The Cocktail Lovers

Autumn is always a time for exciting new projects on the cocktail front. We’ll be talking about five new, destined to be hot spots around the world in our news section, before talking to the uber talented Mr Joe Schofield about the opening of the much anticipated Schofield’s bar making its way to London next month Also new, we’re giving the bottles a rest in this episode, instead our product secti...

Rather fittingly for 2026 The 50 Best Bars which took place in Milan last week, featured bars from 26 countries. Which is not only neat as far as numbers go but also makes us think just how global this whole cocktail malarkey has become. We remember when the list was dominated by bars from two cities: namely London and New York. These days it’s exciting to see representation from all kinds of venu...

We make no secret of the fact that the Martini is our favourite cocktail. It’s a classic that been around and enjoyed for well over 100 years. But, right now, it seems that everyone is getting in on the Martini action with all kinds of variations taking star billing on cocktail menus around the world. So rather than wait for World Martini Day to roll around in June, we couldn't think of a bett...

Other than Negronis, there is an ever-so slight connection to the featured items in this week's episode and it's cities beginning with the letter 'c'… First there's our recent visit to Copenhagen where we went specifically to visit Victory, a bar that’s as cosy as it is creative and one that we think you'll be hearing much more about in the future. We’ve also got something...

Nothing is new, not really. Things are simply reimagined, refined – given a reboot if you will, all with the aim of making our lives just that little bit easier. Or a tastier, as is the case with everything we’re talking about this week. We start by looking at two hotels that have jooshed up their cocktail cabinets with own-label products – not novel granted, but purposely created to elevate the g...

There’s more than a dash of elegance in the mix in this episode, and we make no apologies for that. In fact, we positively applaud ourselves that we've made a feature of it. We start by opening up a very distinctive bottle to unveil the unique taste of Bitter Cedrino – a very special Italian liqueur, blended from Mediterranean herbs with a touch of Sardinian sea water. Then we head off to Ma/Na, a...

We’re zoning in on flavour in this episode – that’s flavour with ‘ou’ as in the taste of our featured product which is the super lush Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch Whisky, and the Indian ingredients highlighted at newly-opened bar Tryst. It’s also found in the veritable smorgasbord of goodies we’re highlighting in our new news section.  Then there’s the flava with an 'a', used in hip-...

After a rather prolonged break, we’re back! Having completed season 10 with a very special 100th episode (check it out if you haven’t already), we’ve decided to shake things up – just a little mind – going forward. We’ll still be sharing our experiences of the bars we visit, at home and further afield, starting with a venue which describes its offering as 'New York style, British spirit', the rece...

15 competitors, four judges, four mentors, seven brands, three winners – that’s the global final of SIP Supernova in numbers; in words, the stats are just as impressive.  In the true ethos of Share, Inspire, Pioneer, aka SIP, the global advocacy platform powered by Pernod Ricard, SIP Supernova is about celebrating and empowering hospitality professionals at every level, be they wait staff, ma...

In this sponsored bonus episode, we’re joined by Lisa King, founder of Free AF, New Zealand’s number one non-alcoholic canned cocktail brand.  Founded in 2020, Lisa created Free AF with one goal in mind, to provide a range of alcohol-free cocktails for those who take what they drink seriously. But more than producing great tasting liquids, a range with complexity, texture and attitu...

We've made it to 100 episodes and to celebrate, we're joined by Agostino Perrone and Giorgio Bargiani, Director of Mixology and Assistant Director of Mixology at The Connaught respectively. As the first guests on the very first episode of the podcast it made perfect sense to catch up with them over a Martini or two. Only this time, rather than recording remotely, we've joined them at The Connaught...

It’s not intentional but we tend to talk about people, places and products that are already out there, so for our penultimate episode of the season, we’re flipping that and going for things that may not immediately be on your radar. But should be. Like Harp of Darkness, a black Irish whiskey and Atheres Spirits, a boutique range of botanical amaro and liqueurs distilled in Industrial City, New Yor...

We've done whisky specials before but here we are, back with another. Why? There are always plenty of mighty fine whiskies to shout about. Besides, why the hell not? We start with two whiskies born and raised in the US. One is the result of two actor friends who bonded over their love of the spirit so much they decided to create their own, aptly called Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The...

