We’re loving this fantastic video of Guardian journalist Simon Majumdar’s search for the perfect Martini. Nick Strangeway takes him around three of London’s top bars each of which serve a different twist on our favourite classic. Check out the hilarious trainspotter type comments too.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/video/2010/mar/02/how-to-make-perfect-martini
Gintime was heavily involved at the first Bibulous at Vinopolis and it was a brilliant showcase event for our participating brands – the gorgeous Beefeater 24, Caorunn, Hendrick’s Gin, Martin Millers, Plymouth and The London No. 1. In a supremely glamorous setting Gintime editor Geraldine Coates conducted a Master Class and tasting of our featured gins to an audience made up of bar professionals and interested amateurs. Check out the gorgeous Gin Lane girls’ independent opinion here.
And no we didn’t pay them although we have to say they are our new best friends!
The Worldwide Cocktail Club and David Wondrich recently led a devoted band of Plymouth Gin aficianados on a magical mystery tour around some of London’s hallowed and not so hallowed cocktail shrines. The places visited included Richard Stoughton’s Apothecary Shop in Southwark, the site of Van Winkle’s American Bar behind the Bank of England (the first cocktail bar in London), James Ashley’s Punch House in Ludgate Hill, The Savoy Hotel, The Criterion Bar in Piccadilly Circus, Ciro’s Club, The Café Royal and the site of Limmer’s Hotel in Conduit Square where John Collins once served gin punch. As you would expect appropriate cocktails, and punches were served en route. Wish we’d been there!
Renowned D.C. mixologist Gina Chersevani has come up with a stunning idea – the P.B.L.T. (Plymouth, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato), an innovative cocktail infused with crisp flavors of lettuce, tomato and , would you believe it – bacon. Here’s the recipe:
P.B.L.T.
First spray vinegar on a glass and dip in dehydrated bacon dust, then place a lettuce water cube, tomato cube, then pour the Plymouth Gin over top.
Tomato Cubes
Combine all ingredients together and fill ice trays. Makes about 24-30 cubes
Lettuce Cubes
Combine all ingredients together and fill ice trays. Makes about 20-24 cubes
Always the ones to do in style, Beefeater and Plymouth Gins are getting ready to astonish visitors to this year’s Bar 09 held at Earls Court, London. On Monday 22nd June the Kennington Distillery will be open to international guests with an opportunity to tour the distillery, take part in a tutored gin tasting and enjoy a delicious G & T at the Distillery Bar. The Show itself kicks off on Tuesday 23rd June and here’s a sneak preview of the Beefeater and Plymouth portfolio stand – a work of art in itself. It will host a Cocktail Demonstration Bar with the leading mixologists from the UK and beyond, tutored gin tastings, the Master Distiller’s private room and a separate bar as well. On Wednesday night Beefeater 24 hosts a party and there’s also a chance to get invites to the Beefeater 24 sponsored Super Contemporary Exhibition at the Design Museum.
Plymouth Gin had a major presence at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans with a whole series of top bartender led events to celebrate both the iconic gin and the recent launch of Plymouth Sloe Gin in the US. The one we particularly wish we had been at was the Midnight Bartenders’ Breakfast with Plymouth Gin hosted by Audrey Sanders and Simon Ford – a n evening of live jazz music, burlesque, food by Chef Duke and cocktails by Audrey Saunders, Willy Shine, Aisha Sharp & Simon Ford with guest bartenders including Dale DeGroff, Dave Wondrich, Gary Regan, Francesco Lafranconi, Allen Katz, Jacques Bezuidenhout, Kenta Goto, John Deragon, Don Lee, Chris Patino, Matt Gee, Leo DeGroff and special overseas guests Wayne Collins, Tony Conigliaro and Jason Crawley. Some people have all the fun and next year we’ll definitely be there. Meanwhile watch some New Orleans action including Simon Ford talking about Bartenders’ Breakfast .
Here’s a virtual treasure trove for Plymouth Gin lovers and collectors of gin miscellany. Plymouth Gin Collectables sells a wide variety of the Plymouth Gin promotional items made by the company over the years.
Visit www.plymouthgincollectables.co.uk for everything from pottery jugs to lighters, martini glasses to toy vans, miniature bottles to match strikers, ashtrays to cocktail shakers. Every home should have a Gurgling Jug.
Yesterday’s fire at the historic Plymouth Gin Distillery in Plymouth’s Southside Street has mercifully left the 500 year old distillery building intact. The blaze broke out in the ducting system of the kitchen of the Barbican Kitchen Brasserie, run by celebrity chefs James and Chris Tanner, which has been severely damaged. The good news however is that that the pot still and general production facility as well as the oldest part of the building, The Refectory, is undamaged and remains operational. The Black Friars Distillery is the oldest working distillery in the country and the Refectory dates back to the 15th century. It is reputed to be the place where the Pilgrim Fathers spent their last night before sailing for the New World on the Mayflower. This is the second time in Plymouth Gin’s history that the distillery has been saved from fire (the first time was during World War 2 when it was hit by German bombs). Whew, let’s raise a glass of Plymouth Gin to Plymouth Gin!
The next best thing to going out on a hot date with your Valentine on February 14th is staying in and making this gorgeous Plymouth Sloe Gin cocktail. To make the Lover’s Cocktail shake with ice and strain into martini glass:
