooms, Portobello's Gin Club and so so much more from cocktails in shops to a shave and a shot stopping by the Bacardi Brown Foreman classes en route!

And in the street even there is Funkin Cocktails, Fevertree, Averna liqueurs and a Disaronno bike, pedaling (ha, get it?!) a simple citrus serve that tastes really very good.

So you have 3 days left, make the most of it. An if you don't know where to go just pick any Seven Dials street and see what you come across! 

New Bar Opening: Mizuwari, Soho

Location: 16 Old Compton Street, W1D 4TL

Website: www.bincho.co.uk/whisky-joint 

To Visit: Open as restaurant, every day between 5pm and close. No bookings

To Note: Walk past the charcoal grill and its delicious smells towards the back then down the stairs

Mizuwari, which translates as “mixed with water”, has officially opened its doors; or at least the stairs that lead down from the back of Japanese grill restaurant Bincho Yakitori. Situated beside LAB on Old Compton Street, you need to walk to through the restaurant to the stairs to find this “1950’s Japan” inspired whisky joint. The room can hold about 40 people and is kitted out with low wooden tables and stools to match the wooden screens on the walls, set off by large swords as decoration.

This is the work of Suntory, and shows off their three expressions Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki. And this is all they will be serving. But if you think that whisky is not “your thing” think again as their list of cocktails is very impressive from a simple twist of elder-flower and soda to a tea-ceremony type drink with wasabi paste. And if you are whisky-mad and this is your “died and gone to heaven” place, why not consider their bottle keep service? Buy your bottle now and it will be waiting for you with your name on each time you return. Just try not to over-do it with the most expensive option at over £500 a bottle! They also have decanters of water purified to an ancient recipe with high grade Japanese charcoal, the same as used upstairs, to water down some of those high abvs.

So if you are a fan of whisky, if you are a fan of cocktails or even if you are just a fan of some innovative (in London) Japanese cooking don’t forget the newest hidden drinking den. 

(Pictures courtesy of 360 Communications, the brill PR team behind Suntory UK)

London Cocktail Week : Friday - Beefeater24 Competition

Another day, another cocktail competition.

This time Circus and Beefeater24 were hosting and it was another 1pm to 5.30pm marathon of tea-themed cocktails - The G&Tea Perfect Host competition.

And once again I wasn't able to do the whole session but I caught the last seven and they were very impressive. Not only was a huge selection of teas being used - English breakfast, Japanese, Indonesian... and presentation wise these were definitely the best of the week. 

There were cocktails served Japanese tea ceremony style in ceramic cups with mini scones on the side. There were cocktails in teapots with homemade gingerbread biscuits on the side. There were homemade bitters, and syrups, and the judges tasted all of these. And Beefeater and Circus also provided G&Ts and other cocktails to keep the crowd going. 

Nathan O'Neill from The Merchant Hotel, Belfast, walked off with the title. And with it, a trip to Japan for the global final!

Here is the winning recipe:  Mr Burroughs' Reviver

40ml Beefeater24
10ml Aalborg Taffel Akvavit
15ml Lemon juice
10ml Green Tea syrup
2.5ml almond water
2 dashes of absinthe infused with lapsang souchong tea

Shake and strain into a coupette and garnish with a lemon spiral

London Cocktail Week : Wednesday - Monin Cocktail Competition

First cocktail competition of the week was hosted by Monin Syrups and the interesting aspect was that two cocktails were to be made - one alcoholic and one non-alcoholic. This started at 12 and ran to 5pm and i stayed for a few hours but it is dedication do do the whole session. Saying that, it ran smoothly with two prep areas so one contestant can prepare whilst the other presents. And the canapes were very tasty!

Monin has a huge range of flavours and the alcoholic cocktails presented a really interesting range but there were a few non alcoholic daiquiris going on so either not as much thought or great minds thinking alike! There were also two categories, under and over 27 years old. 

My favourite - and the only bar tender that I knew! - was the legendary Andy Mil. He set his mind to the competition with his usual flair pairing his creations to food and adding spectacular presentation. The non-alcoholic drink was a spicy hot chocolate which - inspired by the old fashioned flips - he heated with his wife's hair straighteners wrapped in foil... this was served in a mug decorated with a stripping lady (classy), marshmallows, squirty cream, and biscuits. The alcoholic was inspired by horror movies with beetroot to give a deep red colour and served in a martini glass with a Shining inspired picture and a mirror to reflect the details on the back ,Trust me, it was genius. (And Andy will be missed from LCC as he moves on soon!)

And the winners were...

Creme de la Creme by Susie Wong, Epernay Champagne Bar, Manchester (over 27)
45ml Cariel Vodka
15ml Cointreau
3 drops orange bitters
20ml Lemon juice
20ml Monin Butterscotch syrup
Shake and strain into a sundae glass, top with 50ml of soda water and garnish with a sugar nest and scoop of ice cream

Oliver's Rose by William Humphery, Hausbar, Bristol
60ml Poire William
25ml lemon juice
15ml Monin Bubble Gum syrup
1 fresh egg white
Shake, strain and garnish with hundreds and thousands

Oh and check out the amazing views from the Paramount bar in the centre point (add photo)