January is a time where health is at the forefront of our minds, combining New Year’s Resolutions with efforts perhaps to eat better and drink less. For those who completed Dry January, we salute you! Some people are admirably keeping it going into February and perhaps even beyond, but for those eager to get back on the bottle, we have just the thing for you.
As the frustration of no globetrotting becomes ever more acute, we have combined our passion for travel and adventure with our love of a good tipple to bring you here some of the most delicious and interesting signature cocktails from our friends and Partners around the world…. Bottoms up!
First stop, The Dorchester in London
with Giuliano Morandin, Bar Manager at The Bar
When Giuliano and his team reintroduced The Martinez to the cocktail list at The Bar, the recipe required a special Old Tom Gin which had become something of a rarity and therefore retaining a cult following among ‘cocktail cognoscenti’. The Martinez remains one of the most popular drinks served in The Bar.
About the cocktail, Giuliano says: “A very special classic cocktail, The Martinez is believed to be the forefather of both the Manhattan and the martini. The cocktail is made using Old Tom Gin, which The Dorchester recreated with our own branded gin. The botanicals included in the gin, which is exclusive to The Dorchester, include juniper, coriander, angelica root, orris root, cassia bark, cardamom, fresh lemon and orange peel.”
The Martinez
Serves One drink
Ingredients
30 ml. The Dorchester Old Tom
40 ml. Punt e Mes
10 ml. Maraschino Luxardo
Dash of Bokers bitter
Garnish
Orange Peel
Method
The first step to creating The Martinez is to chill a martini glass, so when I pour the cocktail it won’t get a thermal shock. Our secret to perfecting the recipe is using our own Old Tom Gin, which is distilled by Wessex Distillery, and bitters created especially for The Dorchester. I fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the gin and sweet vermouth, keeping in mind the gin will need to be three times the amount of the vermouth. Add a dash of maraschino liquor and the bitters, followed by a good shake. Remove the ice from the glass, strain and pour from the shaker. Cut a very thin orange zest and squeeze so the oils drip into the drink and if you wish you can rub along the rim of the glass. Then it is ready to enjoy.
The Dorchester Old Tom Gin is still being distilled and can be bought at the hotel or on the hotel website.
Next up, the iconic Bellini from the Belmond Hotel Cipriani, Venice, Italy
with Walter Bolzonella, Head Barman
Walter has been at Belmond Hotel Cipriani since 1989. Over the years he has served the Hollywood greats – Liz Taylor, Ronald Reagan, Tom Cruise and George Clooney; who has two cocktails created for him and named by him. From a young age he welcomed guests in his home in Noale near Venice with homemade infusions with herbs and berries from the woods nearby, he has continued pursuing his passion at Belmond Hotel Cipriani where he enriches cocktails with spices and herbs from the Casanova Gardens. The hotel’s signature cocktail and one of the best-loved in the world, the Bellini, was created by Harry Cipriani a few years before he welcomed the first guests in 1958. The sparkling drink’s rich peach colour is captured throughout the hotel’s interior design.
The Original Bellini
INGREDIENTS
• 1/3 fresh white peach juice (fresh if possible!)
• 2/3 Prosecco (it simply has to be Italian sparkling wine)
METHOD
• Peel and slice 1kg of white peaches. Dip them in 500 gr. of water and 200 gr. of
fresh lemon juice (the peaches must be covered with water and lemon).
• Pass the peaches (with lemon juice and water) in a blender with crushed ice
and 2 spoons of sugar.
• When in the beginning or end of the peach season, add little juice of raspberries or
cherries so as to make it distinctly pink in color.
• When in full season this is not necessary, as peaches give their own color.
• Please note that the Prosecco and the juice must be very cold before mixing
them.
• Do not mix the Bellini until the very last moment – right before serving,
otherwise, it will separate.
See Walter and the Original Bellini in action!
When the heart years for Phuket, we head to the idyllic Amanpuri
with Peerayoth Rattanathitibovorn, Bar Manager at The Lounge.
