visits from brands can be rewarding, especially, when one is meeting kind and charismatic people, full of passion and ambition and believe me, there are very few far and between. i had the pleasure to meet the customer development executive for bacardi, who visited me in the bar and was fond of me from the start. various chats on collaborations, led me to an invitation: an exclusive bacardi event, somewhere in bermondsey, where 153 years of making, were unravelled in under four hours right in front of us, from when the rum was unrecognisable and really basic, to the way it has evolved today, via war and prohibition, to making our own rums, have a little trip down memory lane and finally, having a shot of the brand new products, followed by cocktails, too in he basement, where else? i drank responsibly and mingled with folk who knew me and/ or just met me... i was a dandy with mysterious identity and they wanted to know... before home, i stumbled (not literally) in some old public toilets cum cocktail bar and had a last sip of delight, before hugging the security goodnight. yes, i was still standing. thank you tom for the invitation. it was a fine affair, properly filtered by me for the pure mccoy. it' only right. monday 8 march 2015. 8pm
like all industries, so is the bar one with ups, downs, perks and wonders, full of wonderful liquor. i am fortunate enough to stay connected, without sucking up, or compromising diplomatically and get invited and/ or included in gorgeous little happenings, full of diverse people and diverse spirits and drinks. last summer in june and july, i went along, taking anka, as my guest and avid whiskey taster to two wonderful tastings: for japanese whiskies at red bar bambou on rathbone place, in soho and for american whiskies at steam and rye bar in the city, while in october, we embarked on the wonderful and fiercely versatile and rich (pass me some water, before i fall apart), whiskey show, in the famous and amazing the whiskey exchange at vinopolis, near london bridge. needless to say, the talks were phenomenal, honest and passionate, full of stories about the climate, the method, the ingredients, the bottles, the places, the people and we were all listening in awe and admiration, while sipping away these serious delights, full of everything that a human with taste and substance would want in a drink, with no fuss, or embellishment, but equally wonderful, if mixed in a cocktail, too. the quest continues and i invite all of you, to create your own stories, while relishing the photos below. hibiki 12 yr old, hudson baby bourbon and jura prophecy definitely take my vote and satisfy my palette... cheers.
