Apologies and a not very Secret Garden Party

I’ve had an amazing summer, but it’s been at the expense of this poor blog. Although I’ve had posts half-written and photos ready to go, generous brands sending me products to review, and (as always) an awful lot to say for myself, life really has got in the way.

Since I posted last I’ve worked at six festivals (with one still to go), had several photoshoots, and I’ve even been lucky enough to be involved in a documentary project shooting at Dungeness B, a nuclear power station. This is the first time I’ve been home for more than 36 hours in a week since June. It’s been wonderful, but I’m quite excited about normal life resuming – theoretically – at the start of October!

Before I catch up on a list as long as my arm of cocktails, recipes and photography, I thought I’d share a few photos from one of my favourite events of the summer: Secret Garden Party.

César Manrique’s Jardin de Cactus

My mum and I took a trip to Lanzarote last month. I had been expecting something a bit Benidorm-esque so I was thrilled to discover a stunning volcanic island of small white-washed houses, gorgeous blue sea and lots of work by the architect and artist César Manrique.

Born in 1919, his work provides an incredible contrast between the tradition and natural beauty of Lanzarote, and his own bold and graphic style of design. This came together at his home, which now houses the César Manrique Foundation, and features a living room built in a lava bubble – but more on that in another post!

Mum and I hired a car one day and decided to take a trip to his Cactus Garden. The place is a tribute to…well, cacti, as well as the stunning volcanic rock the island is covered in. With the addition of some small architectural features and an awful lot of wry humour, the gardens look like something out of a Pixar movie.

Elderflower Rinse Martini

In the wake of World Gin Day last week, I am happily celebrating World Martini Day today!

I know the word ‘martini’ has become synonymous with ‘something drunk from a martini glass’, but I’d like to use today as a opportunity to step away from the Porn Star, Appletini and other fruity variants, and bring it back to something a little more classic.

This recipe is my favourite way to drink a martini: dry, with a good gin, lemon twist and an elderflower rinse.

Happy World Gin Day!

First impressions count for a lot. The first time you meet a person, the first time you hear a song, the first time you try a food – it colours every experience you have afterwards. Working in a bar, one thing I heared a lot was “oh god, I can’t stand that. The first time I had it…”, generally followed by a story involving a misspent youth drinking cider on the beach, or doing one too many tequilas in a night out.

The first time I tried gin, I was seven years old and I’d stolen a sip of a G&T from a friend of my mum’s at a New Year’s Eve party. I can’t say it was my favourite taste in the world, but I certainly went back for a second swig before being banished to bed. Ever since then, gin and I have been, if not partners-in-crime (rum probably deserves that title) then badly behaved friends.

I had a whole post about the history of gin, and some of my favourite gin cocktails, written out. But then my mum decided she wanted me to make her something with some apricots we found in the greengrocers, and thus this piece was born!

Whilst I love making infusions and syrups, I wanted to branch out a little today so I decided to make a shrub. Shrubs, or “drinking vinegars” (doesn’t sound quite so appealing…) are a good way of preserving fruit in sugar and vinegar, which appealed to me because sometimes I find the sweetness of syrups a bit limiting. It also appealed to me because it’s seriously simple, and I was feeling lazy!

Check out the recipe and my World Gin Day cocktail below!

World Gin Day sneak peek

I’ve just arrived back from a week in Lanzarote with my mum. I’ve got about a gazillion photos to edit and share in another post, but suffice to say I had an amazing time sunbathing, surfing, and drinking far too much red wine!

On my way home, Mum and I picked up a few bits from duty-free, including Brugal Reserva (yippee!) and a bottle of Tanqueray Export – just in time for World Gin Day tomorrow.

I had a big ol’ post planned out with a few classic cocktails, but armed with the Tanqueray and after a quick trip to my local greengrocers, I decided to scrap it all and make something a little different. Here’s a sneak peek…

Check back later on for the full post!

London

I am a very disorganised person. This has been compounded in recent weeks by the fact that I’ve been travelling around the country to visit friends and do some bits of work. If I have a laptop, my camera and an internet connection at the same time, I’m generally so excited that I forget what I’m meant to be doing (blogging) and end up watching episodes of How I Met Your Mother instead. Hey, it happens!

