bringing drinks to life

There are lots of websites out there that review spirits, cocktails or bars; of course some are good and some less so, but all of them, as far as I’m concerned, have a responsibility. You see if you choose to put your opinions out in the public domain, you are in essence telling the world that you know what you're talking about. You’re sharing insight in the hopes of guiding people to a better drinking experience, or trying to help them avoid poor drinking decisions.

At b&t we strive to offer our unbiased thoughts on a range of cocktail and spirit related subjects. We do this free of charge so that we’re never in a position where we might have to compromise our integrity. If I write about a particular brand and sing its praises, it’s because I like it, think it’s a quality product and want to encourage others to experience it for themselves. If our readers disagree with me then I welcome their comments, especially if it sparks debate. I’ve disappointed friends in the past by refusing to write about the brands they work for because I don’t think it’s the right product to discuss with our readers. It comes down to integrity.

I’ve been lucky recently to have had some nights that were better than average. You know the sort of evening where everything comes together just right. A good bar, with a talented bartender making drinks, great company and good tunes, the sort of evening where you have a ‘drinking experience’. It got me thinking about the little things that elevate the experience of sipping a cocktail.

I’ve always been startled by people who say that cocktails are too expensive but who don’t mind paying over the odds for a bottle of beer or a glass of wine. I admit that it galls me to pay £7.50 for an overly sweetened daiquiri made using the cheapest ingredients by someone who would rather be anywhere other than behind the bar. But when you go to a good bar and your drinks are made by a bartender who does their job because they love it (well they don’t do it for the money that’s for sure!) and you sip a perfectly balanced drink, well that’s worth paying for!