Located on the shores of the Andaman Sea, this beautiful and luxurious beach resort is simply stunning. Sitting in an entire private coconut grove filled peninsula, of course we had to choose this cocktail! The coconuts used in the preparation of Coconut Negroni cocktail at The Lounge are sourced from Amanpuri’s own coconut trees. Born and raised in Bangkok, Peerayoth started his journey into mixologist culture in 2015. Not long afterwards, Peerayoth won the title of Diageo World Class Bartender of Southern Thailand 2016.
Coconut Negroni
Iron Ball Thai Gin, Infused Coconut, Mancino Rosso, Campari, Coconut Oil
Method: Stir all the ingredients except coconut oil over cubed ice for 60 seconds, then strain into chilled rock glass with prepared block ice, drop coconut into surface of the cocktail, garnish with dehydrated lemon wheel.
Moving west to a different kind of tropical shores… Eden Rock St Barths
with Matthias ASO – 1st Barman at the Rémy Bar
Chili Chili Bang Bang is an exotic version of the margarita, with a little bit of chilli to bring a kick to the cocktail served in a fun tiki! It has been a signature drink for almost a decade at the Rémy Bar Eden Roc St- Barths and is always popular with visitors!
Chili Chili Bang Bang
50ml Casamigos blanco infused with jalapeños
30ml Passoa
30ml pineapple juice
25ml lime juice
15ml sugarcane syrup
Shaken 10 seconds then pour in a tiki mug.Crushed ice on top with 1 straw. Garnish with 1 dry lime, 1 dry pineapple slice and 1 dry orange slice
And for those still wanting a healthy aspect to their indulgences, who else to ask but the Equinox in NYC
Created for those who rest and play as hard as they work, Equinox hotels have an ethos of holistic wellbeing, offering guests a space to restore and regenerate. So it makes sense, that they would have the perfect cocktail with a healthful component…
The ‘Bucks Bunny’ from Electric Lemon Restaurant and Terrace
0.75 fl oz Ginger Juice
0.5 fl oz Lime Juice
2 fl oz Carrot Juice
2 fl oz Armagnac
2 fl oz Soda Water
0.25g Dried Candied Ginger
0.1g Chervil
Carrot ribbon for garnish
0.75g Ginger Syrup (1:1 ginger juice simple syrup)
Mix all
Garnish with the carrot ribbon and chervil
For a truly decadent experience, we head to the Grand Hotel Europe, A Belmond Hotel in St Petersburg, Russia
Pretty much ‘The’ place to stay in St Petersburg, the Grand Hotel Europe dazzles with vintage glamour and the Lobby Bar is no exception. Live jazz and blues music dances among the hubbub of stories shared and secrets spilled at this iconic drinking spot. Gaze around at the stucco cornices, green-tiled fireplaces, marble floors and bronze statues and you’ll soon appreciate why this elegant Art Nouveau space is a protected historical and cultural landmark.
Their signature cocktail is the ‘Million Red Roses’ which was recently included into Alia Akkam’s new book “Behind the Bar: 50 Cocktail Recipes from the World’s Most Iconic Hotels”. The celebrated song, ‘Million Red Roses’ by one of the most beloved singers in Russia, Alla Pugacheva, inspired this cocktail – a sparkling taste of Russia.
Cocktail “Million Red Roses”
Ingredients:
• Vodka Russian Standard Platinum 4 cl
• Grapefruit juice 10 cl
• Honey Syrup (1 part honey to 2 parts water) 2 cl
• Sparkling wine 10 cl
• Garnish – Aspidistra leaf, rose petals
Method:
Combine the vodka, grapefruit juice and syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled wine glass with a few ice cubes at the bottom. Add the sparkling wine and stir. The bar fancifully garnishes this drink with aspidistra leaf and rose petals, but it’s also lovely in its unadorned state.
When the place you’re dreaming of is Bali, we look to our friends at Capella Ubud with Dwi Anggayani and Adip.
Capella Ubud is unlike any place we’ve ever seen. Nestled in the heart of lush green forests, this unique tented camp sits in harmony with its surroundings, embracing nature and promoting balance and harmony. Inspired by the early European settlers from the 1800s, architect Bill Bensley designed Capella Ubud as a tribute to their spirit of adventure.
