We are here for you on this World Gin Day with a list of rather fabulous gins from across the UK to enjoy at home, we have also included a tasty gin cocktail that you can make at home too.
In the absence of gin festivals taking place in the park or gin tastings in the pub, there are a whole plethora of live IGTV gin events taking place this weekend.
Gooseberry is an on-trend flavour that is growing in popularity and has synergy with the British summer as gooseberries come into season. This is the first limited edition flavour in the popular Whitley Neill Gin range and boasts tastes of vanilla, stone fruits, pear and white pepper spice. This gin is idea served up with cloudy apple and tonic water for a refreshing gooseberry fool cocktail. Join Whitley Neill gin founder Johnny Neill on Instagram live at 5pm on 13th June via @whitleyneillgin to see live distillation).
Bolney Estate Gin is a classic, dry English gin, from Sussex. Its vibrant freshness of lemon oil and fennel is delicately balanced with hints of bay and juniper. As richly scented as a country hedgerow, it has an earthy, floral depth and a spiciness on the nose and finish. It gives a natural zing to a G&T and a satisfying heart to any cocktail, impressing the most discerning gin connoisseurs and cocktail lovers alike.
The Big Bakes and Caorunn Gin have joined forces to help Brits find an altogether more exciting way to enjoy their favourite tipple by creating the ultimate gin-infused treat of gin and tonic cupcakes. The G&T cupcakes have a delectable gin infused sponge, which is drizzled with a delightful tonic syrup and finally topped with a light and crisp botanical infused buttercream (recipe available from 13th June via @thebig_bakes and @caorunngin).
Harrogate-based Slingsby Gin has teamed up with stylish food writer and influencer Anna Barnett to celebrate World Gin Day. Slingsby Gin fan Anna, will be hosting a live cook-a-long on her Instagram profile, where gin lovers will have the chance to create an exclusive new recipe at home, but with a citrusy twist. Anna will be showing cooking enthusiasts how to make Slingsby Gin drunken apricots with meringue and citrus cream. The key ingredient in this brand new recipe is the latest flavour variant in Slingsby’s product portfolio Slingsby Marmalade Gin (Instagram live, 6pm, 13th June via @annabarnettcooks).
Holy Island Gin, 70cl, £38, holyislandgin.co.uk
While we’re all staying home for this year’s World Gin Day, there’s no reason not to try out a few new recipes in your home bar. Take a happy hour trip to Holy Island and let your tastebuds take you on a journey with a wonderful Holy Island’s Hibiscus Gin Sour.
Holy Island’s Hibiscus Gin Sour
Ingredients: 60ml Holy Island Gin 25ml freshly squeezed lemon 25ml homemade hibiscus and lemon syrup 1 egg white Garnish with twist of lemon
While the debate is still going about how we can safely return to our favourite pubs and restaurants, we shine the light on the coolest London restaurants bringing their culinary offerings straight to your couch. Because who says you can’t add a gourmet twist to your Thursday night takeaways?
Hakkasan Group has launched an authentic Mexican (virtual) pop-up that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
Casa Calavera was inspired by the traditional Mexican holiday ‘Día de Los Muertos’ and takes delicious culinary cues from the street side taquerias and beachfront restaurants of Mexico.
We can’t stop raving about the mouth-watering tacos which include the Chipotle beef brisket, grilled yellowtail with sirracha and pico de gallo, and grilled cactus with salsa verde and guacamole. Is it Taco Tuesday yet?
Casa Calavera is available online via Supper, Deliveroo, and UberEats.
Mac & Wild has launched the D-I-Y burger of our dreams and is just the perfect thing to impress at your next socially distanced backyard barbecue.
Mac & Wild’s Venimoo DIY Burger Box includes four beef patties, four venison patties, four brioche buns, and a hefty serving of pickles, lettuce, cheese, onions, bearnaise and red job sauce. Now that’s how you fire up a grill.
To accompany those delicious Venimoo burgers, Bar Douro has launched a DIY White Port and Tonic Kit that will soon be your favourite summer sundowner. The cocktail is made with Churchill’s White Port, Fever Tree, and with a zesty orange peel that makes it the just the right drink for afternoons in the sunshine.
One of our favourite Chinese dim sum teahouses, Yauatcha, has launched rainbow pot stickers in support of charity Magic Breakfast. The rainbow dumplings are available to order via Deliveroo, Supper and UberEats throughout the month of June, with each box funding a month of breakfasts for a child in need.
The red dumpling is filled with Szechuan tenderloin, the orange with cumin spiced lamb; the yellow with chicken and chive; the green with mushroom and bamboo pith; the blue with seafood and spinach; the indigo with pork and prawn and finally, the violet with truffle sweet potato.
Yauatcha and Magic Breakfast have set the goal of funding 8,000 breakfasts in June. One bite into this colourful array of dumplings, and we’re certain they’ll reach their goal in no time.
