Tag Archives: drink

Summer Drinks Review

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summerdrinksreview

We got sent some summer drinks to review from Sainsbury’s: two cordials, Spanish pink grapefruits and guava purée, Ginger & Lime and a sparkling cocktail: Elderflower, Mint & Lime Blended Sparkling Cocktail. Let’s break them down.

Taste The Difference Grapefruit & Pink Guava, made with Spanish pink grapefruits and guava purée.

Absolutely delicious, summery and refreshing. The pink grapefruit mixed with the guava tastes great and really works. This is a perfect summer drink.

Taste The Difference Mexican Lime  & Ginger Cordial.

This is also excellent. It tastes very fresh and the two ingredients really work together. Quite addictive too.

Elderflower, Mint & Lime Blended Sparkling Cocktail.

This yummy cocktail is only 4% volume so you can enjoy it without worrying about hangovers or those awful headaches some people get when they drink in the sun. This cocktail is white wine mixed with elderflower, mint and lime. It is zesty, fresh and refreshing: a perfect summer cocktail. Recommended.

To celebrate the launch of two brand new seasonal Taste the Difference cordials, Sainsbury’s has created three delicious punch recipes for sharing with friends and family while entertaining this summer. The new cordial flavours; Grapefruit & Pink Guava, made with Spanish pink grapefruits and guava purée; and Ginger & Lime, made with Mexican limes, add to the existing range featuring Taste the Difference Elderflower Cordial. These cocktails have been especially designed as long drinks for pitcher measures to be easy to make and refreshing on a hot (or overcast) British Summer’s day.

First up is a citrussy, sparkling, Vodka based cocktail, Sunrise Fizz, which will transport drinkers to the tropics; even if the British Summer is more likely to be torrential than tropical:

To make:
• Pour 180ml of Sainsbury’s Vodka into a jug
• Add 120ml Taste the Difference Spanish Pink Grapefruit & Guava Cordial
• Top up with fizzy water
• Finish with the juice of one grapefruit and garnish with slices of pink grapefruit

If you fancy the taste of an English country garden, then try Sainsbury’s English Garden Cup. This gin and elderflower based drink is the perfect refreshment for a lazy weekend afternoon:

To make:
• Pour 180ml Sainsbury’s Dry London Gin into a pitcher
• Add 120ml Taste the Difference Elderflower Cordial
• Top up with fizzy water
• Finish with the juice of two lemons and garnish with slices of lemon

And finally, Shoot the Breeze, a delicious Rum, ginger and lime punch. Aromatic and spicy, this cocktail will really help to get the party started:

To make:
• Pour 180ml Sainsbury’s Superior White Rum into a jug
• Add 120ml Taste the Difference Mexican Lime & Ginger Cordial
• Top up with ginger ale
• Finish with the juice of two limes and garnish with slices of lime

For an even easier way to enjoy these summer flavours, Sainsbury’s has also launched two new sparkling wine cocktails in the Winemakers’ Selection range; Elderflower, Lime & Mint Fizz Sparkling Cocktail; and Pink Grapefruit Sparkling Cocktail. These are low in alcohol and blended with fruit extracts and Spanish white wine for a refreshing ready-to-drink option.

Pricing details:
Taste the Difference Mexican Lime & Ginger Cordial 500ml £1.85
Taste the Difference Spanish Pink Grapefruit and Guava Cordial 500ml £2
Sainsbury’s Winemakers’ Selection Elderflower Lime & Mint Fizz 75cl 4% ABV £3

 

 

Bottle Green Elderflower Cordial Review & Cocktail Recipes

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We love Bottle Green’s Elderflower Cordial at Frost. It is a delicious, refreshing and versatile drink. We got sent some to review this week and have been trying it in different ways. It is great with cold water, either still or sparkling, and preferably with ice. It also tastes great in hot water, champagne and various cocktails. We have some great cocktail ideas below.

bottlegreenelderflowercordial

The light, delicate taste of hand-picked elderflowers perfectly captures the essence of warm summer days and relaxing evenings on the veranda. Simply dilute with iced water or try adding to Champagne for a refreshing twist.