Cucumber Rita
45ml Tequila
Fresh Cucumber
10ml Cucumber Syrup
25ml homemade Orangecello
30ml Lime Juice
– Cut the fresh cucumber into 3-4 slices, put it in the shaker and crush it well- Add cucumber syrup, orangecello, lime juice and tequila- Add some ice cubes and shake well- Pour into the glass and enjoy
But let the experts show you themselves! Here’s Dwi and Adip to show us how’s it done…
Last but definitely not least, we find ourselves back in London at a BBB favourite, The Lanesborough with Mickael Perron who heads up The Library Bar at The Lanesborough.
Talking about his signature Gaspari Manhattan, Mickael explains “The Manhattan is the greatest American cocktail that I know, and I invented this some years back when I was entering a cocktail competition. It was my grandmother Mimi Gaspari’s birthday, but I was missing the celebrations to take part, so I made a drink in tribute. It’s based on a Rob Roy, a Scotch Manhattan, and the rosemary adds a scent of the Mediterranean. At the time, not many people were using herbs or spices in drinks, but rosemary is easy to come by. We burn it into the Bénédictine, Blue Blazer-style. The flavour works well with the Scotch, and it gives off a big flame, which creates a sense of occasion – when people see a big glass of ice with fire above it, they want to know what’s going on.”
Gaspari Manhattan
60 ml Whisky: The BALVENIE CARIBBEAN CASK – 14 years Old Single Malt Whisky
35 ml Vermouth Mix : 25ml PUNT E MES + 5ml Cizanno + 5ml Lillet
20 ml To Flame: Benedictine
4 Dashes of Aromatic Bitters
Rosemary, a Generous spring to burn & garnish
Pour the whisky, vermouth, bitters in a mixing glass, add ice and stir
Use a separate cup, fuse a lighter and flame the rosemary bathing in BenedictineLet it cook until the smell and flames are ready to be transferred to the mixing glassPour the flame over the iced mixed cocktail, stir gently the rosemary into the drinkFine strain into your glass, pre prepared with a nice ice cube
Glassware & Final Touches:
Coupe, rocks, any…
Orange peel squeezed over the glass, discard
Small rosemary spring somewhere with your glass (small wooden peg helps)
Stay tuned to our social media over the coming days and weeks too, where we’ll be sharing even more iconic and inspiring drinks from our friends around the globe! We’ll be raising a glass to a better year ahead for us all…
Dry January = Delicious January
As Friday finally arrives, our minds inevitably turn to the weekend and the ‘fun’ we might have (and possibly the ‘bigger fun’ we might have had pre-lockdown!). Many of us are doing Dry January (and impressively, a fair number of people we have spoken to have stuck to it so far, and some are even planning to continue for the foreseeable! We salute you…)
We yearn for Friday Night Cocktails, out on the tiles with friends perhaps in Soho or at a friend’s house. But whilst the nation remains in lockdown, we may need to forego the physical socialising element, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy a ’social’ event of sorts.
Whether you’re treating yourself to a well-done work week, alone or with pals on zoom, or you’re lucky enough to live with a loved one, a Friday night drink is definitely something to celebrate. In honour of our dry friends, we have done the legwork and researched some of the best non-alcoholic drinks, spirits and cocktails around! Here are BBB’s top drinks for a sober night in that doesn’t feel like a compromise…
1. Feragaia – this Scottish drink is made from ‘land and sea botanicals’ which seems quite fitting, as the name translates as ‘Wild Earth’, very apt for the rugged beauty of Scotland. Drunk over ice or with a tonic, this vermouth-type drink is flavourful and original. Sign up to the Feragaia mailing list to get 15% off your first order (also the website itself is gorgeous!)
2. Three Spirit – a BBB favourite for a while now, there are now 3 different flavours to choose from- The Livener, Social Elixir and Nightcap! The drinks combine plants used for centuries in ceremonies and potions to stimulate the palate, mind and body, promote connection and positive social experiences without alcohol. Vegan, gluten-free and sustainably packaged, we love them! BBB Members get 15% off using code BBB15 at checkout (UK only).
