14 minute read
GIN PALACE
COMTE DE GRASSE NO 44°N
Essentially, this is inspired by how perfumes are made, but they decided to make gin instead. It may sound high-tech and fancy, but in fact this method is incredibly sustainable and efficient which can only add to the intrigue of what is inside the bottle. The list of botanicals is vast, with cade (a species of juniper), verbena, everlasting (a golden flower), horse parsley, samphire, lavender, mimosa, grapefruit, patchouli and Sichuan pepper to name just a few. In summary, modern distilling methods meet cutting edge perfume extraction to create a fusion of flavours that will play with your senses. They did their homework and it shows. Bonus points if you wear it as a perfume (please don’t).
£75 from Master of Malt BEAUFORT GIN
Here’s something a little bit different and for all the right reasons. Inspired by Heston Blumenthal, Beaufort Spirit have created a ‘whisky barrel’ smoked water as part of their Smoked Sipping Gin. Szechuan pepper, pink pepper and citrus oils combine once poured to give the illusion of gunpowder smouldering in the glass. At 57% this gin certainly passes the ‘gunpowder’ test and has taken its place as the new ‘big smoke’ in town. Definitely one to discover if you like sipping gins. £40 from Master of Malt
The Best Gins for the Summer
Words: Aidy Smith
We’ve nearly made it! In just a few short weeks this cloud, rain and cold that’s been looming above will be replaced by beaming rays of sunshine. That can only mean one thing - it’s time to top up the gin collection. In this issue we celebrate some of the best gins on the market - helping you create everything from that quintessential G&T to your stunning sours and Bondworthy martinis. Cheers!
MIRABEAU PROVENCE ROSÉ GIN
When it comes to rosé my top choice for quality and value is always Mirabeau, which made me pretty god damn excited when they announced they were making a gin. While the base botanicals consist of juniper, citrus, orris root, angelica root and coriander, it’s the Provençal twist containing a variety of herbs such as bay, thyme and rosemary alongside the neutral grape spirit and base distillate of Mirabeau Classic Rosé that really makes this gin stand out from the crowd. The result is a fruity and textured gin with lemon, coriander and citrus bursting with floral notes, rose petals and lavender. The story ends on a final note as those herbs add an extra kick of character to the blend. £36 from Majestic
WILDCAT GIN
Who would have thought, the same company that creates world-class The Dalmore also produces a gin! Based on the scandalous tales of Captain Dudley Bradstreet who was determined to find a way around the banishing of gin in the early 1700s, this wonder is packed full of personality. Cat’s claw is the wondrous ingredient that binds everything together, a woody vine found in the tropical jungles of South and Central America. This is the perfect gin for mixing up some quality cocktails where you want to be able to get the nuances of the actual gin itself. £23 from The Bottle Club
SILENT POOL COLORADO HIGH CBD
Demand for quality CBD has taken off over the past year, so it was only a matter of time before two trending categories came together. We’re talking award-winning gin blended with CBD that is sourced from hemp grown within the fertile hills and fresh air of the Colorado Rockies. Each 50cl bottle is packed full of 200mg of Green Stem cannabidiol (much higher than other CBD drinks currently on the market). This enables the drinker to benefit from a variety of therapeutic properties such as relieving muscle pain and anxiety to a helping them have a more restful night’s sleep. Simply mix with your favourite tonic to get the most out of it. The oil has a subtle bitterness kind of like grapefruit that works perfectly alongside the citrus botanicals in the gin. Hey, I’ll try anything once - thing is, you’ll probably come back for more. £65 from Silent Pool Distillery
WHITLEY NEIL RHUBARB & GINGER
This is one of the first gins I fell in love with. If you’re looking for a gin packed full of flavour that is equally as good when it comes to value for money, look no further. Now, I did grow up in Yorkshire so I may be a little bias to anything with rhubarb in it, but this really is the perfect addition to a thirst-quenching G&T on those warm summer evenings. Just remember to fill your ice to the top of the glass - your first sip should be as cool as your last! £20 from Sainsbury’s
They take their signature gin before ageing it in Rioja wine casks for up to 12 weeks AN DÚLAMÁN SANTA ANA
Say hello to Ireland’s first Navy Strength gin. Barrel aged and bottled at 57% ABV, there’s only four to five batches of this stunner released each year. It derives from Sliabh Liag Distillery, which in my opinion is one to absolutely be aware of for so many different reasons. They take their signature gin before ageing it in Rioja wine casks for up to 12 weeks and the result is a golden rose liquid with complex maritime notes and soft red berries with a warming orangey finish. Makes for an incredible martini with a twist. £45 from Master of Malt
IN THE WELSH WIND PALO CORTADO LIMITED EDITION
It’s not just whiskies that can benefit from a little cask ageing. This limited edition bottling from the ever patriotic distillers at In the Welsh Wind takes their signature award-wining recipe and rests it in casks originally used for Fino or Amontillado sherries. The result is a bronze liquid that underpins the cask’s wood spice and stone fruit with botanical warmth. It’s like a sip of the exotic, and just as limited given the distillery’s only aged 400 litres of it. It’s an experiment that’s paid off though, so here’s hoping there are a few more variants – bourbon maybe? – in the future. £45 from In the Welsh Wind
edit:
AIDY SMITH
Editor’s picks
A 25-YEAR TRIO OF SCOTCH
We all know choosing your favourite scotch is like choosing your favourite child. So, I’ve decided to give you three 25-year expressions that have left a long-lasting impression on my heart and soul.
