One Drink Three Ways: The Three Drinkers Limited Edition Red Silkie Irish Whiskey

One Drink, Three Ways is the signature feature by The Three Drinkers. Join The Three Drinkers’ Helena, Aidy and Colin as they take one bottle and create a trio of phenomenal serves that you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. From rums and whiskies to gins and wine styles, the three help you get the most out of your glass. It’s time to get liquid on lips.

---

If you haven’t heard by now then let us be the first to inform you that we’ve made our own Irish whiskey! A collaboration with the amazing Sliabh Liag Distillers in County Donegal in Ireland, it’s a celebration of the historic, Irish whiskey style as well as our love for fine wine!

The Three Drinkers Limited Edition, Red Silkie Irish Whiskey, to give it its full name, is finished for six months in red wine barrels hailing from the iconic Clos l’Eglise in Pomerol, Bordeaux. The result is a rich and velvety whiskey with notes of dried fruit, baking spice and a whiff of smoke that is beautifully rounded out by ripe, red fruit coming from the wine casks. £1 from every bottle also goes to mental health charity My Black Dog, so if you would like to buy a bottle and want to try some well-suited serves, check out our three favourites below.

---

Helena’s Choice: The Muse

---

The sweet, honeyed flavour of the vermouth emphasises the candied orange and caramel tones in Red Silkie, and the herbal notes play off the absinthe rinse nicely too. With those gorgeous dried red fruits, gentle smoke and warm spice from the bitters entwining, this is a layered and lovable concoction that I really think brings out the best in our whiskey! Method: Chill a coupe glass with a big chunk of ice. Once cooled, rinse the glass with Absinthe and discard it. Add the remaining ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir until they are cool and combined before straining into the chilled coupe glass.

The Muse

Recipe

50ml The Legendary Red Silkie, Three Drinkers Limited Edition Cask

50ml Cocchi Americano Italian vermouth

Absinthe (to rinse the glass with)

2 x dashes of Angostura bitters

---

Aidy’s Choice: Maple Whiskey Sour

---

I love a whiskey sour, and this particular serve is such a pick-me up. Every sip is silky smooth and the ripe fruits and spices of the Red Silkie come through deliciously with the zippy lemon and sweet syrup. Method: Add all ingredients into a shaker. Dry shake them (without ice) first and then add ice and wet shake. Finally, strain them into your cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon wheel or nutmeg.

Maple Whiskey Sour

Recipe

20ml Fresh Lemon

50ml The Legendary Red Silkie, Three Drinkers Limited Edition Cask

10ml Maple Syrup

1 x Dash of Chocolate Bitters

1 x Egg White

Garnish: finely grated nutmeg (optional)

---

Colin’s Choice: Irish Mule

---

I just wanted a little ginger beer to bring out the subtle fruity spices in Red Silkie and allow it to be the unapologetic star of the show. Subtle sweetness that’s never overbearing and bubbles fizzing on the tongue make this a triumphantly delicious and invigorating sipper indeed. Method: Fill your glass to the top with ice. Pour the double measure of whiskey into it and then fill it to the top with a premium ginger beer. Stir very gently up and down to combine without killing all the bubbles.

Irish Mule

Recipe

60ml The Legendary Red Silkie, Three Drinkers Limited Edition Cask

Ginger beer to taste (try Franklin & Sons)

ABV: 46%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £49.99

You can order The Three Drinkers new Irish whiskey here!

We’re always mixing up new cocktails at Three Drinkers HQ, so make sure to check out the rest of our recommendations here!

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

The Top 10 UK Cocktail Bars

Who better to answer the question, ‘what is the best cocktail bar in the UK?’ than the Top 50 Cocktail Bars awards. And who better to deliver the good news to the winners than our very own Aidy who hosted the ceremony!

An academy of drinks writers, leading business heads and influencers from all four corners of the UK arrived at this Top 10 as the finest cocktail bars in the country.

The full Top 50 is listed at the bottom of the page so you can see where your nearest amazing drinking spot is, but for now let’s dive in to the Top 10.

10. The Connaught, Mayfair, London

The Connaught Bar is the super sophisticated watering hole of its namesake hotel. Beautifully designed with platinum silver and classy furniture, you can expect to see the trademark martini trolley being ceremoniously wheeled over to a candlelit table, or showstopping ‘multi-dimensional’ cocktails leaving the bar. From mastering classics like the Bloody Mary to adaptations like the Faraway Collins, a twist on a Tom Collins using Star of Bombay gin at the heart of it, the cocktails are classics with modern interpretations and the setting is everything you want from a Mayfair haunt.