3. New London Light, by Salcombe Distilling Co. – bold and refreshing and unbelievably 0% ABV, this one is full of flavour and utterly delicious. It is made by first distilling three botanicals: bold Macedonian juniper berries, zesty ginger and warm habanero capsicum. The base is then carefully blended with 15 further botanicals including orange, sage, cardamom, cascarilla bark and lemongrass, to create this unique and stunning flavour. SDC also have 2 great offers on right now, valid until 31 Jan: Free UK Mainland shipping on all orders over £25, plus the NLL subscription offer of 20% off every month when you sign up using the code LIVELIGHT.
4. STRYYK – this brand are no stranger to the spotlight and it’s easy to see why. Their Not G*n, Not R*m and Not V*dka are each and all impressive, but we love that they are also making cocktails and also providing ample recipe inspiration on the website for those wanting to get creative at home! AND, if you sign up for the newsletter, it’s a whopping 40% off your first order!
5. Seedlip’s Nogroni – anyone who knows the BBB team personally will know that we are avid fans of the Negroni (I mean, what’s not to love?!). Indeed, we pride ourselves on having tasted negronis around the world in a real cross-section of establishments! However, we can confirm that this non-alcoholic from Seedlip is superb (and, no hangover! Who knew…) Seedlip are also offering a mystery ‘free gift’ for all orders in January too, so time to place another order, we say!
Bottoms up…Here’s to the light on the horizon
BBB x
There’s No Place Like Home
‘A Englishman’s home is his castle’ as the saying goes (but despite James Brown not being known as a feminist, we’d obviously have to agree that a man’s world ‘is nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl’…!) But whatever the make-up of the household, one thing is clear; we love our homes. It comes as little surprise therefore that as we have spent so much time at home over the last year, that we have all slowly been turning our homes into castles.
As the nation has worked from home during the pandemic, and many of us will continue to do so as work patterns shift, we have not only had to make a functioning work space at home with a zoom backdrop worthy of our businesses, but we’ve also been getting round to those living space changes and upgrades that we have put off for so long…
Profits at home improvement and DIY stores have soared by more than 600% and estate agents have seen a mass exodus from London as remote working takes off and people re-evaluate priorities in lifestyle. Of course with the stamp duty break offered by the government, many people are also upsizing their abodes or taking the opportunity to buy their first home, but whatever the circumstances, we’re all talking about it!
Perhaps your principal has decided to embark on a larger renovation project whilst they spend some time abroad, or perhaps with Spring comes motivation to freshen up the interior design. Perhaps the ‘Quarantine 15’ has hit and the decision has been made to get fit with a home gym, or perhaps you’ve been asked to find a dream country home… The BBB Club is, as always, on hand to bring inspiration, great contacts and some peace of mind, whatever the challenge.
WORKING FROM HOME
Sitting down at a table to work is the same wherever you are, right? Not so, and it affects our health and our productivity hugely. There are a few things we all realised quite quickly when we were all asked to ’Stay Home, Save Lives’ in 2020…
Fast Internet is everything
Whether you’re reporting in to the boss, trying to woo new clients or taking part in a group zoom meeting, the most frustrating (and damaging) thing that can happen is a dodgy internet connection. It affects our flow, steals our time and ultimately affects our professionalism (and it makes our jokes fall flat with missed punchlines and botched delivery!) There are a bunch of special offers from internet providers, all promising the best streaming and fastest downloads, but at some point, you need to call in a professional. Bespoke Telecoms are just the ticket – from Mayfair townhouses to country estates, they specialise in providing superfast broadband that works in every corner of the property, including gardens and outbuildings. Gone are the days of taking your laptop to the router! And if you want to stay in contact but without the laptop, they are experts at installing home telephone and communication systems that cover the house and grounds, meaning if you’re relaxing by the pool, you won’t miss that crucial call or even the doorbell with their video entry systems and comprehensive CCTV.
