The Cocktail Lovers

26/07/2024

Absolutely thrilled to win Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication at this year’s Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. Proudly independent since 2011 🍸❤️

22/07/2024

Congratulations to Amanda Wan head waitress from , who bowled us over with her amazing storytelling skills in today’s Tao Group Hospitality Drink Masters.

The competition saw bartenders, waiters, bar backs, sommeliers and restaurant managers from across the group creating an alcoholic drink and a non-alcoholic counterpart to feature on the autumn menu.

Jasmine David was the winner from Yauatcha; Adrian Poponea took ghe top prize for Hakkasan and Carlo Capecci won from Lavo London.

Also a big shout out for the category winners:
Peter Szamfira from Hakkasan Mayfair who won the Campari Choice award; Jason Gonsalves from Hakkasan for best non alcoholic drink and Amanda who got our vote for the first dedicated award from The Cocktail Lovers.

Huge thanks to Wendy Hopkins and the team for organising such a great day for the competitors, judges and participating brands.

06/07/2024

It’s taken a minute for me to post this because, as much as I’m truly honoured, grateful and quite frankly bewildered as to how I’m at no 8 on this list, keeping company with such amazing people, I don’t do this on my own.

So, can I say that this ranking goes to me AND Mr G, aka Mr Cocktail Lover -aka - without him, there would be no The Cocktail Lovers.

Thank you Gary and to my pal Hey Mish! aka , the team, and everyone who voted, as well as to all of the wonderful people who made this list and the hundreds of incredible talents around the world who didn’t. What a fabulous industry we’re all in (and we call it work! 🍸)

25/06/2024

So this little beauty just arrived. We are so in awe of Jared and Anastasia. Hours of research followed by accessible writing. Everything we all thought we knew about English Gin is about to get turned upside down! #

14/06/2024

Incredible Ultimate Martini (X Muse, white port, yuzu, cocoa bitters) and art inspired Poetic License (X Muse, fig, pear, lychee, almond, elderberry soda) from Stevie Burton from Guards Bar, to win the X Muse cocktail competition. A pleasure to join the judges Robert Wilson (Jupiter Artland and X Muse co-founder), Vadim Grigoryan (X Muse co-founder) and Anya Gallaccio (sculptor and Jupiter Artland exhibitor) in judging the competition. Jupiter Artland is a wonderful space full of the most wonderful artworks. A fitting inspiration for Stevie and worthy joint runners-up Sharron Carrara, The Beaufort Bar and Dario Orsili, 100 Princes Street Edinburgh.

14/06/2024

05/06/2024

He calls himself ‘That Small Italian Bartender’ but Danilo Frigulti might like to think about changing that moniker now that he’s taken on the massive role as the newly crowned World Class GB 2024 winner. 🥳🥳🥳

Huge congratulations Danilo, your hard work, dedication and passion has paid off big style. Next stop: Shanghai baby!!! 🏆

22/05/2024

Congratulations to all 16 competitors who shook things up in the third Graham’s Blend Series Global Finals yesterday and a special shout out to the top three:

3rd: Stijn Deschact representing Belgium
2nd: Zdravko Mitev representing Malta
1st: Lukas Palubinskas representing Lithuania 🇱🇹 🏆

The quality keeps getting better and better - bring on year 4!

01/05/2024

One great evening would be fabulous. Two is incredible. Both courtesy of Salvatore ‘The Maestro’ Calabrese. Monday at The Donovan Bar with the always amazing Julie Reiner. Tuesday with the iconic Boadas team at Velvet. Wonderful company, exceptional cocktails and check out the throwing of those drinks on both nights! ails

25/04/2024

Our latest podcast episode is available for your listening pleasure…

As ever, we’re putting two products to the taste test, the first is a single cask, small batch bottling of delicious whisky from The Heart Cut, the other a rather tasty armagnac from Marquis de Montesquieu.

Our book choice is the insightful and fascinating ‘How To Taste – A guide to discovering flavor and savoring taste’ [sic] by Mandy Naglich while our guest is equally insightful and fascinating – it’s Aurélie Panhelleux co-founder of three fabulous CopperBay bars in France.