Website

9. 🔶🟥🔵 (A Bar with Shapes for a Name), Hackney, London

Without a doubt the most unusually named bar on the list, this is ‘A Bar with Shapes for a Name’, although that isn’t really the name... it’s just the description you would give the bar because the actual sign is three coloured shapes. This Bauhaus style carries over into the unique inside space – functional, minimal and with no bottles on show. Remy Savage and Paul Lougrat designed it this way to reimagine what a bar is and could be. The lack of convention doesn’t end there, because the menu which is a 50/50 split of classics and in-house specials uses blind tasted spirits. The big names are only served if they genuinely taste good enough, which might explain the comparatively reasonable London prices.

Website

8. Speak in Code, Manchester

Part of the flourishing cocktail scene in Manchester, Speak in Code is a relaxed, dimly lit, bare brick/dark wood bar with an imaginative and extensive plant-based menu. The gorgeous Victorian arch welcoming you peaks expectations which are more than met by signatures like Track 13 which uses grape skin vodka and chamomile wine, and Hot Buttered Rum Old Fashioned using fat-washed golden rum, demerara mix and cocao bitters. Keep an eye out for their incredible cocktail gift sets too!

Website

7. Three Sheets, Dalston, London 

Solidifying its No.7 spot from last year, Three Sheets by the Venning Brothers is a gorgeously designed sleek and simple bar with interesting seasonal ingredients. Their carbonated French 75 with Victory Gin, clear lemon, Moscato and orange flower is a stand-out signature serve, along with the Blackcurrant Americano.

Website

6. Panda & Sons, Edinburgh

Panda & Sons is the Scottish representative in the Top 10, albeit one in disguise! Stroll past outside and you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a barber shop, but this is all part of the prohibition-style false exterior that stylises the inside too – think dim lighting, cabinets of curiosities and vintage furniture. Each ‘chapter’ of the menu offers something different, such as Chapter One’s technical fat washing, clarification and sous vide and Chapter Two’s modern classics. A fantastic speakeasy experience with endless lovely touches.

Website

5. Swift, Soho, London 

Swift on Old Compton Street is no stranger to awards, loved for its mirrored walls, leather booths and expansive range of unique cocktails. The ground floor is casual and lively, but the basement den regularly hosts live music, and offers over 300 worldly whiskies and a rotating cocktail theme – currently ‘Legends’, celebrating much loved great thinkers, artists and performers. Take Only in L.A, for example, an Ab-Fab inspired mix of Absolut Elyx and Martini Rubino.

Website

4. SCHOFIELD'S BAR, Manchester

Topping Manchester’s scene is Schofield’s Bar, named after the bartending brothers who created it. Situated on the corner of art deco beauty Sunlight House, they offer a combination of classic cocktails with in-house stylings paired with some of their favourite books! How about Casino Royale with a Vesper Martini? The Old Man and the Sea alongside a Mojito perhaps? The distinguished old-world venue also offers popcorn and charcuterie boards to snack on so it’s the kind of place you can happily whittle away the evening with everything you need.

Website

3. Tayēr + Elementary, Shoreditch, London

The first onto the podium is Tayēr + Elementary, a venue of two halves. ‘Elementary’ offers casual all-day cocktails served at speed thanks to a draught system including Old Fashioned and Aquavit. Seasonal produce-led snacking also features massively in the experience. Through the partition however, ‘Tayēr’ awaits – inviting darkness with unusual and regularly changing exotic cocktails introduced by guest bartenders.

Website

2. Lab 22, Cardiff

Behind a fairly innocuous door between a bakery and a restaurant is last year’s winner, the experimental and eclectically-styled cocktail bar. Pajtim Tani Hasa’s menu in particular has been heavily praised, winning the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu in 2021’s World’s 50 Best Bars. Science and personality-led, the current ‘Theory + Frontiers’ menu uses locally foraged ingredients to mimic well known flavour profiles. For instance, ‘Concrete Daisy’ uses rooftop honey and ‘Point Nemo’ incudes sea-salt chocolate fish scales. Besides being delicious, every drink is thoughtful and commenting on the world around us.