Oh, how we are enjoying our snacks in 2020. #TeamCoco foodies have always been snack fans, but quarantine, lockdown, and self-isolation have given us a renewed love for those little nuggets of taste sensations between meals. So much so, that our snacks have even been turned into full day snack sessions, you know, because there’s been nothing else to do apart from try new things and develop our taste buds whilst at home.
Have you been looking for the perfect snack? One that ticks the healthy box but still delivers on taste? Then try Mister Free’d Tortilla Chips, which recently launched into the free-from aisle in many UK Waitrose stores.
Mister Free’d launched two new fantastic varieties of its tasty tortilla chips including Cheezie (vegan cheese), and Mexican-inspired Blue Maize.
Google searches for “healthy snacks” in the current climate are up 110%, according to medical service Flawless.org, and Mister Free’d offers a gluten-free, healthy alternative that delivers big on taste while using only natural, carefully selected, non-GMO ingredients.
Mister Free’d tortilla chips are currently available in these six flavours: Cheezie, Blue Maize, Chia Seed, Kale & Spinach, Beetroot with Onion and Avocado Chilli. Find them online or in-store at Planet Organic, Whole Foods Market and As Nature Intended. Also available in over 200 independent stores across the UK.
Enjoy guilt-free snacking and let your tastebuds tingle with flavour. Priced at £1.99 per bag, from Waitrose stores.
While the hospitality sector across the country has changed beyond recognition over the last few months and we still don’t know when, or if, it might fully recover, one thing is for sure; it’s fighting for survival and every week more and more of our favourite names are staging a comeback.
With bars, restaurants and suppliers coming up with innovative new ways to keep going over the last couple of months, from takeaway cocktails to delivery boxes from favourite dinner spots, slowly but surely London’s foodies are starting to get their fill once more.
This month’s column might not be the usual fare of favourite restaurants to sit and enjoy a meal in, but it’s sure to set your tastebuds tingling and tide you over until we can all get out and about again.
Get Your Wing Fix Delivered
London’s chicken wing festival might not end up happening this year but you can still get your wing fix with Wingmans’ home delivery. Choose from their signature Buffalo or Sweet & Smokey BBQ with each kit delivering everything you need to dish up 1.5kg of wings; enough for four people apparently but we’re pretty certain we could tackle it solo… www.shop.wingmans.co.uk
Pick Up A Boss Brunch From Eggslut
I for one am missing a weekend brunch, but Notting Hill’s Eggslut are open for takeaway, the perfect excuse to cycle over to Portobello for a weekend stroll and pick up a nibble. They can also deliver two of their signature dishes – including The Gaucho, seared wagyu tri-tip steak, with egg, chimichurri, red onions and dressed rocket in a warm brioche bun – and The Slut (coddled egg on top of a smooth potato purée, poached in a glass jar, topped with gray salt and chives, served with slices of baguette) within a couple of miles. Come July, Eggslut will also be opening a second London site on Fitzrovia’s Percy Street, staffed by hospitality workers who were made redundant as a result of COVID-19. Good eggs all round. www.eggslut.com
Serve Up Jewish Street Food Smoked In Brixton
Ruben Dawnay isn’t letting a little thing like coronavirus stand in the way of his dreams. The 19-year-old was awarded a six month residency at Brixton Village after making his mark in the Brixton Kitchen competition and mentorship programme, aiming to find the next big talent in food, whilst studying for his exams last year. While the crisis may have derailed his big plans, he’s quickly adapted his business strategy by offering delivery of his slow-smoked meats and fish to South West London.
Specialising in Jewish-style street food, Ruben’s Reubens serves up a 10-day slow-cured salt beef, pastrami cooked low ‘n slow over hickory and maple glazed hot smoked salmon, with meat sourced from Ginger Pig and salmon from Chapman’s of Sevenoaks, all of which are cured and smoked at his Brixton home and delivered by bicycle to customers in South West London. Order via his Instagram @rubenzreubenz.
Have Your Fill Of Smithfield Steak
We’re all missing eating out, but if you’re dying to get your teeth into a great steak then Heliot Steak House has joined forces with their meat supplier, third-generation master butchers Tom Hixson of Smithfield, to launch a premium fresh meat box. Curated with the help of Heliot’s Executive Head Chef and the world’s first Meatologist™ Ioannis Grammenos, the box brings restaurant fine dining to your kitchen.
It’s not for the faint-hearted, with 22 premium grade steaks including 2.5kg of Argentine Black Label Ribeye, 1kg of deluxe Wexford Valley Chateaubriand and 1.2kg of Angus Pichanha. While it will set you back £100 that’s a lot of steak for your dollar, and it comes with free delivery anywhere in the UK. www.tomhixson.co.uk/the-heliot-box
Support A Local Fishmonger
With stores in Clapham South, Dulwich, Islington and South Kensington, fishmongers Moxon’s buy the best fish daily from Newlyn and Plymouth in Cornwall, Brixham in Devon, Peterhead and the Faroe Islands in Scotland, Scalloway in the Shetland Islands, Newhaven in Sussex and from Billingsgate market – it really does get the pick of the British Isles. Since lockdown, began Moxon’s are selling three times more John Dory, twice as many turbot and twice as many seabass at the same price as 20 years ago to help support the struggling fish industry. All of their fish, plus their deli selection of fish pies, fish cakes, sauces and stock are available to safely collect in store. www.moxonsfreshfish.com
Bring The Greek Islands To Your Dinner Table
We might not be making it to the islands as soon as we’d hoped this year, but with news that famed Greek restaurants Mazi and Suzi Tros have launched a takeaway and delivery service you can bring the flavours of Greece to you this summer.