She gives great chat about her career, including her culinary approach to bartending, making cocktail menus more inclusive and the rise of the cocktail scene in Paris. She also talks about her latest venture, CopperBay at Hôtel Lancaster – which makes it one of the first independent bars to open within a luxury hotel in Paris.

Tune in wherever you listen to your (other) favourite podcasts or via the link in our bio above.

18/04/2024

Give it up for awesomeness that was the first Havana Club Cocktail Maestros global competition. All 8 teams were outstanding but, as the saying goes, there can only be one (or in this case two), winners.

That accolade and the €10,000 prize goes to Team Greece aka aka and . 🏆

Also special mentions
to the and winners of the Bartender’s Choice Awards and joint winners along with for the Cocktail Mastery Challenge and
and .me.baron from Czech Republic winners of the Cuban Cocktail Challenge.

And an enormous shout out to and the ace team , as well as and all at Havana Club for putting on such a fabulous few days: vintage taxi rides, Coco cabs, Cohiba ci**rs, Cuban boxing, lots of sun and plenty of rum love. All in all, not an entirely shabby way to spend a week. Bring on the next one!

27/03/2024

Congratulations to Stuart Hudson, UK winner of the Graham’s Blend Series Cocktail Competition held in London today.
Stu will be heading to glorious Porto, the home of Graham’s Port, for the always amazing Global Final next month. Happy days!

23/03/2024

There’s a new gin in town and we must say, it’s pretty darned fabulous!

The recipe for The Aberturret London Dry takes in 14 botanicals including sumac and chamomile, added to The Glenturret’s signature New Make Spirit. It took Joel Harrison, Neil Ridley and Peter Jauch two years to create and the time, care and attention is in the tasting - it’s absolutely delicious and works wonders in everything it touches, particularly a Dry Martini.

Just the ticket to amuse our bouches before a superb meal by Mark Donald in the two Michelin-starred The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant - and to toast the arrival of Jen Baernreuther who takes up her new role of MD at The Glenturret on Monday 🍸❤️🙌🏾🙌🏼

Review to follow in the new season of our podcast coming on Thursday 28th March.

20/03/2024

Such a privilege for us to be amongst the very first people to try Ominira, the first release in the legacy blend series from The Equiano Rum Company in honour of its extraordinary namesake Olaudah Equiano. Huge thank you to Rum Ambassador and Equiano Rum Co. founder Ian Burrell for sharing this wonderful rum and experience. Plus delicious food curtesy of the team at Akara.

07/02/2024

Highlights from a wonderful evening celebrating the wealth of fabulous bars we have here in the UK: from Leeds to London, Birmingham to Bath, and everywhere in between including the city with a considerable number of nods and proudly rocking the top spot, Manchester 🏆

Pic 1: Schofield’s Manchester (no. 1)
Pic 2: Satan’s Whiskers, (no. 2)
Pic 3: Passing Fancies, Birmingham (no. 3)
Pic 4: Rising Star (Oscar Perry, Murder Inc, London
Pic 5: Couch, Birmingham (Best Bar Team)
Pic 6: Fords Gin Salt & Vinegar Martinis

Thank you to the teams and for top notch celebrations. And a big shout out to for the exceptional salt and vinegar martinis - they powered our night just perfectly👌🏾🍸

01/02/2024

…to this time last week when we were whisked off to Bergamo for the launch of the world’s first real-world asset blockchain backed metaverse from digital fine wine community Crurated. Details to follow - for now, it’s all about the pics… Thank you for having us

23/01/2024

Introducing The Culture Exchange, the brand new, extremely exciting takeover series from the team at Viajante87.

From February to June, they’ll be showcasing the unique tastes and ingredients from top bars and restaurants across Latin America, including Alquimico from Colombia, Selvágica from Costa Rica, Sastreria Martinez from Peru, Floreríca Atlantic from Buenos Aires and Hanky Panky and Casa Oaxaca both from Mexico, each paired with chefs from their regions.

To read more about it and to book your seats, check the post in our bio above.

22/01/2024

Very tasty preview of the 20 Berkeley Burns Night menu. Orkney scallops, roasted haggis and the best dessert we’ve had in a long time Mars cranachan. Paired with exceptional Nipperkin cocktails featuring The Botanist Gin. Plus a delicious dram of Bruichladdich.