Website

1. Satan’s Whiskers, Bethnal Green, London 

Back up to top spot is the Bethnal Green icon that is Satan’s Whiskers. It steps out of the swanky London style in favour of unassuming character, with taxidermy, unique décor, hip-hop, and exposed brick. A community cocktail bar of sorts, the offering changes every day but generally you can expect classics with twists, like the Industry Sour with lime, Chartreuse, Fernet Branca and egg white, or food pairings like the Bloody Mary with tacos and quesadilla. Expert mixology and unrivalled atmosphere crown this the deserving winner.

Website

If Gastropubs are more your speed, then the Top 10 breakdown of those was also recently scrutinised and updated to present the best the UK has to offer!

The Top 50:

1 Satan’s Whiskers, Bethnal Green, London
2 Lab 22, Cardiff
3 Tayēr + Elementary, Shoreditch, London
4 SCHOFIELD'S BAR, Manchester
5 Swift, Soho, London
6 Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
7 Three Sheets, Dalston, London
8 Speak in Code, Manchester
9 Bar with Shapes for a Name, Hackney, London
10 The Connaught, Mayfair, London
11 Little Mercies, Crouch End, London
12 Couch, Birmingham
13 Bramble, Edinburgh
14 The Pineapple Club, Birmingham
15 Ojo Rojo, Bournemouth
16 Disrepute, Soho, London
17 Artesian, Oxford Circus, London
18 Hideout, Bath
19 Nightjar, Shoreditch, London
20 Present Company, Liverpool
21 Publiq, South Kensington, London
22 Scarfes Bar, Holborn, London
23 Lyaness, South Bank, London
24 Opium Cocktail & Dim Sum, Chinatown, London
25 The Absent Ear, Glasgow
26 Happiness Forgets, Hoxton, London
27 Hey Palu, Edinburgh
28 Filthy XIII, Bristol
29 Homeboy, Islington, London
30 Soma, Soho, London
31 Coupette, Bethnal Green, London
32 Passing Fancies, Birmingham
33 Bar Termini, Soho, London
34 Seed Library, Shoreditch, London
35 Murder Inc, Soho, London
36 Penny Royal, Cardiff
37 Callooh Callay, Shoreditch, London
38 Silverleaf, Liverpool St, London
39 Public, Sheffield
40 Fox & Chance, Birmingham
41 Blinker, Manchester
42 Below Stairs, Leeds
43 Milk Thistle, Bristol
44 Gungho!, Brighton
45 Hedonist, Leeds
46 Amaro, Kensington, London
47 Cottonmouth, Nottingham
48 Tabula Rasa, Leeds
49 Lunar, Glasgow
50 Bench, Sheffield

Iconic Cocktails and Drinks from TV & Film

You only had to see the surge in popularity for the Negroni Sbagliato after House of the Dragon star Emma D’Arcy namedropped it to know the power TV & Film can have on drinks. D’Arcy’s response to being asked about her favourite cocktail went viral on TikTok and just like that, the next generation is ordering a cocktail that long pre-dates them – and that wasn’t even in the programme itself!

These are some of the drinks that are synonymous with iconic film and TV, and even stole the spotlight themselves, from Hollywood’s Golden Age through to modern-day Netflix hits. Let’s start with a bang!

What drink is James Bond known for?

We couldn’t start anywhere else but James Bond and the suave sophistication of the Vodka Martini. It’s practically impossible to not follow that with, ‘shaken not stirred’ just as the original recipe dictates. Bond does swerve from tradition however, because gin came first whereas he opts for vodka.

Bond’s Vodka with Vermouth and a little lemon peel is the most famous drink in cinema, but did you know that in the Ian Fleming novels, the agent actually prefers Scotch and soda? Sean Connery ordering those instead would have been very different.

What drink is The Big Lebowski known for?

Created by the prolific Coen Brothers, the 90s hit is a cult classic with Jeff Bridges’ ‘The Dude’ at the centre of everything. Defined by his full head of blond hair, dark sunglasses, loose jogging bottoms and a sweater, he loved a White Russian, or ‘Caucasian’ as he called it.

The combination of vodka, coffee liqueur and cream crops up nine times in the film!  He’s often making one, drinking one, carrying one or generally finding a way to get to one, and because of the film’s cult status, many fans found themselves doing the same after watching.

