My New Favourite Holiday: National Margarita Day

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Kesh

Here at Frost, we all love a reason to celebrate one of our favourite things… Cocktails. On the 22nd February we will be paying homage to one of the greatest cocktails ever created, the Margarita. This has to be a personal favourite of mine, there are many variations on the Margarita but personally, the versatility of the drink, being able to create heat with a little bit of spice or making it extremely fresh with lots of lime, is the thing that makes it a winning combo for me. With much debate as to where and when it was created, the basis of the cocktail has always been lime juice, tequila and triple sec. Nearly 80 years later, it’s about time the old faithful Margarita most certainly deserves it’s own day and we have some Margarita variations for you to try out yourself;

Now with a host of tequila’s to try from, we recommend using one of our most loved; Casamigos Tequila created by friends to be enjoyed with friends.

Casamigos Margarita

With Casamigos Blanco

Recipe:

11/2 part Casamigos Blanco tequila
3/4 part fresh lime juice
1/4 part fresh Orange Juice
1/3 part agave nectar
1/3 part orange liqueur

Combine all ingredients to iced mixing glass. Shake vigorously for 10 count. Pour all contents into a rocks glass with or without salted rim. Garnish with a lime

Casamigos Spicy Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita

With Casamigos Blanco

Recipe:

1 1/2 parts Casamigos Blanco Tequila
3/4 parts fresh lime juice
1/3 part orange liqueur
1/3 part simple syrup
3 cucumber wheels
1 Jalapeno slice

Muddle cucumber, jalapeño, lime juice, and simple syrup. Combine all ingredients to iced mixing glass. Shake vigorously for 10 count. Fine strain all contents into a rocks glass with or without salted rim. Garnish with cucumber and jalapeño slice.

La Maison Rémy Martin returns to Soho with a Stellar Line-Up

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Kesh

Last Summer we had the pleasure of spending the evening with some of Britain’s finest Olympians in the luxurious surroundings of the Rumpus Room, courtesy of La Maison Rémy Martin. This month, the members-only club will be opening their doors once again with a jam-packed, spectacularly curated list of talent designed to inspire, entertain and dazzle you in true Rémy style.

La Maison Rémy Martin are set on being the hosts with the most once more, boasting one of The World’s finest Cognac from Fine Champagne, they are set on expanding their brand through their members club with a programme of events and workshops designed to offer their customer a little more of the savoir faire approach they enjoy so much. La Maison Rémy Martin, was borne out of the brands ethos to honour craftsmanship and embrace the luxury of time. With that being said, members are being treated to a line-up of special events, talks and workshops that are being led by some of London’s most talented craftsmen.

Set over two floors of their new Wardour Street home, members can expect to be transported into the iconic world of Rémy Martin. The space will be split into the Boutique, which for the first time will also be open to the public, and The Gallery, where members can enjoy their evenings workshops alongside light-bites paired with Rémy expressions and expertly crafted
Rémy cocktails.

After taking a sneak peek of the new programme, we’re excited to share with you our top masterclass picks…

Michelin Star Chef; Jun Tanaka

Master Chocolatier; Paul A Young

Sports commentator – Tom Gaymor
F1 Driver- Max Chilton

Cellar Master for Rémy himself; Baptiste Loiseau

…to name but a few

The evenings are every bit evocative of the luxury and ‘suaveness’ that Rémy Martin possess and they are keen to share it with whoever appreciates good craft. So, to learn more and to apply to be a member of La Maison Rémy Martin please visit;

lamaison.remymartin.com.

La Maison Rémy Martin will be open Thursday 16th February to Saturday 4th March 2017 excluding Sundays.

La Maison Rémy Martin
147 Wardour Street, London,
W1F 8WD

Spooktacular Cocktails for Halloween

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Kesh

If you’ve found yourself run rugged this year with pumpkin carving, costume picking and sweet buying antics, take some time out to create a little spooky pick-me-up.

Casamigos Tequila have created two spooky offerings for you to try this Halloween and we think you’re in for a treat.

Casa Crawler

Casa Crawler:

Ingredients

56 ml. Casamigos Blanco

28 ml. Fresh Lemon Juice

28ml. Real Blueberry Purée

8-10 Mint leaves

Method:

Combine all ingredients into tin shaker. Add ice. Shake vigorously for 8-10 seconds. Fine strain into collins glass. Add ice. Garnish with pop rocks, mint sprig, and 2-3 sour gummy worms.

Casa Crazy Eye

Casa Crazy Eye:

Ingredients

40 ml. Casamigos Blanco

56 ml. Lychee Liqueur

7 ml. Fresh Lemon Juice

4 Basil Leaves

Thick rim of salt, sugar, oreo cookie crumbs* (equal parts)

Method:

Combine all ingredients into tin shaker. Muddle herbs. Add ice. Shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds. Fine strain into a small martini glass. Garnish Luxardo cherry inside lychee ball (as eye ball) through skewer.