 

Grey Goose Le Fizz

grey-goose-lefizzcocktailrecipe

An elegant and refreshing combination of Grey Goose vodka, fresh lime juice and elderflower, served in a flute topped with chilled soda.

Glass: Flute

Ingredients

35ml Grey Goose vodka

15ml elderflower cordial

15ml freshly squeezed lime juice

75ml chilled soda

Method

Add the GREY GOOSE vodka, fresh lime juice and elderflower cordial into a cocktail shaker and shake hard. Double strain into a flute glass and top with chilled soda water.

 

The Elderflower G&T

 

G&T Cocktail recipe

Gordon’s & tonic and elderflower cordial – two British classics, one classic drink.

Step 1 Fill a chilled glass with cubes of ice

Step 2 Add 50ml* of Gordon’s gin and 5ml of bottlegreen Elderflower cordial

Step 3 Squeeze a wedge of lime into the glass and add a choice of fresh cucumber, mint or strawberry

Step 4 Top up with fresh tonic and stir to release the refreshing taste

 

Elderflower Cooler

 

elderflower_cooler_cocktail recipe

Utterly refreshing and elegantly simple, this cooler really hits the spot with the elderflower and vodka complimenting each other perfectly. Enjoy.

Ingredients

25ml bottlegreen Elderflower cordial

apple wedges

Fill with ginger ale

50ml Vodka

Glass

Highball

Decoration

apple wedges

Method

Stir ingredients into glass and add apple wedges to decorate

 

Elderflower Delight

 

main_cocktails_christmascracker

A wonderfully light and refreshing cocktail, blending the freshest ingredients to finish with a perfect cocktail for a Summers evening.
Ingredients

6 mint leaves

50ml Gin

15ml bottlegreen elderflower cordial

15ml Orange Juice

5ml Syrup

Glass

Martini

Decoration

Mint leaf

Method

Muddle Mint with Lemon Juice and Sugar Syrup.

Add remaining ingredients and shake with ice, fine strain into chilled 5oz martini glass.

Garnish with mint leaf on surface of drink.

 

Available from Amazon and Ocado.

 

 

Galvanina… A Unique New Italian Organic Fruit Drink

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With the temperature topping 23 degrees, it seemed the perfect day today to review Galvanina, fresh-to-the-market organic drinks with the romance of Italy deeply embedded in the branding.

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The Galvanina Collection comprises of Sicilian Lemon, Ruby Orange, Clementine and Red Grapefruit and as my favourite citrus fruit drink is lemon, I firstly tried Sicilian Lemon, slightly sparkling and cloudy, reminiscent of traditional lemonade and presented in a beautifully embossed 100% recycleable bottle. The Italian manufacturer recommends you ‘lightly tilt the bottle from side to side to revitalise the juicy pulp’… certainly not a mixture you have to shake hard to wake up! Refreshing and perfectly citrus sharp with delicious sherbet notes, Sicilian Lemon Galvanina is made to an old family recipe that uses only Mediterranean lemons, harvested by hand, from centuries-old citrus groves. These juicy organic fruits combine with mineral-rich, gently bubbling spring water for a fresh and thirst-quenching drink, that dances between sweet and sour on the tongue, perfect over ice.
First discovered by the Romans some 2000 years ago, the sparkling spring water in Galvanina organic fruit drinks is an extraordinary natural wonder. The snow and rain that falls on the Apennine Mountains collects in gentle pools before embarking on a long journey. As it slowly filters through sandstone and clay, flows along winding channels and languishes in cool, dark chambers, the water is naturally carbonated and enriched with a perfect balance of mineral salts. After 30 long months, it gently bubbles out of the spring mouth on San Lorenzo Monte.

