LPM Restaurant and Bar

LPM is already notorious for its lovely French and Mediterranean cuisine. Now with their new cocktail menu inspired by Jean Cocteau, there is even more reason to book a table at this iconic spot. 

The cocktail menu is beautifully presented in a red cover and tells the story of the French poet. There are four “chapters” in this story,  each exhibiting a  different style of cocktail to choose from - mainly aperitifs, fruity cocktails, savoury cocktails, and dessert drinks. Each drink also has a story to it, and one could sit in silence and read this menu for their entire stay at LPM! 

Our eyes were immediately drawn to the Lettre à Coco. This cocktail is an homage to Jean’s friendship with the legendary Coco Chanel, using the classic Chanel No. 5 as inspiration. The delicate Champagne based cocktail also uses jasmine, bergamot and rose to add some beautiful floral notes. The presentation is also exquisite, the crystal coupe glass being delivered with a love letter sprayed with Chanel No. 5 to make you feel like Chanel herself.

For dessert, the Hommage cocktail works a treat - with cognac and cherry brandy. The cocktail is garnished with a gold dusted cherry for the perfect display. 

As you can see, the cocktail menu is truly a masterpiece, and combined with lovely food and spectacular service, there is no reason to put off visiting LPM. The staff are warm and welcoming, and the barmen know the cocktail menu inside-and-out and are able to give you the perfect recommendation based on your food choice and your usual go-to drink. 

Life is too short for mediocre cocktails. Do yourself and your tastebuds a favour and go give this experience a try.

LPM is great for a special occasion with someone special.

Ambience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Value:⭐⭐⭐⭐
Range:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: 10/10

Address: 53-54 Brook's Mews, London W1K 4EG

Anosmia: The devastating effects of losing your sense of smell

With a wine tasting career and fragrance studies leading her passions, when Helena lost lost her sense of smell for three weeks with Covid, she panicked. Very luckily for her, it came back. This is not always the case with anosmia, sadly. Here’s why you need to know about this debilitating ‘hidden disabilty’.

Our sense of smell is so much more important than we think. Sadly, it’s not until we lose it that most of us realise this fact. It is a hidden disability.

Covid-19 certainly raised the awareness of viral anosmia; losing your sense of smell after exposure to a virus, but the devastating effects this can have on a person from extreme weight loss to severe depression, are still not discussed or recognised in medicine as much as they could and should be. Smell is, after all, our most primitive sense, governing our most basic instincts as well as memory and all sorts of emotions. Losing it, whether total (anosmia) or partially (hyposmia) can have a devastating effect on our mental health and quality of life. 

This Anosmia Awareness Day, I want to highlight some of the negative ways anosmia can affect people, to raise awareness and help find new avenues of research into finding a cure.

Eating problems

Even hyposmia can have a significant effect on the enjoyment of food, which often leads to a lost interest in eating, which can then in turn become so severe, it leads to eating disorders and malnutrition. A desperate attempt to taste something can lead to the addition of too much salt or sugar, which brings its own negative effects on health. 

Social disconnection

Anosmiacs report feeling lonely and disconnected from the world, unable to engage in their environment or bond as well with other humans. Relationships appear more strained as your subscious is aware it is ‘missing something’ from the conversation - and it is. Bonding even with loved ones is harder. Losing a major part of one of life’s greatest human pleasures - to eat and drink with a tribe -  can also be devastating. We feel left out of a social connection, even if we are physically present. 

Depression & Anxiety

These combined effects of anosmia can lead to paranoia, anxiety, depression and anhedonia; the inability to feel pleasure. How do we know if we - or our home - smells bad or not? Did we leave the gas on? Will I know if I step in something? How can we tell if what we are serving our guests is well cooked? It’s easy to see how anxiety can be ramped up and depression can find a way in, as so many of life’s pleasures are stripped away. 

Danger

Our sense of smell is crucial for warning us of potential dangers, often numerous times a day. From smoke or a gas leak to food that has gone off and bread caught, burning away in the toaster. Without it, we are stripped of some crucial survival skills. 