*To add sugar, salt, oreo rim – Wet rim of glass with lime wedge and agave nectar and roll rim through mixture.

Casamigos is available from most retailers in the UK including Selfridges, Harrods and 31 Dover online for a RRP starting £48.95 – £77.99

Vote for President at The Hippodrome London… sort of

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Kesh

The run up to the Presidential election, has got everyone riled up so The Hippodrome Casino thinks it only fair that everyone across the pond should have a say too. So in the run up to the election, they will be allowing their (over 18 year old) customers to vote at the bar.

Yes, that’s right, The Hippodrome Casino have launched two new cocktails, The Clinton and The Trump and to vote you must simply pick one over the other to give a fairly accurate* gauge on who will come out on top.

The Clinton: a refreshing blend of gin, lemon and lychee juices, and blue curacao for that all important Democrat blue.

The Trump: a mixture of raspberries, Zubrowka, crème de fraise, cranberry and lemon juices, creating a bright Republican red.

The cocktails cost £10 each and can be ordered at The Hippodrome’s Piano Bar. The cocktails will be available until Monday 7th November.

*Your cocktail buying habits will not guarantee your favourite candidate to win the presidential vote. But we really enjoy that The Hippodrome have included us in the voting fever. All in the name of fun!

The Late Summer Sun is a Great Excuse for a Cocktail

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Margaret Graham

However, cocktails are a bit of a fiddle aren’t they? No, no, not always it seems. Try these recipes which hit the spot and take no time at all. They are ideal for accompanying a September BBQ or, if autumn arrives, ask the gang over and have one, at least, before a roast dinner.

All Star Martini

This refreshing martini has been created by All Star Lanes, Brick Lane, East London, using J.J. Whitley Rhubarb Vodka who have created a range of spirits inspired by the British countryside. The Rhubarb Vodka really is reminiscent of freshly picked rhubarb, is a delicate colour and ideal as a cocktail base. So here we go:

Ingredients (single serve): 25ml J.J. Whitley Rhubarb Vodka, 25ml J.J. Whitley London Dry Gin, dash of Fee Brothers Plum Bitters, 10ml fresh lemon juice, 5ml vanilla and passion fruit syrup, 10ml pressed apple juice, shot of Prosecco, a dried lemon wheel, dehydrated cornflower petals (or other edible dried flowers)

Method: Put all ingredients, except the prosecco into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a coupette. Garnish with the lemon and petals and serve with a chilled shot of prosecco.

And what about this:

Botanical Martini

This gin lover’s dream has been created by popular Manchester cocktail bar, Tusk. The Botanical Martini is made using Whitley Neill, a premium gin inspired by Africa and carefully blended with nine botanicals, including the superfruit baobab which has six times more vitamin C than an orange.

Ingredients (single serve): 50ml Whitley Neill Gin, 10ml Noily Prat, dash Peychaud’s Bitters

Method: Stir the ingredients together and pour into a coupette glass- what could be more simple, especially if you have had a few of the others first!

Liverpool Gin G & T

My parents spent quite a long time in India. In fact I was born there. They swore by a gin and tonic as the sun went over the yard arm, and trust me, this is a very fine gin. Founded at the Bankhall distillery in Liverpool, Liverpool Gin is premium spirit handcrafted in a copper still. This small batch, aromatic gin recreates flavours of the past with the finest organic botanicals. Believe me, you can almost see the ships masts in the port, the warehouses filled with spices, juniper, sugar cane. It really is one of the finest gins I have tasted.

Ingredients (single serve): 50ml Liverpool Gin, 100ml Fever Tree Tonic, wheel of orange and spring of mint

Method: Pour the gin and tonic over ice and garnish

Cheers everyone – enjoy.

You can buy J.J. Whitley Rhubarb Vodka from Amazon for £27.24 for 70cl. @JJ_WhitleyUK facebook.com/JJWhitleyUK

Whitley Neill is available in Sainsbury’s and Tesco as well as Drinksupermarket.com for £23.29, 70cl. @WhitleyNeill facebook.com/WhitleyNeill

Liverpool Gin is available from The Whisky Exchange for £44.95, 70cl. @LiverpoolGin facebook.com/liverpoolgin

J.J. Whitley, Whitley Neill and Liverpool Gin are crafted and distributed by Halewood Wines & Spirits. (www.halewood-int.com)

The George Clooney of Tequila… Casamigos

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Kesh

George Clooney is many things, a man of many talents and now, to add to his long list of successes, a purveyor of Mexico’s finest export, Tequila. Along with Rande Gerber, former model and American Businessman, and Discovery Land Company CEO & founder Michael Meldman, the three amigos set out on a mission to create ‘the best-tasting, smoothest tequila around…’ which they did. Initially, it’s hard to see the allure of tequila when even the mention of it evokes horror into the heart of anyone unfortunate enough to be standing by the bar but we no longer have to associate tequila with the last shot we ever remember taking and the ethos behind Casamigos is to enjoy a premium tequila “for friends by friends.”

