International Gin & Tonic Day with Boodles Gin 

Happy Monday – and Happy International Gin & Tonic Day!!! 

 

Just a reminder that things will get better and if you ever needed an excuse for a Gin & Tonic THIS IS IT.

Not only are we still celebrating London Cocktail Month – albeit in our homes, today is International Gin & Tonic Day and we are celebrating with our quintessentially British Boodles Gin. Our gin edition comes full of gin tips served directly from Mr Boodles the Boodles Gin Butler. So polish your best glassware and get ready for some proper G&T etiquette. 

Did you know…

Due to the Gin Craze of the 18th Century, there were 5 acts passed by parliament designed to control the consumption of Gin during this time.

Gin was drunk as a substitute to French Brandy at a time of conflict between England and France which is ironic because Gin originated as a medicinal liquor made by monks in Southern France. 

Gin is actually a neutral based spirit gaining its unique flavour through distilling botanicals. The most important being Juniper which gives it it’s fresh pine flavour… It simply cannot be Gin without Juniper. Some of the other key ingredients include Coriander seeds, Citrus Peels and Cinnamon to name just a few. However, Boodles Gin contains No citrus because the original distillers naturally expected the drink to be served with a citrus twist! 

Glasses at the ready… 

We know everyone has their own special way of concocting their perfect G&T but Boodles have given us some pointers to best enjoy their Brilliant British Gin. We know it’s Gin&Tonic day but I must comment on how versatile Boodles Gin really is. We already know how much care has gone into making their unique gin and their thought out blend of botanicals is designed to stay subtle and not smack you round the face. Perfect for many a cocktail as well as a G&T straight up! Whats more, Boodles have three stunning gins to suit your mood. Boodles Original London Dry, Boodles Rhubarb and Strawberry and just in time for winter, Boodles Mulberry.

So with that in mind, Mr Boodles requests that you take pleasure in making your G&T and exercise as much labour and patience as is used to craft their Brilliant British Gin. Don’t rush because all good things come to those who wait. 

Mr Boodles suggests quality gin deserves quality tonic; Boodles recommends Fevertree as the most complementary.

Ice First, then gin, then tonic. 

Keep it icy… the Co2 of the tonic is harder to escape if you keep it chilled. 

Pour Slowly… the slower you pour your tonic the more balanced the flavour

Garnish well.

To give you an idea we’ve included some of Boodles signature serves below to whet your whistle

BOODLES ON ICE

Ingredients;

60ml Boodles Gin
120ml Premium Tonic Water
Shaved Ice
Grapefruit wedge

Method;

In a tumbler shave a handful of clear ice. 

Pour one part Boodles Gin and two parts tonic, then stir. 

Add grapefruit wedge to the glass and serve.

And of course…

BOODLES MULBERRY WINTER WARMER

Ingredients;

60ml Boodles Mulberry Gin
120ml Premium Tonic Water
2 large Ice Cubes 
Lemon wheel

Method;

Pour one part Boodles Mulberry Gin and two parts tonic into a highball glass over the ice.

Stir until the colours combine. 

Add lemon wheel and serve. 

(bakewell tart optional)

We hope you enjoyed our Boodles edition this week. This is a gin I would thoroughly recommend over and over again. 

To find out more please visit www.boodlesgin.com

London Cocktail Week ft. Amaro Montenegro


This year has been rocky to say the least. Yet again the hospitality industry has been hit hard despite the optimism of the Eat out to help out scheme. With September coming to an end, those who extended the scheme will also face their footfall dwindling once more. However, we are hoping that with the extension of London Cocktail Week which will now run for the entire MONTH of October, the bars will be luring us back in with some special cocktails which will be on offer and let’s face it, we’ve all exhausted our Gin supply so we will be looking at some unique Gin alternatives to see us through London Cocktail Month that you can make from the comfort of your home. 

This week the spotlight will be on;

Amaro Montenegro

A distinctly Italian Herbal Liqueur, you may recognise Amaro as the dark shot one is offered at the end of some fine Italian fayre, or you may not remember it at all… in my case. But make no mistake Amaro is making a comeback for the right reasons. 

Our focus is on Amaro Montenegro who is one of the most well-establish spirit brands in Italy and now they are paving their way to the UK. Honestly, I thought this was the one and only brand of Amaro, they are THE ORIGINAL since 1885. It’s eye-catching bottle has graced many an Italian Bartenders’ shelf and we think it would be a great addition to your home bar. 

Amaro (Italian for “bitter”) has a bitter- sweet flavour and a slight woodiness, makes sense considering Amaro Montenegro is made from over 40 botanicals. Amaro is usually enjoyed neat but with the dried citrus features, our perfect serve would be over tonic and ice which a slice of orange peel. I particularly enjoyed the warming syrupy feel Amaro has and while it would be a lovely spritz to have before a meal, the spicier notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves work perfectly for Winter. 

Monte & Tonic

Ingredients:

Amaro 30ml 

Tonic to the top 

Dried Orange Peel to Garnish 

(I like to add a dash of orange bitters) 

Method:

Build in glass over lots of Ice. Enjoy. 

And in the spirit of London Cocktail Week (Month) our favourite Amaro cocktail is…

Monterita

Ingredients:

50ml Amaro 

25ml Blanco Tequila 

30ml Lime Juice

Method:

Shake with lots of ice and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wheel. 

Now we’ve got you dreaming of Amaro Montenegro to find out more and for more cocktail recipes, visit 

www.amaromontenegro.com

Alternatively, if you would like to support bars during London Cocktail Week who are serving delicious Amaro Montenegro cocktails, check out;

Amatitan Sour served at Disrepute Soho

https://www.disrepute.co.uk

Johnnie Highball served at Dalloway Terrace 

https://dallowayterrace.com

Man about Town served at Donovan Bar @ Browns Hotel

Rémy Martin Cocktail Recipe to begin London Cocktail Week

As The Whisky Show comes to an end and London Cocktail Week prepares to wow you with a jam-packed line up of creative and tantalising offerings, we are here to provide you with a luxurious cocktail to start London Cocktail Week with a slice of class.

Rémy Martin Grand Tonic

remy-grand-tonic

50ml Rémy Martin VSOP
10ml Dry vermouth
100ml Tonic water
Garnish with a lemon wedge and serve in a burgundy wine glass

If you’re looking for a reason to indulge even more and have one expertly crafted, the Rémy Martin Grand Tonic is available at The Sanderson for £14