monday 5 october - sunday 11 october 2015 monday begun with a ferocious, yet cleansing rain and also the london cocktail week, in the old spitalfields market, in london's east side. there are 275 cherry picked bars from thousands, to represent what is currently happening in the city's cocktail scene. bars, pop ups, masterclasses, parties, this hub of liquor will entice and challenge you, educate and inspire you and will get you drunk! naturally! from north to south, west and east, there are bars for all tastes and persuasions. with spitalfields and soho, the LCW HQ. i enjoy these events, despite, my intense and brutal filtering and critique, so that i can keep up on the pulse of what is going on, meet new people and my buddies, try some liquor and just hang out in documenting and participating fun. get a wristband and visit the bars, who can make you their LCW cocktail for a fiver and get down to the village for some sampling and camaraderie. 46 and mercy, bar termini, ghost vodka and an argentinian arepas, take my vote. cheers.
tuesday 22 september 2015 another year, another dollar and here we are in
another boutique bar show, in a different venue, intimate, carpeted and in the
style of a living room, somewhere in islington, london. networking, trying out new spirits and
documenting it all, my highlight being, meeting new people or seeing my buddies
again, for a tipple, a hug and a catch up.
lanique liqueur, which i use in my rose martinis mr. black, an excellent coffee liqueur, thick
and black, from sydney suzie's excellent hibiscus gin pococello lemon elixir, full of freshness BTW homemade tonic water, without the bullshit sipsmith damson vodka and summer cup meeting a master alchemist from manchester, who
is a woman and has written a book somoma rye from ELLC with a drop of yuzu bitters gin from sunderland hazelnut vodka from poland coconut liqueur from london and ford's martini with an orange peel, made
from an expert and poured from a bartender's friendly sexy bottle...
tuesday 2 september 2015 i was invited to a rum tasting in colourful, clean and quiet before the mess, barrio east, in london's shoreditch, to try four delicious rums and i took anka and doug with me, as they are great companions and they both like a good glass of booze in the afternoon. 1. the duppy share, from Jamaica and barbados, bottled in london 2. bushtea, an english spiced rum, a gorgeous infusion of botanics and warm spices 3. east london liquor company rum, 100% demerara and aged in bourbon casks for three years 4. new dawn, full of molasses and richness...
we networked and tried some bonus liquors and tasted a daiquiri made with the ELLC rum; delicious...
fun to be had and am i a bit tipsy? a very good afternoon, peppered with other bar visitations, vintage shops and art shows, supper at dosa world and a glass of wine at the discount suit company... rum is the key to a good time...
when one door closes, another opens; when one
closes a door, to open another willingly and on both counts; no one knows what
is around the corner and that the whole of our lives is full of episodes and
possibilities...
this is how my November 2013, last year, but
just a few months ago, begun; as i was waiting for my new horizon to
materialise, my new horizon, so it seemed, was staring at me in the face...
my initial detachment, because of another
somewhat commitment, which i decided to abandon altogether and after a quasi
consideration, because it was far too corporate and bad for my creative spirit,
became a full on involvement.
and involved i became... seeing it as a new
opportunity, to correct past mistakes and start afresh, with more energy,
passion and creativity, applying a solid background of experience and learning
new tricks continuously.
so, Bitters & RYE cocktail bar was
born.
in the bosom of PAESAN'S basement. an italian
cucina povera, with simple, authentic, italian food, made with love and true
italian style. i am not exaggerating. The place is good and organic and
established with love and vision.
And i like to get immersed in passion and
creativity, extending my own.
So, Bitters & RYE cocktail club is a
lounge speakeasy bar and what I am constantly creating, is an easy going and
inclusive and safe vibe for everyone, with tailor made cocktails and music,
events and happenings, art and films.
Stav B’s liquor continues its residency every
two months with different themes and lists and shenanigans:
i was inspired by the Italian factor. The
influences the Italians had on Americans and especially, the cocktails,
aperitivi, vintage and traditional Italian bitters and digestives.
I fell in love with all the amaro (bitters in
Italian), especially, the cynar, ramazzotti, the exquisite punt e mes and the
ever classic and classy antica formula, to name but a few.
I started making my own limoncello, which was
and still is a 7 day process joy and constantly perfecting my Sambuca recipe,
natural and aromatic, full of its proper flavour, but with a twist.
I infuse the vodka with three types of mushroom
and the gin with brine and delicious scilia olives.
The cocktail list is full of vintage Italian concoctions,
blended with my own twists and classics.
The homemade camomile cordial I made from
scratch and flowers, is part of a fresh mock, full of zing and scent from the
fields – I kid you not.
The experimentation continues and so is the
life of the bar, full of warmth, love, passion, creativity and wonderful people…