Much like many premium spirits, it’s always the quality that counts. The gang recount that the brand was bourne out of their love for tequila… “On the rocks, by the shot, at times straight from the bottle.” The glamour of tequila is very much that it has the magical effect of turning you into a superhuman or giving you the most incredible amnesia but if you have the most quality agave it produces a mind-blowing, smooth and silky Casamigos Tequila. The product is made from the finest, hand-selected 100% Blue Weber agaves which are grown in the rich red clay soil of Jalisco Mexico. The tequila is then distilled in traditional pot stills and the water used is naturally filtered to ensure that the flavour is not changed. The process of making Casamigos is really an indicator into how quality their tequila’s are. The agave piñas are slow cooked for 72 hours unlike the average of 30, and are then been fermented for 80 hours compared with 48. Another winning aspect to Casamigos is that absolutely no glycerin is added which makes it free from additives and completely gluten-free and if that’s not enough, each batch is tested and approved by master distillers Clooney and Gerber.

We were lucky enough to try out the Reposado expression which is aged for 7 months, with hints of caramel and cocoa. First impressions, the bottle is elegant, sophisticated and neat, an indicator into the contents itself. There is no fuss here but something that looks incredible classy and chic on a drinks counter. Sealed with a cork, there is something reminiscent of a bottle swept up from sea vibe here which is really satisfying. When you pop the cork the first smell really does offer up the salty sea and maybe it’s because of the idea of having tequila with a pinch of salt has become so embedded into my mind but the whole feel of the bottle with the smell offers up something i’d love to run away to the beach with and enjoy straight out the bottle á la George. But I digress, first comes the salt, then comes the barrel then comes the sweet nectar of the agave. This offering is filled with intense and sweet aromas unlike a regular tequila. The first taste I try neat. What we get is smooth, delicious, without the accompaniments of salt and lime then comes the sweet caramel and the finish is fresh, botanical and almost pine like. The fire is not too overbearing at all and again more flavour, this time black pepper. So Casamigos Reposado neat is a hit, in a cocktail, we tried the Strawberry Casamigas Basil Margarita, the tequila really is the star of the show. The absence of glycerine illuminates any stickiness. The taste is silky smooth, and with the other ingredients tastes incredibly balanced and fresh.

So judge for yourself, try award winning Casamigos with friends and feel safe in the knowledge that Casamigos is brought to you by those who drink it. Just to give you an idea of how to enjoy your tequila, we’ve included some Casamigos approved cocktail recipes for you to try…

CASAMIGOS STRAWBERRY BASIL MARGARITA

1 ½ Parts Casamigos Reposado Tequila
¾ Part Fresh Lime Juice
½ Part Simple Syrup (or a bar spoon of super fine sugar)
3 to 4 Strawberries
2 to 3 Sweet Basil Leaves
Balsamic Vinegar

Shake, double strain, new ice collins glass. Top with club soda, garnish with basil
sprig and a dash of balsamic.

CASA SMASH

1 ½ Parts Casamigos Reposado Tequila
3 Lemon Wedges
4-6 Mint Leaves
¾ Part Simple Syrup

Shake, double strain over fresh ice. Garnish with mint sprig.

Casamigos Tequila is available to purchase at Selfridges and Harvey Nichols as well as online

www.selfridges.com

www.harveynichols.com

Learn more at www.casamigostequila.com

Little Bat – Neighbourhood Bar and Kitchen

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Kesh

Pan Am

“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat! How I wonder what you’re at!” – Lewis Carroll

The weird and wonderful musings of Alice in Wonderland have been an inspiration to many in the past. Never going out of fashion, things have just got a little more ‘wonderfuller’. From the utterly genius team who brought us Callooh Callay in Shoreditch, their latest offering comes to us in the form of Little Bat. Located on a residential street off the hustle and bustle of Upper Street, Little Bat is a haven of calm serving up an abundance of innovative and scrumptious cocktails worthy of any Alice In Wonderland tea party. As well as their award winning cocktail menu, this bar does not fail to serve up an assortment of dishes which could whet the appetite of even the most discerning diner.