Available for delivery in the borough of Kensington & Chelsea (as well as W2, W10 and W12), the menu features delicious dishes such as smoked aubergine salad with thyme honey and creamy feta, their celebrated grilled octopus with garden herb potato salad and olive tapenade and orzo pasta giovetsi with braised milk-fed ossobuco. There will also be special dishes created on a weekly basis centred around seasonal ingredients. Order online at www.mazi.co.uk for delivery or pick up from Mazi, 12-14 Hillgate Street, W8 7SR.
Pour The Perfect Negroni At Home
Primo Aperitivo launched in January, but with bars still shut for the foreseeable and little chance of enjoying the real thing on the Amalfi coast as planned this summer, what more of excuse does one need to indulge in the perfectly mixed Negroni, created by a dynamic duo of Italian-born mixologists and the founder of the Roma Bar Show? Handcrafted in Italy using the finest ingredients, the bespoke blend of dry gin, sweet vermouth and bitter comes resplendent in a slick glass bottle that will look right at home on any bar trolley. £29 for 500ml (5 serves) from www.primoaperitivo.com
Pimp Up Curry Night With A Spicebox Delivery
North London favourite, vegan curry house Spicebox, is sharing its spicy flavours with the nation having launched a family curry night recipe box, complete with nationwide delivery service. Choose from a Tikka Masala or Cashew & Coconut Korma – both 100% plant-based – can be delivered to your doorstep a Thursday or Friday, ready to pack a punch on curry night. SpiceBox’s founder Grace has also created accompanying YouTube recipe videos live on SpiceBox TV on YouTube, and each £45 box (serving four) donates £2.50 straight to The Woodland Trust. www.eatspicebox.co.uk.
Serve Up A Feast From Cérès
Newington Green local Cérès might still be closed but it’s delivery offering is second to none. WIth dishes made from scratch to order and ingredients sourced from trusted local vendors, choose from starters like octopus salad and mains including sous-vide duck slow-cooked with cocoa nibs and homemade pasta. Indulge in the decadent Afternoon Tea Box or the luxurious Oysters and Wine Box, which includes a dozen oysters, homemade bread and a hand-picked wine pairing, or satisfy a sweet tooth with their brioche loaf, a dozen classic madeleines, or a pint of homemade ice cream – surely this is the ultimate one stop shop for delicious home deliveries.Visit www.cereslondon.co.uk/shop to order and book a delivery slot, within 5 miles of the restaurant.
Order A BBQ In A Box To Your Doorstep
National BBQ Week might be behind us but with the warm weather set to continue that’s no reason to forgo everyone’s favourite summer supper. BBQ In A Box, founded a few weeks into lockdown to meet food demand in small towns across the Home Counties that currently do not have Deliveroo or Uber Eats, the service has proved so popular it’s expanded to offer to London, Surrey, and Essex. Build your own pick & mix box choosing from dishes such as 48-hour marinated jerk chicken piece, homemade burgers blended together with their special herb recipe, teriyaki tuna and king prawn kebabs, as well as sides like homemade slaw with pomegranate and parsley garnish, corn on the cobs, mini halloumi bites and stuffed peppers. With music at its heart and the motto ‘chill and grill’ each box comes with a carefully curated playlist to max out on those summer vibes. www.bbqinabox.co.uk.
Banging Burgers To Rival The Big Guns
Seven Dials Market might be closed for now, but a host of its traders are offering delivery services, including the rather delicious Truffle burgers. Their DIY burger kits are available for delivery within the M25, with their signature Truffle Burger and Aged Beef Burger along with two veggie options from Beyond Meat. The £25 box includes enough to create four mouthwatering burgers with all the trimmings, including a piping bag of their signature sauces. www.truffleddiyburgerkitlondon.com
Dine A La Carte A La Living Room
Flat Iron Square’s critically acclaimed Lupins has just this week kicked off its new ‘Lupins at Home’ service, ahead of opening a new deli and kitchen shop later this month, meaning you can now enjoy their delicious dishes in the comfort of your own home. While like so many others restaurant owners, top chefs Lucy Pedder and Natasha Cook, had to rethink their business model to adapt to the current circumstances, they’ve since come to the conclusion the changes to their restaurant may well be permanent. The new at-home offering includes many of the restaurant’s favourite sharing plates, some new recipes developed during lockdown, an extensive deli to include delicious homemade quiches, sandwiches and seasonal salads, plus a kitchen shop selling unique tote bags, handcrafted goods, delicious freshly baked bread and kombucha. They’re offering set meals for two (with or without meat) alongside A la Carte favourites such as rosemary focaccia with brown butter and their hugely popular signature dish Cornish crab thermidor. While there is a delivery service available, customers are also invited to pick up their order and enjoy a glass of cold beer or coffee while they wait. www.lupinslondon.com
During these difficult times, we think it’s important to provide you with your daily dose of escapism to beat the lockdown blues. It is also equally important to share the stories of people and businesses who are showing their heart at times of crisis.
