New Year's Eve Cocktails

Ketel Crumble

We hope you have celebrated Christmas well and are hopefully planning your New Year's Eve celebrations. We thought some cocktail recipes could be very helpful this time of year, so we asked our friend Deano Moncrieffe (Ketel One Brand Ambassador) to share some of his fabulous creations with our readers.

Ketel Crumble

Ingredients:

37.5ml Ketel One Vodka

20ml Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice

25ml Sugar Syrup

75ml Pressed Apple Juice

Dash of Vanilla Extract

Pinch of ground Cinnamon

Method: Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and strain into a goblet filled with cubed ice.

Garnish: apple slice and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon

Units: 1.5

Espresso Martini

Espresso Martini

Ingredients:

50ml Ketel One

37.5ml hot espresso coffee

12.5ml sugar syrup

7ml Grind coffee liqueur (or Kahlua coffee liqueur)

Garnish: with 3 coffee beans

Method: Shake all ingredients with ice and fine strain into chilled glass.

Units: 2.2

Glass: martini

Chocolate Chilli Mule

Chocolate Chilli Mule

Ingredients:

37.5ml Ketel One Vodka

10ml white chocolate liqueur or crème de cacao (white)

Ginger ale

Quarter of a very small red chilli (deseeded and chopped in small pieces)

Lime wedge

Method: Build in the order above into a high ball glass. After you have topped up with ginger ale squeeze a lime wedge and drop into glass, then sprinkle the small pieces of red chilli on the top. Gently stir and serve.

Glass: high ball

Units 1.8

Three-year reign at The Dorchester

Bruno Do Nascimento, Facundo Gallegos and Stefano Cossio

For three years running, the team of skilled and experienced bartenders at The Bar at The Dorchester have secured the winning title at the annual National Championship Cocktail Competition, supplying the nation's champion bartender - and subsequently the UK representative - at the Bartenders Guild Global Cocktail Competition, which follows shortly after.

Beginning with Stefano Cossio who went on to represent the UK in Singapore in 2010, to Bruno Do Nascimento who competed in Poland in 2011, and Facundo Gallegos, who has only recently returned from his trip to Beijing, where he represented the UK this October. 

All three have trained under Giuliano Morndin, the incredibly well-respected bar manager at The Dorchester. Such is the respect and camaradie of the team that the combined years they have all worked together exceeds 100 years.

Johnnie Walker House Beijing

December 7^th 2012, Beijing, China JOHNNIE WALKER, the world’s number one Blended Scotch Whisky is proud to announce the grand opening of ‘Johnnie Walker House Beijing’, the world’s largest embassy for luxury Scotch Whisky outside of Scotland.

Following the success of the first Johnnie Walker House in Shanghai last year and continuing the brand’s mantra of ‘Keep Walking’, the Johnnie Walker House Beijing is located at the prestigious Ch’ien Men and creates a highly contemporary space, rich in authentic whisky story-telling for the discerning consumer along with the opportunity to participate in the art of blending.

As the global Scotch whisky industry leader with nearly two centuries of whisky craftsmanship, Johnnie Walker House Beijing provides an unprecedented exclusive luxury whisky experience for consumers.

Visitors are immediately immersed in the JOHNNIE WALKER culture and can select and buy rare whisky as well as participate in the personalised blending sessions. By invitation only VIP patrons are given the opportunity to meet personally with John Walker and Son’s master blender, the soul of JOHNNIE WALKER whisky, to create bespoke blends according to their individual flavour preferences. 

For true exclusivity, 200 by-invitation memberships will be available for members to access exclusive lifestyle experiences as well as private sections of the House such as the Odyssey Lounge and Striding Man Bar. 

Excellence in blending is considered an art form amongst whisky connoisseurs. At Johnnie Walker House Beijing blending goes beyond the glass. The Distillery Bar, open to the public, nearly 10,000 copper pipes have been used to simulate a working distillery.  In selective areas of the House, guests are encouraged to create their own whiskey-inspired art, with the chance of being displayed as part of temporary exhibition.

L'Atelier de Courvoisier and the £95,000 bottle

by Sophie Mutevelian

Courvoisier is delighted to announce the launch of L'Atelier de Courvoisier - an explorative insight into its renowned aging cellar in Cognac. L'Atelier will celebrate the alchemy of this prestigious cognac: the meticulous craftsmanship of their master blender Patrice Pinet in bringing together regional grapes, copper pot stills, new oak barrels and intricate techniques to create this most precious liquid. This one-of-a-kind experience will take place in the exclusive Tasting Room in the Wine Shop on the lower ground floor of Harrods, London from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 December.

our tasting experience began...

Each day between 12 and 4 p.m., brand ambassador Rebecca Asseline will be conducting tastings of Courvoisier's celebrated XO directly from the barrel and explaining the magic behind the brand. On Saturday 8 December, L'Atelier will play host to a one-off special evening, where guests will embark upon an immersive and educational journey through Courvoisier's rich heritage and alchemy, which we were lucky enough to try out. Starting with a bespoke cognac cocktail designed by Nathan Merriman (from The Ivy), followed by a tasting of Courvoisier XO and a rich food pairing. The tasting and educational experience ends with a chance to taste the limited edition Courvoisier Succession J.S., which was presented in a beautifully handcrafted wooden replica of Napoleon's War Chest and was only produced in 2,500 bottles. 