We’ve got travel on our brains this week as we’ve just returned from Barcelona where we celebrated the 10-year-anniversary of Paradiso, our featured bar and book in this episode, while our interview takes us to Buenos Aires, the next stop on our itinerary, where we’ll be joining in the fun with the team at Tres Monos for the fourth Gran Corso de los Monos. We’re joined by co-founder Charly Ag...

After our last few themed episodes we’re now back to our regular format – talking two bottles, a book, a bar and a very special guest… Our first product is Jin Jin – an enzymatic cordial. Chivas Regal Crystalgold. Equally intriguing, in a very different way is Chivas Regal Crystalgold, the first clear spirit from Chivas Regal… With a nod to Dry January our book tells you everything you could want...

Our first trip of the year took us to Milan for the launch of Coqtail magazine’s winter edition (grazie mille for the invite Penelope and Chiara). Which gave us just enough time to soak up the atmosphere and revel in that famous Italian hospitality in four very distinct bars. First up, Camparino in Galleria, not only a symbol of the aperitivo but also the history of art and culture in Milan;&...

It’s the first episode of the New Year so before we jump fully into 2026 we want to take a moment to look back and celebrate 2025. During the year we were once again fortunate enough, both here in the UK and further afield, to have enjoyed an array of incredible cocktail experiences, visited some wonderful bars and best of all, meet some of the fantastic people in the drinks world. So here, in no...

There’s exactly one week to go until Christmas and If you’re still stuck for ideas for what to get the cocktail lover in your life, we’re here to help. We’ve trawled through the stores, physically and virtually, sifting through the duds so you don’t have to. Our mission? To select our pick of gifts that will ensure you score more brownie points than the fat bearded bloke in red ever could. You're...

Whether we’re talking bottles, books or bars, why is it that some may enjoy just a brief moment in the spotlight, while others continue to shine for years, decades or even centuries? In this episode we’re celebrating creations that have done exactly that. Starting with spirits that continue to hit all the right notes with us. Of which we're highlighting three: an expression from Chivas Regal – the...

To warm us into the new season, we’ve got a bit of a whisky thing going on product-wise with two new bottles for your drinking pleasure. One, The Stanhope has a Scottish connection but is made in the US, the other comes from one of our favourite family brands, it’s Rosemaund from the Chase family and it's proudly English.  Award-winning writer Noah Rothbaum shares all the intel on the subject...

Every advocacy programme in the drinks world has its usp, something that inextricably links it to the DNA of the brand. In our humble opinion, few, if any do it better than The House of Suntory. Now in its fifth year, The House of Suntory DOJO programme has become synonymous with excellence in the bartending world, thanks to its focus on learning from dedicated Masters in the arts of Japanese craf...

It's the last episode of season ninet. So to take us out we’ve got some very special and, perhaps surprising, stories to share with you. Take our two products. The first is a very special limited edition rum in the shape of El Dorado High Ester Blend PM / DHE, while the other is, rather surprisingly, a wine and a lighter abv one at that, it's 6 Percent Sauvignon Blanc. Another surprise is our book...

It’s beginning to look a lot like Autumn here in London but there’s still plenty of reasons to keep our spirits lifted on the cocktail front. Starting with the bases for our drinks… We’re keeping things juniper-charged in this episode, with two very different gins: one from Atlas in Singapore, the other, a cask-aged gin from the team at Renais. As for our book, we're clinging on to summer with thi...

It's another mixed and fascinating bag this week, starting with The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve, a single malt whisky with a rum finish and Sylva, an intriguing dark non-alcoholic liquid made from wood – yes, wood! Our book choice has home tender, professional, chef, sommelier and distiller totally covered, it’s 'The Bartender's Manifesto: How to Think, Drink, and Create Cocktails Like a Pro' – by...

We've said it before and we'll say it again, vodka is having its moment and to prove it, we’re sampling two bottles of the good stuff in this episode. We begin with the brand new offering from Jo Malone CBE – yes, THAT Jo Malone, who now lends her winning ways with fragrance to the spirit world with a trilogy of top notch vodkas bought to life through her super power, synesthesia. Then there’...