11/01/2024

It’s our first episode of 2024 so we’re giving a respectful nod to those doing dry as well as those who are resolving to continue drinking alcohol - only more mindfully.
Our two featured products are a case in point: First we go all regal and head over to Highclerc Castle where they make a gin based around 10 botanicals found in the castle’s Victorian orangery and monk’s garden, then we bust out a fabulous alternative to Champagne and sparkling wine - REAL Peony Blush fermented tea.

John deBary’s ‘Drink What You Want’ is our book of choice for anyone looking for inspiring drinks suggestions of the no, low or full-on alc varieties, ditto our bar pick which is the marvellous Nipperkin, a bijoux bar with big time cocktails celebrating the best of British in the heart of Mayfair.

Then it’s on to our guest, Tatiana Mercer, former BarChick now one of the very bright minds behind Three Spirit Drinks. Tune in to hear about how their products are changing the way people think about non-alcoholic drinks, thanks to their clever ways with flavoursome, functional ingredients.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or via the link in our bio above

21/12/2023

The one where we jibber-jabber about some of the many great products we’ve tasted and amazing bars we’ve visited in the past year, including .oslo .bcn .

We also taste three new products we think you should ask Santa for: one, a gorgeous limited-edition, ready-to-pour cocktail from ; two, a fab limited-edition canned cocktail from and , and the third, a deliciously juicy pear and cognac liqueur - perfect for Christmas.

Tune in wherever you get your (other) favourite podcasts and while you’re at it, please rate and review us - it really helps.
Back in 2024 with more fabulous people, places and products for your listening pleasure.

19/12/2023

Two fabulous new products from Team Paradiso: a decadent truffle amaro for a daily aperitivo and a truffle gin for an evening cocktail. As they say: ‘two different products. Two different moments. One same soul.’ Special release to celebrate their 8th birthday 🎉🍸❤️

07/12/2023

What a wonderful way to round off a fabulous day yesterday with Salvatore ‘The Maestro’ Calabresse, Christian Maspes and all the amazing team at the beautiful Velvet at the exquisite Corinthia. Champagne, sampling the delights of the fantastic new menu and, of course, a Salvatore Martini. And thanks for signed menu. After all it was someone’s birthday…

23/11/2023

Such a treat to get a little preview tasting of this beauty from The Busker with global ambassador in the delightful Alba Tasting Room . Available January 2024.

21/11/2023

The faces of Patrón Perfectionist UK winners: on the left, the brand new 2023-2024 champ - Nathan Price from Burnt Milk Hotel in Liverpool 🎉🎉🎉🎉 On the right, last year’s winner - Max Macauley from The Locale in Glasgow.

Huge congrats to Nathan and the other nine incredible participants, all fabulous and truly inspiring. Thank you all for an amazing day.

14/11/2023

Happy 108th birthday . Thank you for having us 🥃

13/11/2023

Big news, Havana Club is back in the cocktail competition game, with a new name, new format and some amazing educational opportunities (not to mention a cheque for a very nice €10,000 for the winners thank you very much 🤗)

To find out details and check out how to enter, see the link in our bio above.

24/10/2023

Venice Cocktail Week day one…
Opening party at the Aman hotel, celebrating the Evolution of the Negroni with Mauro Mahjoub at Osteria I Rustighi and enjoying good times with our great friend Vasilis Kyritsis at Experimental. Thank you Paola Mencarelli for making the magic happen

18/10/2023

Is it a fragrance? Is it a garnish? Incredible limited edition launch recently at BCB. Collaboration between and five inspired bartenders .mare___21 .me.baron From bottle design to essence. Brings a new dimension to cocktails!

06/10/2023

End of an era. We said cherio to our dear friend today. So lovely, too, to be joined by his lovely wife Sandrine. Denis, you’ve been amazing. The perfect host and friend. were so lucky to have you for 15 glorious years. Here’s to the next chapter!

02/10/2023

There are cocktail menu launches. And then there are .oslo cocktail menu launches. 13 original creations by leading Oslo fashion designer inspired by the 13 cocktails on the new menu “Ode To The Snake”. Stunning designs. Stunning cocktails (as discovered later).