Two of our Jermyn Street favourites — Wilton’s (London’s second oldest restaurant) and classic Italian trattoria Franco’s — have reopened their kitchens to provide gourmet meals for frontline workers all over London.
The meals are being delivered to NHS Workers, key workers, and the homeless through the Westminster Connects Scheme and with help from St. Patrick’s Church in Soho.
Wilton’s Head Chef Daniel Kent said, “Wilton’s and Franco’s restaurants are fortunate enough to work with many of the finest producers and suppliers in the UK. Many of which are small, independent and family-owned.
“We wanted to continue to support these as well as the NHS, keyworkers and those most vulnerable during these unprecedented times. By adhering to social distancing and opening the kitchens of both restaurants we can feed those who need it most, whilst continuing to work with our valued suppliers.”
“Good food is a joy to eat and can comfort, nourish and sustain”
“We want to harness our resources, suppliers and wholesalers to provide healthy meals. The NHS workers and key workers are putting their lives at risk every single day. Good food is a joy to eat and can comfort, nourish and sustain,” added Franco’s Head Chef Stefano Turconi.
“This is vital to those who are homeless, vulnerable and on the frontline. As two of London’s most respected restaurants, we are passionate about serving the finest quality dishes to our patrons and we are overjoyed to be using our skills and suppliers to help in this difficult time.”
It’s a fantastic show of kindness and empathy amid forced restaurant closures, and a timely reminder that there are indeed still good things happening in the world right now. Now more than ever, it is important to show our support for the restaurants we know and love – because soon enough, when all this is over, we will certainly be back to enjoy a meal post-lockdown.
We’ll forgive you for thinking of Málaga as a jumping off point to explore the cheap nightlife of the Costa del Sol, but it’s so much more. A sophisticated, culture-rich city that brings together history and modern art deserves more of your time than a race through the airport to bundle onto a holiday resort bus.
Where to stay
We stayed at the gorgeous Barceló Málaga, right next to the María Zambrano train station – with high speed access to Madrid and a ten-minute wander into the old town. The Barceló Group has to be one of Team Coco’s favourite chains. You get the best of both worlds; great service and prices and quirky design tweaks, like the slide from the first floor into reception that we definitely didn’t go down after an evening out of tapas and Sangría at El Pimpi (Calle Granada 62). What’s even more quirky is that the slide regularly features in ‘Top 10’ global slides lists and is referred to by the Spanish acronym EDHA, which translates to “Sliding Structure for Daring Humans”.
If that doesn’t make you think of the magical realism of Wes Anderson locations, one peek at the brushed gold drinks cabinet and pink tiles in the highly Instagrammable ground-floor bar surely will. In contrast, the bedrooms take a more of a business-traveller design approach with huge beds, baths and wall-to-wall views over the city.
What to do
Málaga is home to 37 museums so you may not even find time to go to the beach. Our picks revolve around art that you’d be hard pressed to see elsewhere. Start at Museo Picasso Málaga (Palacio de Buenavista) to see works by the artist that have not been shown anywhere else. Picasso was born here and is rivalled only by Antonio Banderas in claiming the unofficial title of Málaga’s favourite son, so the city is immensely proud of this museum which opened in 2003 with 285 works donated by Picasso’s family.
For modern art, head to the CAC Málaga (Calle Alemanía) housed in a repurposed warehouse on the banks of the Guadalmedina river. An incredible spot considering you can explore both the permanent collection of international work and temporary exhibitions of rising Spanish artists for free. When outside the gallery, look up to see murals by D*Face and Shephard Fairey on the side of residential buildings.
Heading away from the river will bring you to the dusty historic streets of Soho, lined with inviting bars and cafés – and plenty of street art. This part of town has been enlivened thanks to the work of MAUS (mausmalaga.com), which aims to create a new cultural legacy for the city. While away a sunny afternoon exploring the pieces or, if you’re feeling impatient to see the most famous ones, visit the MAUS website for an interactive map.
Away from the art scene, don’t pass up the chance to visit the Alcazaba, a beautiful example of Moorish architecture which is more accessible and miles cheaper (3,50e) than the more famous Alhambra in Granada. If you can, find a tour guide to bring the history to life as its complexity is fascinating.
Where to eat
While the old town is full of adorable bolthole tapas bars, and the seasoned El Pimpi, our recommendation would be to book a table outdoors at La Terraza de Aduana for lunch on the rooftop of the Museo de Malaga (Plaza de la Aduana). Not only do you get to escape the midday rush of cruise ship visitors but the view over the Alcazaba is magnificent, and the truffled croquetas will feature in your commute-home daydreams for weeks to follow.
For a sweet treat, explore the narrow, bohemian streets around Calle Andrés Pérez; an old part of town which was once a bustling thoroughfare and now houses charming independent shops and the alternative culture patio bar Casa Invisible. Stop in at the newest outpost of famous Casa Mira C/Andrés Pérez 16 for dreamy interior design and turrón icecream.
Where to drink
We’re all about the rooftop bars and in Málaga we were in ‘mojito with a view’ heaven. If you take our recommendation and stay at Barceló, be sure to head up to the guests-only roof bar where the excellent team will look after you.
In the old town, there are some great rooftop bars open to the public. We love the roof at Room Mate Valeria (Plaza Poeta Alfonso Canales) with views over the port and will reluctantly give away our hidden gem, Terraza San Juan, tucked away in the Hotel Malaga Premium (Calle San Juan, n.º 11).
Rates at Barceló Malaga start from €123 per room per night based on two people sharing a Superior room. Head to barcelo.com to plan your trip.
The Barceló Group, was founded in 1931 by Simón Barceló on the island of Mallorca, Spain. The group includes the Barceló Hotel Group, which has more than 250 hotels and more than 55,000 rooms in 22 countries. Since 1989 the company has been channelling its social work through the Barceló Foundation, which collaborates in health, education, economic development and culture projects in underdeveloped countries.
I hope I’m not alone when I write, “I dream about desserts”. Chocolate with a temper so shiny that onlookers could be forgiven for thinking they’re looking at a mirror, macarons so crisp and chewy that you can be transported to Paris in just a bite, and mousse so soft you’d think you’d imagined it but for the lingering taste of fruit or chocolate in your mouth. The taste of fine desserts has never been in question before, but what has kicked our dreams into overdrive is the sheer beauty of them and seeing them far more frequently all over Instagram and Facebook. In the past, connoisseurs would travel from across the globe to try their favourite chef’s latest creations without ever knowing what would be on offer in the restaurant that night. This was a great experience for the pilgrim who’d made this epic journey, but it kept the world of patisserie adoration small. Social media has done a lot to change that.
Now, chefs and artisans can bring their wares to millions in a moment, with hyperlapses demystifying the meticulous creation process and filters increasing the contrast and shine on the final dish even further. Even if you don’t know their names, you’ve probably drooled over Amaury Guichon or Anne-Sophie Pic’s work when scrolling through your favourite platform.
Best known for his illusion creations and masterful miniatures, Amaury has carved his niche in making seven or eight select desserts on repeat, with chocolate showpieces or rare new creations delighting audiences time and again. Though he may be young, his 1.9 million Instagram followers have grown steadily over the last four years, with posts going from 2.5k likes all the way up to 124k likes and 2.1million views on recent posts.
A rising rock star in the world of pastry chefs, his work is aesthetically focused with rich chocolate hiding tart fillings, all under the guise of some elaborate and intricate form. The chocolate clock face with a hidden caramel core seems impossible to balance, even as you watch it being sliced into. The transparent sugar case protecting the compass below shatters and your mouth waters in tandem. Amaury’s work is undeniably aesthetically brilliant, but when there’s less record of taste or testimonials, his youth shows in the lack of awards that chefs typically dream of for themselves. Plus, never knowing where you can find his wares will always make it harder for the end dreamer like you or me to try his work for ourselves.
They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating, but when it’s impossible to taste through Instagram it’s hard to know whether form is coming before function. After all, who really wants a dessert they’ve been drooling over to be disappointed by? Fortunately, this conundrum can now be solved… Having travelled the world teaching masterclasses and passing on his secrets to eager new chefs, Amaury has finally opened his own patisserie school in Las Vegas, so that those of us who dream of desserts can learn the tricks of his trade.
But high-end patisserie isn’t just a boys’ club, so prepare to dive into the delicious world of Anne-Sophie Pic, the chef with eight Michelin stars under her belt across five dreamy cities. Closest to home is La Dame de Pic which delivers divine French cooking from Anne-Sophie’s mind. Nested in the former Port of London Authority headquarters (now the Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square) you can relax in the expansive and airy restaurant whilst you sample every course — without a doubt leaving plenty of room for dessert. Though Anne-Sophie’s following is smaller than Amaury’s, her dishes focused on taste rather than tricking the eye, she attracts more traditional culinary pilgrims, who will truly travel the world for just a single taste.
If you feel like finding Anne-Sophie in warmer climates, your options range from her self-titled restaurants in Paris and Valence, or – if you’re reading this from further afield – you can find her culinary delights at La Dame de Pic Raffles in Singapore. At every location you’ll discover a full menu of delightful French cuisine, and always (possibly most importantly) beautiful desserts.
If you can’t help but wonder: does all this beauty and majesty have a downside? Are we now discounting great flavour in favour of a great aesthetic? Is a dish any less satisfying when its presentation isn’t perfection? An Eton Mess may not be the most symmetrical dessert, but it’s still damn good. Well, these questions can be asked of pretty much anything on social media, but the one thing you can’t discount is the sheer amount of work that goes into each stage of every piece — and you have the humble hyperlapse to thank for that.