 

Clementine arouses the senses of almost Christmas-like aromas, a truly unique flavour and highly drinkable. Clementines are bright, fresh and vibrant fruits, boasting a distinct flavour, rich in delicate honey and orange blossom notes. Galvanina uses only the juice of organic clementines grown in Sicily’s picturesque, traditional orchards, warmed by the sun in the day and cooled by coastal winds at night. You could try serving Sicilian Clementine Galvanina as an indulgent afternoon treat with cake.

 

I quite like my grapefruit drinks strong, but Red Grapefruit Galvanina is a delightful marriage of bitter, sweet and sparkling. Galvanina use a variety of organic grapefruits that have ripened slowly and naturally in the sun before being hand-picked. Their pulp is also conserved for a natural, fruit-rich texture, which enhances the juice’s aromatic intensity and effervescent spring water for a lively, thirst-quenching citrus drink. Indulgently serve Red Grapefruit Galvanina with creamy desserts and cheeses.

 

Ruby Orange was delicately sweet, made using the juice and pulp of handpicked blood oranges that have ripened fully on the trees. Cool nights, hot days and organic farming methods give this rich, garnet-coloured fruit a natural sweetness and make it extra juicy, zesty, fresh and sparkling on the tongue, an exceptional all-natural spritz. Enjoy Sicilian Ruby Orange Galvanina over ice with a few freshly torn mint leaves.

 

You can visit the ‘fresh ideas’ page each month on the website to find fantastic ideas for not only mixing the fruit drink with alcohol like Limoncello to make enticing cocktails and quenchers, but ideas on how to cook with Galvanina… amazing!

 

It’s such a shame that you have to hide the product away in the fridge to keep chilled as the unique bottles have a really nostalgic style and would look great displayed in your kitchen before consumption or using as a vase or decanter after, an idea which a couple of major coffee manufacturers have cottoned on to lately.

 

I decided to wait until I’d finished my review to investigate the price points on this range as I’d got a figure in mind as to what I’d consider reasonable. This is where I got the biggest surprise of all… and it was a very pleasant one. Available at Selfridges and Waitrose, the product retails at £1.59 for 355ml and £2.79 for 750ml, quite unbelievable considering the quality of the product and the gorgeous bottle.

 

The Galvanina Collection provides the perfect ingredient for mocktails for warm afternoons, over ice as a non-alcoholic aperitif or a punchy fruit base for evening alcoholic concoctions, and at only 47 calories per 100ml, this refreshing new Italian drink is certainly delizioso!

 

http://www.galvanina.co.uk/
Facebook.com/GalvaninaUK

One Beer, Das Horn | Cool Things

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Here is one for the boys: Quite simply, Das Horn is beer for heroes. Drink with real class, not a glass and drink 709ml (24oz) of refreshing juice of your choice. Made from BPA free plastic it has a stainless steel finish with a Bavarian neck strap and stand. Great for parties or showing off in your home.

beerdrinking

Features:

Channel your inner Viking conqueror and make your next beer epic!
Includes neck strap and display stand
Colossal 709ml/24oz capacity
BPA free plastic with stainless steel rim
Hand wash with warm soapy water
Not intended for use with hot liquids
Dimensions: 9.5 x 12 x 32.5cm

Das Horn costs just £24.95 from www.prezzybox.com.

St. Katharine Docks | London Gems

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One of the best things about the stunning metropolis that is London is variety. Everything really is here. Whether it is marina views or green scenery, if you want something different, just start walking in the other direction.

St Katharine Docks is beautiful. This small harbour next to Tower Bridge has plenty of places to eat and drink. The best thing about this marina is just to sit, have a drink or a meal and watch the world go by. There are also shops, two art galleries, festivals and events. Every Friday at St Katharine Docks, between 11:00 & 15:00 hours they hold their Award winning Good Food Market on Marble Quay.

There is also a Starbucks, a Cote Brasserie (which I think does very good food), a Cafe Rouge, and one of the most famous historic pubs in London, The Dickens Inn. St Katharine Docks are also taking part in the Thames Festival.