Franklin Whey + Bombay Cocktail

Bathtub Sour + Hedgerow Smash

It’s rush hour outside but inside, the laid-back, super chill vibes of Little Bat really do take the stresses of the day away. The lay out of the place has been created with feng-shui in mind with moodier, more intimate areas of the bar adorned with comfy booths, to light and airy areas. There is something in here to suit everyones taste from the foliage to the darn impressive cocktail list. We headed first to the sours and worked our way to Whisky. I must admit, someone had recommended the Pan Am to me before I had visited, good shout. I’m not usually a fan of rum, but cocktail mastermind Barney Toy has created the Pan Am with sherbet in mind and this is sherbet in liquid form. I would happily have had seconds or thirds of this but a good start all the same. In fact, we then tried all of the sours on the list and each and everyone is surprising and subtle in it’s own way. Don’t be fooled, they’re all boozy, but with these cocktails each robust and rounded flavours from every ingredient comes through. The Bombay Cocktail was also surprising, the presence of Chardonnay in a cocktail is enough to send anyone into a mental hangover but again, this cocktail is more healthy green juice than booze coma with cucumber making it one of your five-a-day. Don’t quote me on that one! The only mistake was completely self-inflicted, hastily moving onto the Whisky cocktails before we had tried dinner, we recommend you stick to the sours or collins first. Be warned, they pack a punch. There are a mix of different strengths when dealing with the Whisky cocktails, but perhaps try a Franklin Whey before a Hedgerow Smash for example. The clue is in the name.

When it comes to what culinary delights were served up, Little Bat really did good when sourcing their kitchen controllers. From smaller plates to larger plates, we recommend the Lobster Mac n Cheese, The Jerk Chicken and even their Green Bean salad was divine. The quality really does come through in all the elements that make up Little Bat and with the majority of the cocktails priced at £8 it just goes to show that sometimes the best things are in ‘Little’ packages.

For more info check out;

www.littlebatbar.com

@LittleBatBar

Nightjar Unveil Their New Summer Cocktails

Posted on July 6, 2016 by Kesh

Behind the fascinating black door with the gold bird lies one of The City’s best, hidden cocktail bars. I don’t use the term ‘best’ lightly here, coming from this part of London I have scaled the bars in the area and Nightjar is unlike any other. With a cocktail list which serves up cocktails of a bygone era and some of the most unique spirits on the market, Nightjar breaks the mould when it comes to an eye for detail and outstanding cocktails so it’s no wonder they have won World’s Best Bar on a number of occasions. It could be the exclusivity of the place, or the sexy speakeasy ambiance but here’s one thing for sure, their cocktails pretty much define what a cocktail should be. I can’t quite put it into words myself but just know this, when you visit Nightjar the possibilities are quite endless.

Just in time for Summer, Nightjar are offering up a series of creative cocktails which use unusual fruits and flavours to evoke tropical themes. Having launched mid-May, the new cocktails are the first to have launched under the direction of new bar manager, Martina Breznanova. We were lucky enough to bag an invite to the launch of the inventive new cocktail list and were blown away by the execution, the attention to detail and inventiveness. In true Nightjar fashion they’ve used a combination of unique flavours and challenging spirits and everything possible to drift you away into a tropical sensory Heaven. The new menu is made up of four main sections, interweaving history with innovation throughout. Pre-Prohibition, Prohibition and Postwar, all of which are filled with the groundbreaking reinventions of bygone cocktails, whilst the Signature section fully embodies Nightjar’s invention and creativity.

The Tiki style drinks which feature on the new menu focus on the more tropical and exotic flavours from around the world. We recommend;

The Lei Lani Volcano;

This Tiki style drink includes tropical ingredients such as banana bread beer and coconut blossom nectar served over peanut butter ice.

From the updated classics menu we chose

The Mayflower;

Originating from a bygone era, The Mayflower is a unique take on The Flowing Bowl (1892) which swaps out herbal Kummal for Mozart Dry chocolate spirit infused with dill pollen. This stunning cocktail is served with real dried roses.

From The Post War Era;

Cocktail a La Louisianne;

Evoking the true spirit of New Orleans, this cocktail pays homage to its musical roots and also the voodoo culture. Served in a cloud of patchouli and Palo Santo smoke, this cocktail is reminiscent of the intoxicating smells of rituals and ceremonies. Made with Johnnie Walker Gold | Mancino Rosso Amaranto | Benedictine | Orange Liqueur | Agnus Castus Berries | Nightjar Bitters | Absinthe.

So whether it’s to just satisfy your curiosity and experience some stunningly made drinks, or to soak up the ambience of this unique bar and admire the theatrics of each crafted creation, Nightjar is most certainly the bar for you.

Just to get an idea of what Nightjar are about, they have kindly offered up a recipe for Cocktail a La Louisianne for you to try yourself;

–       45ml Johnnie Walker Gold
–       30ml Mancino Rosso Amaranto
–       5ml Benedictine
–       5ml Grand Marnier
–       1 pinch Agnus Castus (Monk’s Pepper)
–       2 dashes Absinthe

Stir and serve in a cold coupette

Nightjar

129 City Road

London, EC1V 1JBT

0207 253 4101

www.barnightjar.com

Bookings: info@barnightjar.com

Live Music every night from 9pm

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