This is why it’s taken me two ENTIRE weeks to get round to posting about London (but I have watched like half a season of HIMYM…)

A Rhubarb Cocktail (making magazine)

About a month ago, I was approached by the lovely folks at Making Magazine, who wanted a cocktail for their June issue.

Obviously, I was flattered and very excited. I was also absolutely terrified. I’ve designed drinks for bar menus and events. I make cocktails at home all the time. But the idea of sharing those drinks with, I don’t know, the entire readership of a national magazine? Wow.

After a lot of procrastinating and a bit of drinking (research, obviously!), this was the result – click for a larger version.

I love making simple syrups to use in drinks. Infusing spirits tends to give a better flavour, but it takes time. And if a syrup doesn’t turn out how you want it, you can chuck it out. With spirits, on the other hand…well, I have a half-bottle of a ginger-infused vodka that somehow tastes exactly like lime cordial. It’s done three house moves with me but I still can’t bring myself to throw it away.

With this recipe, you could swap the gin for vodka or the syrup for a fruit liqueur. I’m looking forward to having it drizzled with Rhuby, a rhubarb and vanilla liqueur I tried this week.

If you want to find the magazine (and I’d highly recommend it if you enjoy crafts – I had literally no idea there were so many things you could do with twine and tons of patience) it’s out now and it looks like this!

Happy drinking (:

Three Cocktails Everyone Should Know and ninetyeight bar

As I mentioned in my last post, I ran a cocktail masterclass at the fabulous ninetyeight bar and lounge in Shoreditch on the weekend.

I’ve never been before but I popped downstairs to the bar for a drink after the class, and was pretty much blown away. The bar itself is accessed by a spiral staircase coming down from the street – it’s so tucked away that I had trouble spotting it (hint: look for the “Morrell House” frontage!) when I first arrived. The place is decorated beautifully, like a confectionary-themed Versailles.

I love these puzzle pieces/coasters and the other fun little touches.

Behind the bar are rows of perfume jars with home-made infusions – my friend had an amazing berry-infused Limencello concoction, which I’ve (very unprofessionally) forgotten the name of.

Anyway, enough rambling! Hit ‘read more’ to see my Mojito, Cosmo and Pink Bramble how-tos.

just a quick update

Hey guys,

I was lucky enough to be invited to run a cocktail masterclass for a hen party in a fab bar in Shoreditch today. I’ll be posting the three drinks I taught the girls tomorrow, but for now, have a sneak peek of the gorgeous venue, ninetyeight bar and lounge.

Imagine if Marie Antoinette, Heston Blumenthal and Alice in Wonderland were sharing a beautiful high-ceiling apartment and you’ll understand why I fell in love with it!

Check back soon for my “Three Cocktails Everyone Should Know How To Make” piece – and a massive thanks to the lovely ladies I showed them to today! I’ve also got a few bits of pretty exciting news that I’ll be able to share towards the end of the week…

going home

My former hometown of Hastings, for all it’s downsides, is an awesome place, and it particularly excels when it comes to busting out the fancy dress, slapping on some facepaint and getting hammered.  There’s Pirate Day in July, where everyone dresses up as pirates and gets drunk. There’s Fat Tuesday jn February, an incredible four day music festival that culminates in a night of…well, dressing up and getting drunk. But one of my favourite days in the calendar is our May Day celebration, Jack In The Green.

Jack in the Green became a part of English May Day festivities in the 1800s (thank you, Wikipedia), and is often linked with pagan fertility rites. It died out during the later Victorian era, but was thankfully revived in the 1970s, and returned to Hastings in 1983. Nowadays, May Day in my hometown includes one of the biggest annual gatherings of Morris Dancers, a gigantic motorbike rally, and…a whole bunch of people covering themselves in leaves, flowers and green face paint and getting drunk. Behold!

Above is my wonderful best friend Abi, who had to put up with me shoving my camera in her face for the entire day – sorry!

As well as decorating themselves, people also extend the festivities to children, inanimate objects, and dogs.

You did me proud, Hastings…now roll on Pirate Day!