Brilliant article about Colin Field, cocktail maestro at the Ritz in Paris – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatlife/7967484/Putting-on-the-Ritz.html

Here’s an idea for the Bank Holiday Weekend. Come and join the Gintime Masterclasses at Oxford Foodies Festival on Sat 28 at 15.45, Sun 29^th at 11.45 and Mon 30^th August at 15.45. We’ll be exploring the delights of Beefeater 24, Foxdenton, Hendricks, Plymouth and London No 1. Original.

Here’s the programme: http://www.foodiesfestival.com/oxford/

And go to the Gintime Home Page to print out 2 tickets for Free Entry for any day of the Festival.

Caorunn Gin has only been around for a year but what a year it’s been! Since last August Caorunn’s exceptional quality has bee recognised by a string of impressive awards with a double gold medal win at the 2010 Gin Masters the latest accolade. It adds to a gold medal at the 2009 Gin Masters, gold at the Travel Retail Masters and a further gold for design and packaging at the prestigious International Spirits Challenge. Caorunn has also made its mark across the Atlantic, being awarded a gold medal by the US Beverage Tasting Institute. Silver medals were secured at the 2010 International Cocktail Challenge and at the Starpack Industry Awards. In addition, Caorunn will appear as a finalist at this year’s UK Packaging Awards.

Anyone attending Edinburgh Foodies Masterclasses can get 10% of any gin tasted at the Gintime Masterclass at The Drinks Shop – using the voucher code:

• UK GTO 787878

Users must be logged in to use the voucher.

Coca-Cola is made with the following essential oils:

• orange
• lemon
• nutmeg
• cassia
• coriander
• neroli
• lime
• lavender

Edinburgh Foodies Festival is on August 13th, 14th and 15th – in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. It’s a real feast for food and drink lovers with top Scottish chefs showing off their skills in the Chef’s Theatre, cooking with kids seminars, over 150 great stalls selling the best local produce, sushi, chocolate and cocktail classes and live entertainment from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe plus loads more. We’ll be there too doing Masterclasses exploring the delights of Beefeater 24, Caorunn, Hendricks, Plymouth, London No 1. and SW4.

Download and print your tickets for free entry for any day of the Festival.

• Foodies Festival Edinburgh E-Ticket

Here’s the full Edinburgh Foodies Programme:

• www.foodiesfestival.com/edinburgh

Beefeater 24 is hosting a series of Tea Salons all over the world to make the most of the gin’s gorgeous tea botanicals. Brand Ambassador Dan Warner has create a range of tea-inspired gin cocktails, including English Breakfast, Lapsang Martinez, Almond Iced Tea and 24 Fruit Tea Cup. Great drinks all and here are some of the  recipes.

English Breakfast

• 1 ¾ oz English Breakfast Tea infused Beefeater 24*
• ¾ oz Lemon Juice
• ¾ oz Pasteurized Egg White (Optional)
• ¼ oz Sugar syrup
• 1 spoon Marmalade

Method: Shake and Strain into chilled glass
Glass: Tea Cup or Cocktail glass
Garnish: Zested orange peel

Almond Iced Tea

• 1 ¾ oz Beefeater 24
• 3 oz Chilled Sencha Tea
• ¾ oz Orgeat syrup
• ¼ oz Sugar syrup
• ¼ oz Fresh lemon juice

Method: Pour all ingredients over ice & stir
Glass: Highball/ Collins
Garnish: Lemon wheel & sage sprig

Lapsang Martinez

• 1 ¾ oz Beefeater 24
• 1 oz Dubonnet
• ½ oz Lapsang Souchong Syrup

Method: Stir and Strain
Glass: Cocktail coupe
Garnish: Lemon Twist

One of the highlights of this year’s Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans was the Bartenders’ Breakfast hosted by Audrey Saunders and Simon Ford of Plymouth Gin. Reputed to be the biggest, wildest event of the Tales weekend it boasted the best drinks and a stunning list of guest bartenders including Dale DeGroff, Gary Regan, Francesco Lafranconi, Jacques Bezuidenhout, Kenta Goto, John Deragon, Don Lee, Chris Patino, Matt Gee, Leo DeGroff & more with special overseas guests Wayne Collins, Tony Conigliaro and Jason Crawley. 

Preceded by the now traditional New Orleans Jazz funeral for a bad cocktail (mercifully Sex on the Beach) it was a night to remember. Or not as the case might be.

Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, recently entertained some of the world’s top bartenders at a Gin Symposium in Toronto. The event was hosted by Global Brand Ambassador, Dan Warner and the timetable for the afternoon included:

• Beefeater Master Distiller, Desmond Payne on the history of English Gin, followed by a gin tasting
• Beefeater Brand Ambassador, Dan Warner on the taste profiles of a selection of English Gin brands and the role each can play in a classic drink
• Nick Strangeway - London-style drinks
• Local brand Ambassador, Ryan Powell - Canadian inspired cocktail recipes

The Beefeater Gin Distillery in the heart of London is one of the city’s best kept secrets.  And, as part of “London Open City”, the Distillery will be opening its doors to the public on 18^th and 19^th September for free tours that take place every 30 minutes from 1-5pm with a maximum of 15 people per tour.

Visitors will be able to experience a moment of British history and learn how this iconic London spirit is made by going behind the scenes of the home of one of London’s most recognised brands. In the expert hands of Master Distiller Desmond Payne they will learn fascinating facts on the history of the spirit itself and view the array of botanicals used to create the gin first hand. Also as part of the tour, visitors will be able to view the original pot still used to steep and then distil the alcohol and botanicals before sampling the quintessential (and arguably) the best gin and tonic in the contemporary Beefeater branded bar.
It’s the perfect treat if visiting London or planning a day out with friends.

Tours must be pre-booked – just log onto the Open City website (www.londonopenhouse.org). But hurry, as spaces are limited.

Open City encourages Londoners to explore and re-examine their city, to debate how architecture affects their daily lives, and to discover and appreciate how they can really influence change in the built environment.