What drink is Moulin Rouge known for?

Absinthe is the umbrella term for very strong anise-flavoured spirits, and because of the alcohol content it’s often dismissed. Not by Moulin Rouge though. It has been banned in many countries in the 20th century, earning it a reputation for mystery and debauchery. The five main characters gulp down absinthe in excess and experience hallucinations, including seeing The Green Fairy played by Kylie Minogue. Pretty much the opposite of a quiet one down the pub.

What drink is The Great Gatsby known for?

Particularly in the novel, the Mint Julep cocktail is ever-present. Daisy Buchanan loves it and is often holding one, as displayed by Carey Mulligan in the 2013 film. But what is it? It’s an iconic southern Bourbon-based cocktail that adds sugar, water, crushed ice and crucially, fresh mint. Within the narrative, Gatsby is a breath of fresh air who makes his money from bourbon smuggling, so the cocktail with mirroring characteristics represents her yearning for him. Or maybe that’s just a coincidence!

What drink is Mad Men known for?

Mad Men is one of the most admired and enjoyed series of all time, making Don Draper a household name. Set in 1960s Manhattan, drinking features heavily and as Draper’s favourite drink, The Old Fashioned went from declining popularity to one of the most, if not the most popular cocktail of the 2010s. To make it like Draper, saturate a sugar cube with bitters, dash with water, fill with ice cubes, add whiskey and garnish with orange or cherry.

What do they drink in Sex and the City?

The Cosmopolitan may be the closest thing there is to a fifth Sex and the City member. Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda get around to trying most drinks throughout the hit films, but the Cosmo remains their constant.

Playing such a starring role in the lives of girlfriends living in New York, the Cosmo enjoyed the spotlight as much as the actors and it became one of the most ordered cocktails of the modern era. They order it so many times that there isn’t one recipe, but generally, it’s vodka, triple sec and cranberry juice with a dash of lime. There are even forums ranking all the Cosmos that appear in the show – that’s how you know it’s iconic.

What do they drink in Harry Potter?

This is the first drink on the list that didn’t exist until it featured on the screen; the legendary Butterbeer. It is without a doubt the go-to beverage of the Wizarding World and is described as tasting like, ‘less-sickly butterscotch’.

In Harry Potter, butterbeer gives people a slight buzz but whether that’s from sugar or alcohol or some otherworldly ingredients isn’t clear. At Universal Studios, it is alcohol-free but if you combine butterscotch schnapps, vodka, cream soda and milkshake-style toppings you’ll have something close to Butterbeer at home!

What drink is The Blues Brothers known for?

This one is difficult to miss, because Jake Candy’s character repeats his order four times saying, “Who wants an Orange Whip? Orange Whip? Orange Whip? Three Orange Whips!” The 1980s musical comedy was a huge success, and this line has been referenced in popular culture. But what is Orange Whip?

It’s a sweet cocktail with rum, vodka, cream and orange juice that’s usually blended to create a delicious froth poured over ice. The funny thing is it isn’t even in the script! Orange Whip’s sales director provided the refreshments and asked if it could be mentioned in the film, and the improvisation included not one but four mentions! What a result for him!

What drink is Casablanca known for?

Any film buff is familiar with one of the most legendary romances of all time, 1943’s Casablanca. Not just a hit for Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, it also shot the French 75 to stardom. This fizzing cocktail using Cognac, Champagne, gin, syrup and a little lemon zest was named after the French 75mm gun used in World War One. Just like the film, the drink is fantastically bittersweet and the only drink ordered by name in the entire film.

What drink is in The Queen’s Gambit?

For a long time, The Gibson Martini was obscure. Constructed in the same way as any other Martini, it differs by opting for a controversial pickled onion instead of the conventional olive or lemon. One person who loves this concoction is Beth Harmon, and her Mother too.

Always one move ahead, genius chess player Beth’s love for the Gibson Martini sparked a trend with the 62 million viewers of the show and is responsible for a surge in popularity. Maybe even Bond will be asking for a Gibson Martini in future films? “Shaken, not stirred and with the biggest pickled onion you’ve got!” – we can see it now!

We’ve got detailed recipes for most of these on the Cocktails part of our website and if you’re looking for more celebrity news, why not check out these Celebrity Owned Tequilas?!