Can anything be done to help anosmia?

There’s not currently an official cure for anosmia but in some cases, retraining the nose to smell has had some positive effects, so it’s worth a try. Anosmia awareness charity Fifth Sense suggest smelling the same strong scents for around twenty seconds each day while really paying attention to what you are doing. Essential Oils are the most effective here as they are strong and they last a long time. Pick four very different ones will have a greater effect. They suggest rose, lemon, clove and eucalyptus.

Are you affected by a full or partial loss of smell? If you need help and advice or just want to find a community, check out Fifth Sense.

Words by Helena Nicklin

The World’s Oldest Known Rum

Rum is well-known for being pretty indestructible, so you may well have found yourself pondering, ‘what is the oldest rum?’ Well, we’ve recently got a new answer to that question.

Miami-based Old Liquor Inc sold a bottle of Harewood Barbados rum that was made way back in 1780 to a collector in Switzerland for $29,999. That would be the most expensive rum ever too, but it looks a bargain compared J.Wray and Nephew’s 1949 Rum that sold for a staggering $54,000.

Unsurprisingly, this 243-year-old bottle has been on a hell of a journey. The rum was made in Barbados just four years after the United States even declared itself a country, and sometime in the early 1800s it was shipped to the UK and bottled by Oldfield’s in York. The man orchestrating this was the Earl of Harewood so it’s no surprise why the collection ended up in the basement of Harewood House in Leeds, UK.

And that’s where they sat undisturbed gathering thick layers of dust, cobwebs, and mould until 2011 when they were discovered by workers of the house preparing an inventory of the wines and spirits lurking there. After being very cautiously cleaned and analysed, 28 dark rums and 31 light rums were identified, but only 23 have truly survived the test of time.

This isn’t their first transaction since being uncovered either, as they were sold at famous auction house Christie’s in 2013 at various prices, most notably Dark Rum fetching £7000 each. Again, that looks cut price now!

So, has anyone actually tasted some? Well, yes! A small selection of renowned rum writers including ‘The Lone Caner’ Lance were invited to test. Lance said, “it adheres to a profile so modern that were one to taste it without knowing what it was it would not be out of the realms of possibility to give it a great score and then ask wonderingly which new independent on the rum scene made this damned thing”. It’s believed to be 58% ABV and gives tasting notes of spice orange, cedar, and caramel! Now that’s a showstopper.

From Aquaman to Vodkaman: Jason Momoa’s Meili Vodka

Best known for fronting Aquaman and playing Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones, Hawaiian star Jason Momoa is entering the world of drinks… or should we say returning?

Whilst filming Game of Thrones in Belfast over the previous decade, the brawny Momoa bulked up on a diet of pizza and Guinness and even got to try his own edition, ‘The Mano’. Guinness’ first sour creation was inspired by the actor’s Hawaiian heritage and tattoos, and he obviously got a taste for the industry because he launched Mananalu in 2019, an environmentally-minded canned water brand. This is a focus that Momoa has brought over to Meili Vodka (40% ABV), the new sustainably produced craft spirit.

A joint venture between the actor and fashion designer Blake Halvorson (founder of Junk Food Clothing and MadeWorn), Meili is bottled in 100% recycled glass with no two bottles being identical. Produced from natural Montana springs, the grains are sourced from local farms and the finished article is left to, “rest and breathe” in the mountain air before bottling – whether that has any science behind it or not we’re not sure, but it’s a nice image.

In this new world of celebrity spirits, it can be difficult to stand out and as of yet, there’s little word on the quality of the vodka itself, but to be fair it hasn’t officially launched just yet. That moment will come when Momoa speaks at the WSWA’s 2023 Access Live in Florida in April, but for now, their ideas seem admirable.