Perfect for: soaking up 1000 years of history, being near water, yacht/boat watching, eating, drinking, shopping, stunning views and meeting up with friends.

St. Katharine Docks
50 St. Katharines Way, London E1W 1LA, England

Guilty Pleasures Pop Up at Mary Janes Bar

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MARY JANESThis autumn will see the arrival of the global phenomenon that is Guilty Pleasures at stylish City bar, Mary Janes. Every Thursday night guests can enjoy a glorious all-singing, all-dancing pop-up spectacle from DJs, dancers and performers bringing a razzle-dazzle tour de force to London’s traditionally conservative financial district.

From the moment they arrive, city workers will leave their consciences at their desks and walk into a sinner’s paradise. Throughout the course of the evening, Guilty Pleasures’ unique blend of entertainment will be popping up with DJs, singers, cabaret performers, dancers, acrobats and a whole troupe of kitsch characters guaranteed to start a party unlike anything ever seen before in the City.

In the eight years since it was founded, Guilty Pleasures has become a musical institution, embracing the full scope of the pop spectrum, from the 70s to the present day. Founded by the charismatic broadcaster and lifelong music fan, Sean Rowley on his cult BBC London radio show, it has now evolved into a sell-out club night, a compilation album series and a television show. Alongside Sean, Guilty Pleasures eclectic cast create an unforgettable heart stopping, disco dancing, pop spectacular!

To celebrate the arrival of Guilty Pleasures, Mary Janes have created a bespoke food and cocktail menu with a Guilty Pleasures theme which will truly be the answer to guests’ prayers. Guests can enjoy Naughty Hot Dogs, a platter of mini hot dogs with different toppings such as Chilli con Carne, American Mustard, Fried Onions and Melted Cheese, or can go to the dark side with Dirty Burgers; a selection of burger sliders with fillings including Pulled Pork, Chorizo, Chilli and Cheese. Diners will be singing the praises of the sinfully sweet Dunkin’ Donuts, a homemade selection of sugared Cinnamon Donuts with Chocolate Sauce, Toffee Sauce and Warm Apricot Marmalade.

Drinkers will be confessing their sins after delving into the Guilty Pleasures themed cocktails which include the Chocolate Mint Pleasure, a playful blend of Vanilla Stolichnaya Vodka, Cacao White, Crème de Menthe, Milk and Chocolate Sprinkles. Pop princesses can opt for the Sassy Spritz, a zingy mix of Aperol, Prosecco, and Soda. The Retro Mai Tai will transport guests back to the last days of disco and will combine Santa Teresa Rum, Triple Sec, Captain Morgan, Pineapple, Orange Juice and Grenadine

Owned and operated by The Mint Group, Mary Janes is a chic bar with an interior combining a touch of the baroque with modern elegance. Plush Louis XVI style chairs, crystal chandeliers and red drapes lend a sense of theatre to the venue, whilst downstairs exposed brickwork, leather banquettes and a long wooden and zinc-topped bar create a more contemporary space. The bar has several intimate spaces perfect for group bookings, as well as the ever-popular karaoke room which can take bookings for up to 12 people.

Mary Janes
124-127 Minories
London
EC3 1NT
Tel: 020 7481 8195
W: www.maryjanesbar.com/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/maryjanesbar/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Janes-Bar/

Opening Hours
Monday-Wednesday 12pm – 11pm
Thursday & Friday 12pm – 1am
Available for private hire on weekends

Time To Give Up Sugar? Mentor Me Off Sugar Days 24, 25 and 26

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get off sugar, no sugar diet, should i give up sugar, is sugar bad for you, the white stuff, is sugar evil,The last weekend of my no sugar diet is coming up. At midnight on Sunday I will be at the end of a 28 day Mentor Me Off Sugar Programme ran by the excellent Laura Thomas of Happy Sugar Habits. I never thought I would get this far and I flirted with the idea of quitting after my mother got very ill. But here I am; almost at the end.