To finish our tasting experience with a bang, Rebecca Asseline unveiled the world's oldest bottle of Courvoisier cognac, bottled in 1789 (the year of French Revolution) and is exclusively on sale at Harrods for £95,000. Previously it was sold to Bay van der Bunt, who bought it from Sotheby's, and has kept it in his cellar up until now.

Chivas and 'Real Friends'

On the evening of the 29^th of November, Chivas Whisky held an evening of ‘Real Friends’ at the Bremont Boutique in South Audley Street. With Chivas cocktails flowing Neil Laughton and Jon Beswick gave an inspiring talk on their expedition to the South Pole and the bond forged on this trip.

Throughout the evening guests were treated to delicious canapés courtesy of Adam Byatt’s Trinity Restaurant team, who kept everyone fed and watered (whiskied) with a choice of cocktails; the Little Green Apple, Chivas Peach and Mint Green Tea, and Chivas Ginger and Pineapple.

The icy temperatures outside were nothing a Chivas couldn’t fix but also enhanced the ordeal that Neil and Jon had been through on their journey to the pole. Despite battling the Arctic temperatures and weather conditions that could have proved fatal, they succeeded in playing the first ever game of cricket at the South Pole, United Kingdom vs. ROW (the UK one by two wickets!)

After an evening filled with laughter, whisky and tales of friendship guests left feeling motivated and in awe of the ambitious feats that Neil and Jon accomplish through their drive, determination and friendship.

Hedonism Wines in Mayfair

Hedonism Wines is London’s newest wine and spirits boutique, which has already become the most talked about wine project of recent times. Located in the heart of Mayfair on Davies Street and unlike any other fine wine shop in the UK, Hedonism Wines has created a contemporary, innovative space to showcase their produce, yet offering an easy to browse environment with an experienced team on hand to recommend and advise, many of whom are former sommeliers from London’s finest restaurants.

Specializing in the world’s finest wines and spirits, the owners have employed the UK’s top buyers to source 1,500 spirits and 4,500 wines from each region of the world, whilst carefully checking the provenance of every bottle. As a result Hedonism Wines is now home to some of the world’s classics including Macallan 50 year old 1928, Taylors 1945, a Courvoisier 1976 Baccarat Decanter and The Laird 2006 27 litre bottle.

Aside from the exquisite fine wines and spirits, Hedonism Wines has generated a name for itself in terms of design. Exposed brick walls, floor to ceiling glass cabinets and the most unique feature of all, the live vines growing up the walls which hold bottles of wine at all angles. Highlighted by an assortment of spotlights, up lighting and hanging wine glasses to reflect light. Hedonism Wines is not just about buying wine it is about the experience and the learning process. Customers are encouraged to sample the various bottles and currently they have 40 of the world’s finest wines and 5 champagnes to taste on the Enomatic machines.

Jack Daniel's Special Whiskey for Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra was a fan of Jack Daniel's and so it is not strange, that the cult whiskey producer has decided to dedicate a tribute bottle to the legend. The special edition is named Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select, bottled at 90 proof for a whiskey described as full of oak and spice notes with smooth vanilla finish.

This special one-litre bottle comes in a specially designed gift box accompanied by a book, which chronicles Sinatra's loyalty to the Jack Daniel's brand. This great christmas gift will be sold at duty free outlets around the world.

Belvedere Vodka and (RED) new bottle design

Belvedere Vodka, the world’s first super premium vodka, announces the second year of its partnership with (RED) and unveils its new bottle design for the BELVEDERE (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition Bottle to raise proceeds for the Global Fund, among the world’s leading financier of programmes to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. 

The new 2012 (BELVEDERE)RED Special Edition bottle, developed by Polish design firm Dekorglass, unifies the innovative packaging by Belvedere Vodka and iconic (RED) hue; resulting in an eye-catching semitransparent metallic bottle. 50% of profits from the global sale of the (BELVEDERE)RED Special Edition bottle will contribute to the Global Fund. 

The (BELVEDERE) Special Edition bottle delivers a clear, succinct message: Buy (BELVEDERE)RED, Save Lives - making it this year’s perfect Christmas gift. Consumers will still be able to enjoy the same naturally smooth, unadulterated Belvedere vodka within the bottle but help the fight to eliminate HIV/AIDS through a simple purchase of (BELVEDERE)RED. 

The (BELVEDERE)RED Special Edition bottle will launch on 1 November 2012 and will be available for purchase from Selfridges, Waitrose and all other good supermarkets across the UK. This definitely is the perfect Christmas gift.

Limited Edition Appleton 50 Year Old Rum

Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum has launched the world's oldest rum, Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Independence Reserve. The limited edition golden rum was released in this August to mark the 50 years of Jamaican independence. It is encased in a hand crafted crystal decanter and only 800 bottles have been released, making each £3,500 bottle a special addition to any drink connoisseur's collection.

Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Independence Reserve is a hand blended and exceptionally smooth, deep mahogany rum that will excite the most sophisticated of palates. Its powerful notes of oak, vanilla, cinnamon and maple resonate with distinctive hint of orange peel - the hallmark of all Appleton Estate Jamaican Rums. 

Award-winning mixologist and Appleton Estate brand ambassador, Jamie MacDonald says, "This is undoubtedly Appleton Estate's most exceptional spirit to date. From the rich coppery reflections in the liquid to the intense flavours and the smooth honeyed finish, it is truly a master-class in the art of rum."