What’s more, limited online releases suggest a price of around $23.99 which is remarkably affordable when you consider the ‘celeb tax’ that is usually added on to endorsed products. Wider offerings will no doubt roll into a town near you soon, but if you’re a Momoa superfan then you can order already from selected retailers like here.

Glenmorangie – It’s Kind of Delicious and Wonderful

Words by Colin Hampden-White

The dining room at Glenmorangie House

Settled into the landscape, right next to the Dornoch Firth in the highlands of Scotland is something wonderful. Creating whiskies known the world over and experimenting with new delicious expressions released every year to delight us is Glenmorangie distillery. It is a well-known place, especially amongst whisky lovers, who travel from far and wide to visit the distillery and obtain special bottles only found there.

What is less known is where one can stay as you visit this beautiful cathedral to the amber nectar. Well off the beaten track is Glenmorangie House, around fifteen minutes from the distillery looking out onto the Moray Firth and the North Sea. It is a traditional, large house with white walls and small windows set in beautiful gardens at the end of a long driveway. There are many large guest houses and hotels which might look like it. However, you realise something is very different here as soon as you get out of the car. You’ll be greeted by a life size giraffe at the front door. Made of metal it is the first hint, that the interior may not reflect the exterior, and it certainly doesn’t.

Glenmorangie House

I have been to Glenmorangie house quite a few times as a whisky writer and broadcaster. My first time over ten years ago. The house then was extremely smart, reflecting a smart and yet traditional Scotland, with an interior of many shades of greens and blues and light tartans, it was stylish and comfortable. A few years ago all this changed.

The Glenmorangie Company decided they would like their house to reflect the whiskies they were creating at the distillery, rather than a Scottish idle. Out with the simple blues and greens and in with the bold. Bright oranges and golds, pinks, violets and vivid greens and electric blues now deck the walls, fabrics and furniture. Now, this might sound a little extreme, and at first like looking directly into the sun, you need to squint, but as with the sun, the lovely heat on your skin and its magnificence make you want it to stay for ever. The new interior of Glenmorangie house is quite brilliant. There is a lot of detail in the design. Each room has been names after expressions of the whisky or themes which reflect the ethos of the brand. For example, there is a bedroom called Nectar d’Or, after the whisky they create with a finish using Sauternes barrels from Sauternes in Bordeaux, France, giving a sweeter style of whisky. The colours in that room have golds and oranges, reflecting honey and the core flavour of Glenmorangie, which is oranges. But the details are wonderful. There are paper flowers in one of the vases, which seem to be made of muted colours, and it isn’t until you get close to them that you realise, they are made of maps, and then when you get closer, you’ll see that the maps are of Sauternes. There are details like this throughout the house.

Beyond the interior styling, there are other attributes the house has. The staff being the best thing. Staying at Glenmorangie House is a personal experience. Your every whim is looked after by David, the house manager and Amy, front of house, look after you very well. Making you feel comfortable, and always there when you need them, slipping away when you are chatting away to your friends or family, magically reappearing when glasses are needing to be replenished. Should however you need replenishing at any point, and they are not there, simply help yourself. The bar is always there. Magically hidden away in the bookshelves behind a door, it opens to display and array of expressions from the distillery. Including whichever annual expression is relevant. This year it was Tale of the Forest. A whisky which had the barley dried using not peat or coal, but heather, juniper and birch tree bark. Other spirits from the Möet Hennessy portfolio, should anyone not be a whisky drinker.

In the evening, once your thirst has been sated, dinner is called. There is no restaurant at Glenmorangie house. Guests dine together, which, having experienced this many times at the house is a wonderful way to spend an evening. Having made a decision to stay at the house, you’ll find those that have also made the same decision will have things in common and getting to know new people over great food and wine feels like a dinner party. More Downton Abbey than Hilton Hotel.

There are plenty of other things to do at Glenmorangie House other than drink, eat and be merry. The coast is a short and very picturesque walk away, with beaches and rocky pools. Fun games, such as archery can be organised. Falconry displays can come to the house. There is a large fire pit with seating to sit out at night and watch the stars, and sometimes, even the northern lights can be seen in the dead of night. Fireworks can be organised, and the firepit seating becomes a mini amphitheatre to watch them from, and with a hot toddy in hand, it’s a warming experience.

It's a glamorous place to stay, a place to be pampered and a place to relax. It’s bright and stylised interior is unpretentious, as is everything else about a stay at the house. It feels like a home from home. If you could imagine being a millionaire. Above all, it leaves the ordinary world behind and everything at the house is kind of delicious and wonderful.

The cathedral like still room at the Glenmorangie distillery

There are a couple of very exciting weekend breaks on offer from Glenmorangie inspired by Tale of the Forest and include all of the following:

- Two nights’ accommodation
- Afternoon Tea on arrival
- Botanical cocktail mixology session
- Falconry display
- Visits to the Glenmorangie Distillery and surrounding Scottish woodland
- Forest-inspired tapas dining on the first night with a light lunch on Saturday
- Four-course gourmet dinner with paired wines on the 2nd night
- An exclusive tasting and introduction to Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest
- Full Scottish Breakfast on both mornings
- 1pm late check out
- Exclusive bottle of Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest to take home with you 

The Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest Weekend Break is available on 27th and 28th January; 24th and 25th February; and 24th and 25th March for £1200 per room based on two guests in a Standard or Cottage Room and includes all aspects detailed above & VAT.

Upgrade to a Master Room for an additional £150.00 per room – subject to availability.

Additional nights can be booked for £200 per night based on Dinner, Bed and Breakfast.

Call 01862 871671 or e-mail relax@glenmorangie.co.uk for more information or to make a booking.

House of Hazelwood Whisky

Occasionally in the world of Scotch, something comes along which is new. They tend to be innovations using younger liquid or unusual barrel finishes, or out-of-the-norm production methods. All are within the rules. However, this year something new arrived that opposed all the above. Old, sorry, very old Scotch whiskies in traditional casks, that were made many, many years ago, using traditional methods.

What types of whisky does House of Hazelwood produce?

House of Hazelwood for the last few years has been producing blends with some age to them. Starting at 18 and rising to 25, they were premium blends. However, the brand has now been re-invented and reimagined. They have taken this initial idea and gone way beyond creating premium blends.

House of Hazelwood has been re-born. As part of the William Grant and Sons portfolio, they have access to some of the rarest Scotch whisky casks in Scotland laid down by the Gordon family over a period of nearly 100 years. However, although they are a part of the William Grant and Sons portfolio, they are a separate entity and do not answer to the whisky team there. In being “independent” they can be creative and they can also be nimble as a new, smaller business. And oh my what they are creating is magnificent.

Which Whisky is Used in the House of Hazelwood Blends?

They are still blending, but with a difference. The youngest blend created to date is 33 years old, with many over 40 and 50 years old. The whiskies by nature of their age are very rare, and the blends created from these old and rare casks are one-off blends, never to be repeated. Two of my favourites were a blend from 1963, called ‘A Singular Blend’ created from both grain and malt whisky distilled in the same year and at the same highland distillery in 1963. The other is a blend from 1965 called ‘Blended at Birth’. Now forbidden by the SWA, this whisky was created by blending different new make spirits straight off the stills that were then placed in casks together to age. There is precious little liquid left in some of the casks leading to very small numbers of bottles being created for each blend. For example, ‘A Singular Blend’ had only 74 bottles in existence. Of which there must be less now as one was opened for us at Hazelwood House when we visited the Gordon family home after which the brand is named. Even though the whiskies are of such age and rarity, they surprisingly don’t cost the earth. Unlike many other whiskies, House of Hazelwood has whiskies from a little under £1000 and even the rarest of them all is under £5000. Although a lot of money for a bottle of whisky, these are no mere bottles of whisky.