Cocktail Porter will be serving the UK from the 18th May 2020, delivering craft cocktail boxes from Global Drinks Agency Sweet&Chilli, directly to doors around the UK. Each cocktail kit is carefully curated with individual recipes for budding bartenders to stir and shake the perfect cocktail at home. Complete with premium bottles of spirits, artisanal infusions, hand-crafted cordials, home-grown garnishes, and infused tonics.
Cocktail Porter will provide everything needed to build, stir and shake things up at home, including bespoke barware to fill out our drink trolleys. The fruit is from local London supplier, Nature’s Choice, all the dehydrated fruits are prepared by the Cocktail Porter team in Bermondsey and ingredients are ethically sourced, with the environment in mind.
From leading international drinks expertes Sweet&Chilli and those who brought us Nine Lives cocktail bar in London Bridge, each cocktail in the collection is designed by professional bartenders for the cocktail connoisseur at home. Since first launching in 2018 to the Australian market, Cocktail Porter delivers over 500 cocktail boxes a month to the land down under.
Cocktail Porter’s First Collection:
Passionfruit Margarita – Don Julio Blanco tequila, fresh passion fruit, fresh limes, passion fruit-infused syrup… with dehydrated limes to garnish
Elderflower ‘Le Fizz’ Spritz – Grey Goose Vodka, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Double Dutch Soda Water, Fresh Lemon… with organic Persian rose buds to garnish
Whisky Highball Collection – Johnnie Walker Black Label Whisky, Belvoir Farms Ginger/Lemon & Mint/Elderflower cordials, Double Dutch soda water… with dehydrated lemons & candied ginger to garnish
Cold Brew Espresso Martini – Ketel One Vodka, Kuka’s Cold Brew Espresso, Conker Coffee Liqueur, simple syrup… with Halo Raw organic dark chocolate to garnish
Seville Orange Negroni – Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla, Campari Italian Aperitif, Sweet Vermouth… with orange to garnish
These are not pre-batched cocktails!
Each cocktail is available in The Petite Kit (£45, 6 serves) and The Porter (Full Size) Kit (£85, 17-20 serves) and if ordered by 3pm will be delivered the next day.
To bring the much-missed bar scene to your home, Mr & Mr Porter will be on hand with instructional ‘YouTube’ clips and also available for live hosted masterclasses – showing you how to stir things up whilst staying safe at home.
In the latest season of Killing Eve, Villanelle sits on the carpet of a pristine hotel room. She’s draped in a dressing gown with her hair wet and slicked back, seemingly refreshed and relaxed as she reclines against the foot of the bed. In that moment, Villanelle has a newfound desire to meet her family. The setting is purposeful and tasteful like much of the programme’s exotic locations. This episode might even be a favourite so far for the balmy Barcelona terraces and subterranean bars that seem like a distant memory.
Drooling over fleeting scenes of sultry hotel rooms is one of the many ways we can mentally transport ourselves for the foreseeable future. And yes, we are also lusting after the idyllic Italian villa from Normal People (minus Jamie).
While flights are grounded, there are plenty of hotels out there leading the way with virtual activities to alleviate lockdown tedium. We’re all for virtual yoga on the beach as much as a transportive “quarintini” cocktail recipe if it means escaping for a short while. Here, we’ve compiled some of the most fun and creative ways hotels are lending a helping hand before we can show them some love once more.
MarBella Collection
Step away from the screen with MarBella Collection’s new mindfulness colouring. Adult colouring books were all the rage at one point, but we were probably all too busy commuting or socialising to give them a go. There’s no time like the present as the saying goes. Outlines of Greece’s bountiful backdrops and sunset scenes from MarBella Collection’s beautiful properties in Corfu and Parga are a therapeutic escape for pent-up travellers. Don’t forget to hashtag #MindfulWithMarbella to connect with like-minded travellers and future artistes in the making. You can download the sheets here.
Nihi Sumba
Master various breathing techniques in Nihi Sumba’s new Instagram live series. The 45-minute sessions offer breathwork exercises, with the intention to help participants overcome stressful situations through the development of self-awareness. These practices will draw on diaphragmatic and yogic breathing techniques by candlelight. Tune in weekly on Nihi Sumba’s IG Live.
Babylonstoren
If you’ve been longing for the outdoors, join Babylonstoren for frequent tours around their tropical garden. Enjoy a (virtual) whizz around the citrus block in a short but intimate tour of the farm with Constance Stuurman or the beautiful cycad garden with professional botanists and horticulturists. Tune in everyday for something new. We can’t wait to take a post-lockdown stroll through the garden amidst the yuzus and tamarillos.
Windjammer Landing
Everyone seems to be baking banana bread or honing the art of a newfound skill. Mixology might be next, thanks to Windjammer Landing’s easy breezy cocktail recipe made from super sweet citrus flavours. One taste and you’re far off on St Lucia’s kaleidoscopic beaches flanked by frangipani trees.