The Best Tequila for a Margarita

Which tequila should I use for a Margarita? Given that the Margarita was the most popular cocktail last year, this is a question on the lips of many a drinks lover. From bargain bottles that produce knockout cocktails to top-end master mixes, these are tequilas guaranteed to bring the oomph needed to your Margaritas!

Best Bargain Tequilas

El Sueño Tequila Silver

The result of five generations of tequila producers, this is a really top cocktail tequila. Don’t be put off by the fact it’s a ‘mixto’ (not 100% agave), this beats many ‘purer’ brands hands down. After the 70% agave, 30% is locally grown sustainable piloncillo which provides a nice sweetness. The vegetal agave note is expectedly subtle with lovely grapefruit hints and overall, El Sueño represents top-notch value in a Margarita.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £21.90

Tapatio Blanco Tequila

Tapatio is much loved among tequila drinkers because it’s largely unchanged since the 1930s, and for a silver tequila it’s the gold standard for value. Made traditionally, it’s brimming with blanco character; think raw agave, a little citrus, earthiness, and pepper. It’s intense so will more than hold its own in a Margarita. Iconic.

Size: UK 500ml / US 1L
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £23.39 / US $43.99

El Espolòn Blanco Tequila

Cirilo Oropeza is a hugely respected distiller producing fantastic tequila in the Jalisco highlands and you’ll often see this bottle used by mixologists. The pure agave goes straight to bottling without aging, retaining fresh agave up front and centre, supported by a pleasant sweetness and floral undertone. We’ve praised their bottle before but it’s a Day of the Dead skeleton riding rooster so we have to point it out again. Now that’s a bottle you want to see coming out for the Margaritas.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £26.49

The Butterfly Cannon Blue

As if the beautifully designed bottle isn’t enough to win you over, the aesthetics carry over to the liquid itself with the vivid blue hue changing colour once mixed! If that’s still not convinced you, then every purchase also supports butterfly conservation! Still no?! Prickly pears and clementines support punchy agave flavour with added complexity from strawberry, melon and fig. This is a tequila that has so much going for it and is simply stunning in a Margarita.

Size: UK 500ml / US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £29.04 / US $27.99

Mid-tier

AquaRiva Blanco

This super smooth Blanco uses 100% Blue Weber agave grown in the volcanic soil of the Jalisco highlands. The nose has an intriguing tang which opens up into a surprisingly herbal and peppery palate that’s super crisp and zesty. There’s a sharpness to this Blanco that really stands out and makes for an intense Margarita. Top-notch for the price.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £31.74

1800 Silver Tequila

The eye-catching bottle based off the Mayan pyramids puts a lot of pressure on the liquid inside, and it lives up to it. Double distilled and blended with an array of white tequilas, the result is a seriously well-rounded profile that is delicate, floral, fruity and herbal and all whilst being refreshing and silky smooth. It’s exceptional and between you and me, tequila lovers would probably pay more for the quality but let’s not tell 1800 that! It brings so much depth of flavour to a Margarita..

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: UK £33.99 / US $28.99

Top end

VIVIR Tequila Reposado

Vivir roughly translates as, ‘to live’ from Spanish and if you’re lucky enough to use this in your Margarita then you are well and truly living your best life. It’s a gorgeous bottle of buttery and caramelly reposado from the 6 months of bourbon oak cask aging. There’s a really lovely vanilla hint too, but don’t think that all of this overpowers the agave – that remains front and centre and anchors everything with vegetal earthiness. A benchmark premium reposado that will transform a Margarita to a whole new level.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £43.95

Código 1530 Rosa

If you’re a seasoned Margarita drinker then you might want to mix it up a little bit. If this is the case, this is the tequila for you. Bright berry notes shine through due to aging in ex-Napa Cabernet wine barrels which works amazingly well with the smooth and earthy tequila. It looks and tastes incredible and will make you a floral pink-hue Margarita, unlike anything you’ve tried before.

Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 35%
Find here: UK £46.24 / US $60.99

Truth be told, you would be more than happy sipping away at most of the above bottles, but if a classic Margarita isn’t doing it for you, then check out The Best Sipping Tequilas for a completely different but still equally magical experience!

The Best Cocktails to Make for Valentine’s/Galentine's Day

If you can’t have a cocktail on Galentine’s and Valentine’s Day then when can you really? No matter whether you’re impressing your date, want to dish out something special to your gals or just to treat yourself, these beautiful cocktails make the best company.