The brand itself talks about these whiskies being a family of individuals, each whisky being unique within the overall collection. It seems very apt with the idea coming from the Gordon family. With such individuality in the whiskies, there is no precedent for them to release whiskies at a particular age or adhere to a particular formular. They can bottle the spirit when they feel it is ready, not feeling forced to push whiskies to an age beyond their natural conclusion. And once drunk, these one-of-a-kind snapshots of whisky history are truly gone forever. You can see more about this beautiful whisky here.

If you’ve enjoyed this feature, why not have a read of what Master Blender Billy Walker shared when we caught up with him to talk all about the GlenAllachie range?

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Aldi’s New Yorkshire Pudding Beer

For some it’s an essential part of the mighty Roast, for others it’s demoted to a take it or leave it bonus, and whilst we’re used to seeing it smothered in gravy, how does the Yorkshire pudding work in beer?

Channel 4 show Aldi’s Next Big Things gave thirty entrepreneurs the opportunity to get their unique creations onto the supermarket’s shelves, and it was Father and Son duo Harry and Howard Kinder from the award-winning Malton Brewery that jointly scooped the prize alongside Harry Specters Chocolate Bars.

Judges loved the creamy texture and froth of their unusual concoction, which contains half an actual Yorkshire pud in every bottle and comes out at only 3.6% ABV, so it’s pretty mild but I guess you’d expect that when a big portion of the recipe is a Yorkshire pudding. Malton Brewery says it’s based on the first-ever recipe for this beloved creation, written by Hannah Glass in 1747, so it’s vegetarian but unfortunately not vegan.

Incredibly, this isn’t the first product of this kind! In 2020, Leeds brewery Northern Monk partnered with Aunt Bessie’s to release a ‘Sunday Roast’ brown ale, using Yorkshires and roast potatoes, as well as a Jam Roly Poly number. The popularity of this new Malton Brewery product is next level, however, so who knows, maybe the humble roastie was holding the pudding back from its destiny as an essential beer flavouring after all?

You should be able to find it in your local Aldi now, with each 500ml bottle costing £1.49, and packs of four and eight also available if you can’t get enough of them. Keep your eyes peeled though because they recently sold out within hours of being restocked online.

There’s a conveyor of unusual festive food and drink combinations every year, and much of it can be dismissed as a novelty bit of fun, but maybe there’s more to this one? We haven’t tried it just yet, so please let us know if you have, and whether or not it lives up to the hype!

How About a Hellmann’s ‘Mayo-Nog’ this Christmas?

Let’s be honest, eggnog is pretty polarising as it is so when Hellmann’s insist that their signature mayonnaise can be thrown into the mix instead of the egg, well, we don’t know what to make of it frankly.

In partnership with Muddling Memories’ Cody Goldstein, and New York restaurant Amy Fontaine’s, this experimental team is aiming to prove that it works, but how? They’ve created a Frozen Mayo-Nog as well as a Snickerdoodle Mayo Cookie with the aim of producing a Heston Blumenthal-esque milk and cookies revamp.

Unfortunately, if your mouth is watering reading this then, firstly each to their own, and secondly, you better get saving for a trip to the Big Apple, because the Mayo-Nog and the cookie are only officially available at Fontaine’s restaurant for a combined price of $24! But that includes a ‘mayo glaze’ so it’s got to be worth every cent...right?

Not willing to travel to New York to try these mayo creations? Where’s your commitment to the cause? At least you can try it yourself at home because the recipe is on the Muddling Memories Instagram. There is a hell of a lot of egg in America’s best-selling mayo, so it might not be as crazy a leap as you might initially think, as odd as that sounds. The rest of the recipe sounds very nice indeed, with dark rum, apple brandy, milk, cream, syrup, vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon, all blended with a generous helping of Hellmann’s and voila, your first Mayo-Nog...

But will it be your last? We’re desperate to hear if mayonnaise can actually substitute the egg, and if so, is it worse, or maybe even better? We may just try and whip one up on the Bring a Bottle podcast very soon to put it to the test! If you give it a go send us a picture on Instagram/Facebook and let us know what you thought!