Ingredients:
4 oz Tequila
2 oz Triple Sec
2 oz Lime Juice
4 scoops of Ice
Bottled Beer
Sugar to taste
Method:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth
Add sugar if required and mix again
Pour into a large glass and top with beer
Le Sirenuse
Anyone else living for virtual live DJ sets at the moment? Le Sirenuse and Emporio Sirenuse have introduced the very cool concept of live DJ sessions around the world to alleviate lockdown fatigue. DJ friends of the hotel, including Mia Moretti and Lucy Wrubel, have just hosted live takeovers in support of Le Sirenuse and the hospitality in Italy. The sets are then uploaded onto Spotify. Other than general wellbeing, live sets have been great for having a boogie and then getting an early night without having to take the night bus home. It’s a win-win. See the playlists for yourself.
The Legian Seminyak
The Legian team have put together a weekly series of wellness experiences set in their beautiful Bali properties. Partake in recipe cook-a-longs, guided yoga with ocean views and expert led mindfulness sessions. Create your own herbal-infused water for an immune boost or prepare a Michelin-starred meal inspired by Executive Chef Stephane Gortina. Gortina will talk participants through his famous ‘Marinated Mahi Mahi’ recipe. Here’s hoping we can keep up with his effortless finesse. Videos are being released on a weekly basis on IGTV every Thursday with the hashtag #StayHomeWithLHM.
Courmayeur Mont Blanc
We can’t deny a live-streamed yoga class positioned against a real, but virtual, mountainous backdrop. This Saturday, Courmayeur Mont Blanc will be hosting the class to mentally transport your mind to the soul-stirring mont blanc massif. For Italy, this is a remarkable sign of progression as lockdown restrictions are eased ever so slightly. Time: 9am BST. When: Saturday 16th May. Place: the comfort of your living room, bedroom or a stretch of grass within social distancing parameters—whatever suits your fancy.
Fancy yourself a bit of a mixologist? Well now is the chance to hone those skills during lockdown. World Cocktail Day, 13th May is the ideal time to perfect your flaring! It’s a day for the global celebration of cocktails and marks the publication date of the first definition of a cocktail on May 13 in 1806. We have rounded up signature cocktails from around the world for you to try. From botanical and fruity flavour sensations to healthy mocktails, here is a selection of delicious cocktails you can make from home. Taking inspiration from around the world, taste the rainbow (without the skittles).
For anyone who has already been making the most of quarantine, there are also some fresh and tasty mocktails to mix things up!
Botanical Garden Cocktail
Inspired by Belfast City’s Botanical Garden, this fresh flavoured cocktail uses intriguing botanicals such as fresh apple, elderberry and wild clover to enhance the cocktails floral tone. This cocktail is beautifully balanced and vibrant, perfect for a warm spring evening. Created by Hastings Hotels’ in their Grand Central Hotel, Belfast’s Observatory Bar in Northern Ireland.
Ingredients:
30ml Shortcross Gin (or any gin available)
10ml Aperol
15ml Rhubarb Liqueur
10ml Pomegranate Cordial
20ml Citrus Juices
1 Egg (Whites only)
Pink Peppercorns and Viola Flowers for garnish
Method:
Chill your Martini Glass by filling with ice
Combine all the ingredients (excluding garnish) in a cocktail shaker and dry shake (no ice)
Add ice to cocktail shaker
Shake again to create a velvety foam top
Double strain into a chilled Martini Glass and garnished with Whole Pink Peppercorns and Viola Flowers (or whatever you have available)
Love at First Sight
Savour the sense of the slopes of Courmayeur Mont Blanc in the Italian Alps with this signature cocktail from Le Massif’s Bernardo Ferro. With these fragrant herbal flavours, you will be transported to the untouched nature and wild landscapes of the mountains.
Ingredients:
2cl of Vertosan Genepy;
2cl Aperol;
2cl Cointreau;
1cl raspberry syrup;
8cl Fripon (sparkling white wine from Aosta Valley);
1 raspberry/1 orange slice to garnish
Method:
Take a wine glass and fill 2/3 of the glass with ice
Add ice into the shaker with all ingredients apart from the Fripon white wine
Drain any melted ice water from the glass.
Shake vigorously and pour into the glass
Add the white sparkling wine
Gently mix, add garnish on top and serve
MarBellous Cocktail
This tropical fruity cocktail from MarBella Corfu will remind you of summer holidays on Corfu’s stunning beaches. With refreshing citruses and sweet passion fruit, this simple signature cocktail will have you feeling as if you’re poolside and soaking in the sun.