Peace is essential
Many of us have faced the challenges of home schooling, but even without children at home, we may have to deal with the interruptions of house mates, pets, the doorbell or neighbours. Focus is impossible when you can’t think straight! So make yourself a quiet space and keep it as meticulous as you can, after all a ‘tidy house is a tidy mind’…
BBB Partner and Interior Design expert Sarah Ward has some excellent advice about working from home. Over the last year we have all struggled but she says, “Don’t let the boundaries begin to blur and temptation allow you to set up your office in bed. Do assign an area designated for working.” It’s hard though when many of live in smaller spaces that we share with partners or flatmates. Sarah counters,”Be territorial if you must! Even if you have a small space and do not have the luxury of separate floors, this can still be achieved with some clever storage, spatial planning and revised layouts.”
It’s not just about having a designated space though, it’s also about what that space looks and feels like… Sarah also said “Natural light is a big thing for me and I’m not comfortable with a desk facing a wall as I tend to feel claustrophobic…. Work out what makes you comfortable and calm and arrange your space to work for you.”
GETTING BACK ON TRACK
As we all start to think about squeezing back into fitted clothes and the possibility of a holiday emerges, getting healthy is back on the agenda. As local walks lose their appeal and you’ve exhausted all the workout DVDs (or in our case, chucked them out of guilt!) it might be time to step up the game.
We recently met Tim from Tenth Avenue Leisure who specialise in home gym installation. Not only can Tim advise on the best products for you (or your principal) but he negotiates excellent prices and oversee the proper installation. Working with the top end of the Premier League and Premiership Rugby clubs, as well as star-players’ own homes, Tim is often asked to create bespoke in-home set-ups for specific training or physio requirements.
HIT THE REFRESH BUTTON
As Spring arrives, the sun sheds light on dusty corners or fading fabrics. It also brings inspiration to fix up and refresh the spaces we love!
If a new look is what you’re after, we recommend reaching out to the incredible team at Alexander James Interiors. With experience everywhere from a Cotswold barn or a Georgian family country home to a London chapel conversion or even a hotel in Minsk, they bring a fresh perspective and a wealth of knowledge to any setting. Their luxe fabrics and clever creation of calm is ideal in a central London residence.
For a slightly more bohemian feel (think Notting Hill rather than Mayfair) we love the work of Rosanna Bossom. The stunning use of colour and pattern brings warmth and life to any space and we love her air of whimsy present in many of her projects.
If you don’t want to do a complete overhaul, check out the BBB Boutique on the app for great savings from beautiful brands such as Graham and Green.
TIME FOR A NEW ADVENTURE
If the pandemic has made your principal rethink their current living situation, whether it’s finding a new place in town to live, buying a second home in the county or moving out or town entirely, we have some expert recommendations to help you. Moving house is said to be one of the top 3 most stressful experiences in life, but we’d argue that doing it on behalf of someone else is worse! Unrealistic expectations, hours of calling agents and attending unsuitable viewings takes its toll. That’s where the BBB community comes in, to offer contacts and advice to help make the process painless.
The Property folder in the BBB app offers suggestions of brilliant companies to help your principal relocate. If the countryside is calling, Middleton Advisors are experts in the Home Counties and can help find beautiful off-market properties full of rustic charm. If the plan is to stay in the city, be that renting, buying a new home or sourcing an additional property, Rose Capital and RFR can offer expert advice with a discreet, professional approach. Instead of working for the seller as traditional estate agents do, they work for the buyer, doing the legwork and removing stress to achieve the best possible location and price. Whether it’s a turnkey purchase or rental, a ‘doer upper’ or an acquisition for complete renovation, these excellent Partners have contacts far and wide to source the best off-market properties.
New Partners at BBB are Landmass London, who work across several areas but they specialise in two main areas optimising light and space and adding value to your property. They work across architecture and renovations and interior design projects to an impeccable standard. They also specialise in property acquisitions, finding a dilapidated building and developing it into the client’s dream home, with bespoke design but of course also adding value. Their wealth of knowledge is highly recommended for anyone tasked with any project of this nature for even the most demanding of clients.
Although we hope to be out of the house more this summer than last, we feel certain that the way we all look at our homes has changed forever. As the lines between living and working spaces have blurred and we spend more time inside our four walls, it’s important we take the time to appreciate and maximise whatever we have. Our homes are our castles after all…