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
after The T club, on thursday, i had two events to pull off, with brand new and tailor made cocktail lists for variety and a positive welcome to summer, which is not yet here... but i have hope...
on friday, i went one more time, to my beloved fabrica584, to make cocktails for a double birthday celebration of two italian friends, friends of the friends at the last party (beginning of may/ the italian party).
the menu was inspired by my new found passion for italy, in small doses and very filtered, elements of which, i truly appreciate: the language, the seasons, the freshness and some of the history...
i gave the drinks italian names for fun and the different and the individual: albicocca daiquiri/ with gin and apricot brandy; dolce vita/ with bourbon and amaretto and dry orange curacao, as a variation of the godfather (history, get it?); ananas in the caipirihna and limoncello in the caipirowska... and i also made a huge bowl of punch which i call 584 with fresh fruit and juices... lychee and mango and pineapple, in juice and fruit, with raspberries and strawberries and blackberries and a whole of cantaloupe melon and it was just divine and really good looking! o. yes: one bottle of dark rum and one bottle of spiced rum!
ironically and delightfully, the three amazing cakes, the celebratees had chosen for their guests, had lush fruit on them!
we were busy, busy, busy and we run out of the spirits in due time and towards the end, which pleases me, for stock control and customer satisfaction! no door glass was smashed this time, but the writing table, which normally hold the amp, is a bit sensitive and in need of some fixing tlc... o. well... i'm sure we'll have it fixed by the time, robi is back from the americas!
three of us stayed till late, clearing up, while i was spinning my 45s kept in my 'office' downstairs!
on saturday, i carried and uploaded the liquor bar's boxes in the enterprise house, on hackney's tudor grove, a warehouse space, where residents live, create and host events...
so, they hosted this one too; sons of satyr (sos), a collaborative venture, between two ex colleagues and now, friends, passionate about food offered and presented differently...
i was asked to do the bar and as i always rise to the challenge and enjoy new ventures, i said yes and i focused on creating a new cocktail menu, to match as much as possible the food and the general atmosphere...
i put black cherry jam in the old fashioned, which was a total winner; rhubarb in the gin daiquiri, which sweet and bitter juxtaposition, matched the herbal gin with the maraschino; sage and pineapple in the vodka and i made an eponymous punch with cardamon and ginger...
great food, amazing photographs from a posh butchers in mayfair, by gaby motola, gracing the walls... a stuffed fox, was keeping company to anka, who was doing the door, in fine style...
total yuminess and appreciation...
phew! sunday was rest and preparation day for another chocker week, in the dark room and The Place (my new venture)... keep an eye for more information...
many thanks to all involved in assistance and love: george, valentina, irene, giulia, andre, dan, sarah, anka, oliver, andrew and zbigniew
