bringing drinks to life

It turns out that creating a huge database of drinks recipes and spirits is thirsty work, so we decided to reward ourselves for our recent efforts by wandering around East London and having a few drinks with friends.

Now anyone who knows our drinking habits, knows that when we are out East we normally start our evening at Casita on Ravey Street. They will also know that our usual intention to visit a few bars in the area falls flat as we find ourselves unable to resist the charms of tequila con verdita and are usually to be found still at Casita at the end of the night.

Well true to form we headed to Casita to kick things off but rather cunningly we managed to avoid all contact with tequila! Instead Will (owner, bartender and thoroughly nice chap) very generously opened his bottle of Appleton Estate Master Blenders Legacy for us to try. If you haven’t tried it yet, we can strongly recommend that you do! It is a stonking addition to the Appleton range, well balanced caramel and vanilla sweetness playing off of subtle white fruit undertones, with a creamy rich finish that seems to go on forever… just our cup of tea!

Well after such an auspicious start to the evening we thought it would be rude not to let Will experiment on us with a couple of his own creations and soon Calvados and barrel proof rum were being skillfully blended into old fashioned like creations. Will wanted us to stay and try another drink that he is quite proud of, which apparently is a bit like a batida… but the clock was ticking and it was time to move on. Maybe next time Will!

After prying ourselves away from Casita we thought we should wander round the corner to say hello to Sean at Callooh Callay on Rivington Street. This bar has had a good amount of attention since it opened earlier this year and frankly it deserves it. Quirky design touches run throughout this imaginative space but most importantly it is all backed up by a good drink offering. Well with Sean at the helm the drinks list was always likely to be right up our street.

We were pleased to not only find Sean behind the bar, but also Andy and Andrea… the night was going from strength to strength. The first round slipped down almost too quickly while we caught up on all the gossip. All we can say is watch this space, if things go to plan it is only going to get better and better!

Then it was time to let Andrea and Sean get creative… you know they have both been nominated for bartender of the year (Andrea – accept it, embrace it, have a go!) so we figured we could trust them to come up with something a bit tasty. Sean whipped up a tequila based drink that is still being developed (although to our humble mind it was pretty damn good just the way it was) and Andrea got busy throwing around some rye, all spice dram and burning bits of star anise… the results were incredible!

Having had a drink from each of them we couldn’t resist the chance to wind them up a bit about which one is the better bartender (all in good humour of course).  Actually with Andrea not taking up her nomination it was really only Sean we were winding up… as far as we are concerned they are both great at what they do and I wouldn’t want to have to decide between them!

The hour was getting late so we thought we should head out to spend some time with shaky Pete over at Hawksmoor. We haven’t had him make us a drink for a long time and had actually almost forgotten what a talented bartender he is. No fear though, he soon reminded us of what we had been missing!

Havana 7 year old daiquiri? Check! Hemingway? Check! Remember the Maine (with Sazerac 18yo no less)? Check! And then, just to top things off Pete decided to make a blue blazer for us!!! (if you don’t know what a blue blazer is… it is a hot whiskey based drink that is made by literally pouring burning liquid from one glass to another repeatedly and over a reasonable distance. Quite impressive to watch!) I think the daunting task of updating a menu put together by the incredibly talented Nick Strangeway is in safe hands! Rumour has it the blue blazer might just make it onto the list permanently.

The obligatory shots to cap off a good night were downed and we fell into a taxi, grinning from ear to ear!

I have always liked East London, but with Will, Sean, Andre and Pete all over there shaking and stirring up a storm, there is more reason than ever to venture out that way.

Thanks for the recipes guys… see you next week for another round?!