BOWMORE 25 YEAR OLD
Don’t you just love it when a whisky gives you the perfect balance of sweet and peat smoke? Well that’s exactly what you can expect here. Bowmore has been a go-to name for as long as I can remember and their older age statements are a total treat. Each delicious drop of this balanced malt sensation has been matured for 25 years in North American bourbon and Spanish sherry casks. Intense sherry erupts from your glass with stewed dark fruits and that signature Bowmore smoke. Take your sip and it’s the dark toffee and treacle tart, walnut and hazelnut crumb and sweet peaty smoke that just jumps out on the long finish. 43% ABV.
£325 from Master of Malt LONGMORN
25 YEAR OLD CASK STRENGTH
When Chivas decided to launch their Secret Speyside collection, everyone got pretty excited. Aged for 25 years in a combination of American oak, hogsheads and butts, the Speyside dream knocks out sweet fruity characters alongside a distinct chocolate and spice. Given this is a cask strength, it’s one for those who like it on the heavier side or are perfectly happy adding a touch of water to bring out more flavours. Not only is it quite simply divine, it’s the oldest single malt expression to have been released from Longmorn as part of the Secret Speyside Collection. Ripe juicy plums, sultanas and cinnamon jump out on the nose with sweet vanilla spice, satsuma rind peel, rich sultanas and chocolate on the palate. 53% ABV £400 from Master of Malt
THE DALMORE
25 YEAR OLD
A pinnacle of a whisky, words themselves are difficult to piece together based on just how sensational this liquid is. The Dalmore is one of the most renowned collections on the planet and only 3,000 bottles of the 25-year are released each year. Each one matured in a variety of American white oak ex-bourbon casks alongside exclusive aged tawny port pipes and casks which have held 30 year old Matulsalem oloroso sherry. A quarter century of extremely patient ageing paves way to an unquestionable character, complexity and emotion that sings with every sip. With only the finest wood being used, the flavours could not be more magical. Burnt toffee, tobacco and fruitcake with fruit pastilles, dark chocolate and a dried candied apricot. Dense, sweet, dry, with treacle toffee and freshly cut cacao. And the finish? It just doesn’t end. 42% ABV £875 from The Whisky Shop
THE PERFECT WHISKY PAIRING?
Cartografie Chocolates
Hand crafted with cocoa sourced directly (and ethically) from top cacao farmers. Head Chocolatier, Kae Shibata is no stranger to this world, having spent much of her career in some of London’s most reputed five-star hotel restaurants. Each chocolate celebrates the unique expression of region, couvertures and cocoa bean varieties making them an experience in their own right. With their elegance and refined taste, these are without question the best chocolates I’ve tasted and the perfect pairing for a cheeky dram. Ranging from £7 at cartografiechocolate.com
↑ HARRY’S BAR
30-34 James Street – W1U 1ER
While Harry’s Bar might be a staple of fine Italian cuisine in the West End with its 1950s inspired surroundings, they’re changing things up this summer season just in time for reopening. Their Sicilian Summer themed menu will be accompanied by a redecoration of the restaurant front, bringing a slice of southern Italy to London’s streets. On the menu there’s going to be a refreshing array of cocktails inspired by Villa Ascenti Gin, including the Summer Nights and Mandorla Martini, which promise to be the perfect summer tipples.
harrys-bar.co.uk
↓ BAR DES PRÉS
16 Albemarle Street, W1S 4HW
Cyril Lignac is perhaps the most famous French celebrity chef of the modern era, hosting French versions of the TV shows Jamie’s Kitchen and The Great British Bake Off called Oui, Chef! and La Meilleur Pâtissier. After establishing a Michelin starred restaurant in Paris that closed last year, he has turned his attention to London with a new and updated version of his Paris eatery in Mayfair. It will specialise in a fusion of French and East Asian cuisine, including Madras curried crab. bardespres.com
EDITED BY MICHAEL SONSINO
RESTAURANT &BAR NEWS
Now that restrictions on hospitality in London are starting to be lifted, a question on everybody’s mind is, where am I going to go and eat first? It’s a tricky decision. Should you beeline to your local to check out the new, post-lockdown menu? Or perhaps you should try a brand new place that’s opening its doors for the first time? In order to set your 2021 culinary journey off on the right foot we’ve gathered together some of the most exciting restaurants and bars, both new and familiar, that can’t wait to welcome you back into London’s dining scene.