The main thing I can say it that it has been educational. I knew I was having too much sugar but I did not think it was easily avoidable. But it can be. I am sleeping much deeper and better now. The weight just dropped off and my energy is higher, more constant.

Laura has told me off for not eating enough vegetables so last night I had homemade fish and chips with peas and roasted carrots. The day before we had peppers stuffed with tuna and mozzarella. Yesterday at Sainsbury’s I bought mushrooms, cucumber, iceberg lettuce, parsnips, carrots. I also got tomatoes, avocado and olives. Pretty healthy and we already had some peppers in the fridge.

I have also been having a lot of hummus and wholemeal pitta bread. As well as generous helpings of good, wholemeal bread and lurpack butter. Sometimes simple is best.

I love food and trying new things so to be honest the food part of the diet has been much easier than I imagined, the drinks, however, were hard as I thought. The temperature has gone over 30c this summer and the urge for a cold, fizzy drink was hard to resist. But I did, and I am very proud. Finding out that homemade Gin & Tonic had no sugar was a high point. Endless cups of herbal tea and water really were not.

Before I started this programme one of my biggest fears was getting diabetes, to my shame not just because of the health problems, but also because I would not be able to eat and drink what I wanted. This programme has changed my life and stopped future health problems. My no sugar diet may stop this Sunday, but my low sugar life will just be beginning.

 

Drink In Style At London Fashion Week | News

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London Fashion Week is almost here and we are pretty excited. If you are also going then you might want to head to Voltaire, who will be hosting the fashion elite.

 London Fashion Week, 2013, LFW, cocktails, voltaire, cocktails, where the fashion crowd hang out,

London – rightly recognised as a global style hub – will once again play host to the world’s fashion elite, as they bring all the glitz and glamour of their latest collections to the catwalk for London Fashion Week, 13th – 17th September.

 

If you want a share of the spotlight this year then head to Voltaire, the City’s destination Champagne bar located beneath Crowne Plaza London – The City hotel. The vaults of this grade II listed building, which once held prisoners under lock and key and later became bank vaults, is today home to one of London’s most exclusive destinations, featuring private booths and alcoves, VIP zones and personal table service.

 

From September 13th until the end of the month, Voltaire will be offering style-conscious Londoners a selection of cocktails (all £9.50) inspired by this season’s latest trends. Try the Spiked Rebel – influenced by the studs, spikes and leather of 90s punk – made from vodka, Sambuca, Maraschino liqueur, passion fruit puree, orange bitters, Blu Curaçao and garnished with an apple ‘mohawk’. The glamour of Hitchcock’s heroines that inspired many of the 2013 collections is also behind the sophisticated Marion Crane, made from Sipsmith London dry gin, Martini Rosso, orange bitters, Antica Formula and fresh lemon juice. For the ultimate decadence try the Midas Touch – Ysabel Regina cognac, Pink Pigeon rum, and apple juice – an homage to the striking metallic gold dominating the catwalk this year.

 

If you indulge in one too many Spiked Rebels, however, then give in to Fashion Week excess and sign up to Crowne Plaza London – The City’s unique A la Mode package. Combining an overnight stay with a two-hour personal shopping session with Front Row Stylist at one of London’s top shopping spots, this is the perfect way to make the most of Fashion Week.  

 

Start by checking into your spacious room at Crowne Plaza London – The City before being whisked off by a private driver to your preferred destination; whether it’s the nearby trendy hotspot of One New Change, the couture houses of Bond Street, or the legendary department stores of Knightsbridge, you’ll be spoilt for choice in the fashion capital of the world. With their impeccable taste and in-depth knowledge of the latest trends, Front Row Stylist will get you a stunning look that’s ready for the catwalk.   

 

Whether you pop in for a cocktail or indulge in the A la Mode package, Crowne Plaza London – The City has Fashion Week covered.


Crowne Plaza London – The City

19 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6DB

020 7438 8026 | www.cplonondcityhotel.co.uk | @CPLondonCity