Ingredients:
0.5ml Rum
0.25ml Fresh Lime Juice
0.30ml Passion Fruit Puree
0.3ml Orange Jam
2 dashes of Chocolate Bitters
Orange Slice or Peel and Fresh Mint Leaves for garnish
Method:
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fill with ice and shake well
Once shaken, pour into a tumbler through a fine strainer
Add crushed ice and garnish with an orange slice or peel and top with fresh mint leaves
Mary Pear
Take your tastebuds on a journey to the Algarve with this delicious cocktail. Its sweet, herby and floral flavours are reminiscent of Quinta Do Lago’s luscious landscape. Quick and easy to make, this cocktail is the perfect after ‘work-from-home’ drink. Created by the mixologists at Bovino Steakhouse in Quinta do Lago Resort, Portugal
Ingredients:
40ml Gin Mare
20ml St. Germain
50ml Pear Juice
20ml Lime Juice
10ml Sugar Syrup
Pear Slices and Rosemary for garnish
Method:
Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice and shake well
Double strain into an old jam jar or tumbler
Add garnish and serve
Renaissance
Created by Julian Biondi, Beverage Consultant & Founder of “BarOmeter Consulting” this is a refreshing and summery twist on a classic Negroni, the traditional cocktail of Biondi’s home town. Perfect for an evening spent in a Tuscan Villa, it’s easy to make and equally easy to drink. Think Pimm’s Cup with the taste of Tuscany, courtesy of Tuscany Now & More.
Ingredients:
25 ml Tuscan Vermouth Winestillery (or any other Red Italian Vermouth with a bitter note, such as Punt e Mes)
25 ml Amaro Ruffino (or any other Amaro with a nice herbal and bitter note, such as Nonino or Averna)
15 ml Peter in Florence London Dry Gin
15 ml honey & thyme syrup
15 ml lemon juice
1 slice of cucumber
1 slice of orange
Tonic water
Method:
Chill a highball glass with ice
Combine all ingredients (excluding Tonic Water) and shake well
Strain the cocktail into the glass and top with tonic water.
Stir gently
Garnish with a sprig of thyme and orange slice
Piton-Rita
This cool cocktail will have you dreaming of the Caribbean and Windjammer Landing’s beautiful beaches in Saint Lucia. The super sweet citrus flavours makes it easy to drink, but watch out for the brain freeze! Substitute with another beer if you need to, but look forward to trying it with the real Piton flavour soon.
Ingredients:
4 oz Tequila
2 oz Triple Sec
2 oz Lime Juice
4 scoops of Ice
Bottled Beer
Sugar to taste
Method:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth
Add sugar if required and mix again
Pour into a large glass and top with beer
Lady Rose
This light, floral cocktail celebrates Venice and the beautiful Grand Hotel Dei Dogi, The Dedica Anthology. With natural ingredients inspired by the hotel’s stunning botanical garden and delicate flavours of Italy, this cocktail is refreshing and showcases expert mixologist skills from the creator Alessandro Caro.
Ingredients:
40 ml infusion of Verbena, Mint Tea and Orange Blossoms
20ml Homemade Rose Petal Syrup
40ml Moscato Fiori D’Arancio Colli Euganei Maeli
Raspberries, Blackberries and Mint Leaves for garnish
Method:
To infuse: soak the tea bag of in boiling water and allow to cool
To make the rose petal syrup: boil water and sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Next, mix in rose petal and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the syrup and allow to cool
Fill a glass with ice to cool
Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, fill with ice and shake well
Serve in a tumbler and fill with crushed ice.
Stir and garnish with berries and mint leaves
Cinderella
A delicious sparkling cocktail with bitter citrus flavours and a hint of sweetness. A perfect reminder of long lazy summer days and perfect for an afternoon treat. Elounda SA Hotels & Resorts suggests adding any blossoms from the garden to create a delicious and visually stunning drink.
Ingredients:
50ml Aperol Aperitivo
10ml Fresh lime juice
30ml Prosecco
100ml Pink grapefruit flavoured soda
2-3 Dashes lavender aromatic bitters
Cucumber and Lavender Blossom for garnish
Method:
Combine Aperol and lime juice in a glass and add ice
Stir gently
Top with soda and prosecco
Garnish with cucumber and lavender blossom
Tip: mist with lavender essence spray (lavender water not perfume)
Pina Colada Mocktail
For a healthier, non-alcoholic option, try this delicious Pina Colada mocktail from Longevity Health and Wellness Hotel. Perfect for any time of the day, this creamy, coconut drink makes for the ultimate pick me up. Tasting just like the cocktail, this virgin Pina Colada will transport you to Portugal’s beautiful Algarve Bay.
Ingredients:
200 ml of coconut milk
1 mint leaf
2 slices of pineapple
Cinnamon (optional)
Method:
Combine coconut milk and mint leaf in a blender and mix
Cut the pineapple into cubes and blend with coconut milk and mint leaf
Pour mixture into a large glass and add a sprinkle of cinnamon
Agave Punch Mocktail
This tasty alcohol-free mocktail is sweet and refreshing and inspired by The Shack in Quinta do Lago, Portugal. With two simple steps and tasty Mediterranean flavours, this drink will give you a healthy kick of vitamins.
Ingredients:
1/2 lime cut into wedges
15ml agave nectar
1/2 passion fruit
2 strawberries
50ml freshly squeezed orange juice
Crushed ice
Method:
Place strawberries, passion fruit seeds and agave nectar in a glass and crush with a muddler or end of a rolling pin
Add orange juice and crushed ice then stir and serve