↓ NUSR-ET STEAKHOUSE
101 Knightsbridge – SW1X 7RN
While the rise of the internet meme chef should perhaps be taken with a pinch of salt there’s no denying that Turkish restauranteur Nusret Gökçe can create a stir. Better known as his moniker Salt Bae, he quickly rose to stardom with his unorthodox and theatrical approach to slicing, seasoning and serving large tranches of meat. He’s opened Better known as outposts everywhere from Abu Dhabi to Boston, with the new Salt Bae, Turkish London steakhouse set to be the restauranteur Nusret latest jewel in his crown, nestled inside The Park Tower hotel in Gökçe can create a stir Knightsbridge. nusr-et.com.tr
↑ HERITAGE DULWICH
101 Rosendale Road, SE21 8EZ
This wouldn’t be a round up of London dining without at least one amazing curry place and the new Heritage Dulwich more than ticks the box. The kitchen will be overseen by Chef Dayashankar Sharma, a man with over 30 years of experience in critically acclaimed Indian restaurants in the UK and India. On his menu is a wide range of regional dishes from India including northern Dhaba wala murgh and southern Nariyalwala jhinga and Sarsebata maach – each dish promising a combination of traditional cooking techniques and modern flavours.
heritagedulwich.co.uk
↓ ORMER MAYFAIR
7-12 Half Moon Street, W1J 7BH
Following a year of trials, Ormer in Mayfair (one of the most established luxury venues) is setting up for their reopening with a new executive chef. The Ormer has drafted Sofian Msetfi into the position, a chef who has worked in multiple Michelin star restaurants including Adare Manor in Ireland. He is bringing a seasonal focus to the tasting menu with a versatile array of food that changes with the times, featuring Dorset lamb and native lobster among many others.
flemings-mayfair.co.uk
← SABINE
10 Godliman St, EC4V 5AJ
If you’re after a cocktail and light bite rather than a full-on dining experience, you can’t go wrong with Sabine, a brand-new rooftop bar with views overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral. With a strong botanical theme, it’s a stylish oasis hidden away on the skyline, Each dish promising a combination of perched on top of the Leonardo Royal London St Paul’s hotel. As befits its botanical theme, the snacks and drinks cooking techniques and on offer will be seasonal, making for a versatile menu that changes throughout modern flavours the year. sabinelondon.co.uk
→ IMAD’S SYRIAN KITCHEN
Top Floor, Kingly Court, Carnaby St, W1B 5PW
London is one of the top multi-cultural centres of the world and nowhere exemplifies that better than Imad’s Syrian Kitchen. Imad ran four successful restaurants in Damascus before violence destroyed them – forcing him to flee to the UK as a refugee. After much anticipation he is finally making his London restaurant debut. It’s a story of resilience and great food and you can expect to find plenty of Middle Eastern classics like falafel and halloumi at his kitchen on Carnaby Street.
imadssyriankitchen.co.uk
← HOT STONE FITZROVIA
3 Windmill Street, W1T 2HY
Hot Stone is branching out with a second restaurant in the Fitzrovia area of London. It’s one of the most anticipated openings in recent times with demand for tables already high, and with good reason. It is one of only eight restaurants in London that serves certified Kobe beef, alongside its other Japanese delicacies including wagyu, sushi and sashimi. Going here for their fusion of modern and traditional cooking techniques as your first meal out after lockdown would not be a mistake. hotstonelondon.com
→ LOS MOCHIS
2 Farmer Street, W8 7SN
Something that has been missing from the past year has been the opportunity to experiment and one of the most interesting new fusion restaurants opening is Los Mochis, a JapaneseMexican eatery whose influences come from both sides of the Pacific. The menu features Asian twists on Mexican classics with dishes like Trailer Park KFC – Korean fried chicken and Gangster Tacos. All set within a dining room with Mexican design enhanced by fine Japanese finishing. It promises to be an atmospheric and interesting culinary experience.
losmochis.co.uk