Whatever your tipple of choice, there’s a cocktail that you’ll fall in love with waiting below!

Raspberry Daiquiri – for the rum lovers

Daiquiri is often dismissed as a slush-puppy style cocktail that’s overly sweet, but not this. It’s stunningly simple and when made correctly, it absolutely hits the spot. The raspberry and lime add a nice fruity tang to the syrup that works harmoniously with the rum for a seriously moreish cocktail.

Ingredients
50ml rum (white ideally, e.g., Havana Club 3YO)
30ml raspberry-lime syrup (try Monin)
10ml lime juice
Raspberry stick (garnish)

Method
Heat sugar and water in equal parts and throw in some raspberries and a squeeze of lime – to your preference. Once cooled, shake this and the remaining ingredients until cold and strain twice! Delicious.

Chocolate Martini – for the vodka lovers

If you’ve forgotten the chocolate box on Valentine’s, then don’t worry because this is even better. Deliciously sweet and silky smooth, the Chocolate Martini verges on dessert territory so it’s as indulgent as cocktails get – perfect for Valentine’s!

Ingredients

50ml vodka
25ml Irish Cream liqueur
30ml chocolate liqueur (like Godiva)
1 tbsp of melted chocolate
A sprinkling of cocoa powder

Method
You can drizzle the melted chocolate in a spiral or use a pastry brush to paint chocolate streaks along the glass. Save a little for the rim (or use the liqueur) and roll the glass in cocoa powder before chilling. Shake everything else with a generous handful of ice until it feels extremely chilled, then strain it into the glasses! Top Tip: If you half a strawberry lengthways then it’s the perfect natural heart garnish!

Tequila Mockingbird – for the tequila lovers

Much more than a pun, this is a gorgeous cocktail that varies across the world. Watermelon is underused in mixology because it lacks flavour when used sparingly, or it dilutes the drink too much. However, when combined as ice cubes it’s sublime and too good for just summertime. The jalapeño adds some spice to your Valentine’s Day too in this juicy, sweet and pleasantly earthy mix.

Ingredients
50ml blanco tequila
15ml lime juice
15ml agave syrup
3 watermelon cubes
1 slice jalapeño

Method
You can plop the watermelon ice cubes in (literally frozen cubes of watermelon), or to get more flavour muddle them and jalapeño in the bottom of the cocktail shaker. Add the other ingredients and fill with ice. Shake vigorously until well chilled and strain twice over into a glass. Use a good tequila!!

Blinker – for the whiskey lovers

Unfairly overlooked for a Valentine’s cocktail, we can’t leave whisky out and this Blinker is so simple and elegant that it’s easy to love. In the same vein as a classic Whiskey Sour, grenadine was originally used as a sweetener, but we prefer raspberry syrup!

Ingredients
50ml rye whiskey
50ml grapefruit juice (any colour)
15ml raspberry syrup/grenadine
Raspberries (garnish)

Method
Heat and stir demerara sugar and water in a 1:1 ratio and add a handful of raspberries to form a pulp before straining and allowing to cool. That’s the hard bit done, now you just shake with ice, strain and serve! Skewered raspberries make for a special final touch.

Pink Gimlet – for the gin lovers

This is a gorgeous tangy Gimlet with added fruity sweetness from the use of pink gin. The grapefruit and lime accentuate citrus notes in the gin and depending on the gin you use, a dash of syrup will balance things out perfectly. Especially if you use fresh juice, this will be packed with intense flavour and beguiling freshness.

Ingredients
50ml pink gin (Mirabeau Rosé Gin is perfect)
25ml syrup
50ml lime juice
75ml pink grapefruit juice
Rose petals (garnish)

Method
Simply pour all the ingredients into an ice filled cocktail shaker and shake together, then strain into a glass. Garnish with half a wheel of lime or even better, some rose petals, and you’re all set.

La Violetta – perfect for the sparkling wine lovers

Sparkling wine screams celebration, and the La Violetta is a wonderfully versatile fizz cocktail for Valentine’s Day. You can use whatever bubbles you have, Lambrusco, Champagne, Cava, Prosecco – it all works! For your taste, just leave out or add in a dash of syrup depending on the wine you’ve gone for. The lush floral aroma of the créme de violette works so well with most gin botanicals, and with the citrus and beautiful bubbles it's so refreshing too.

Ingredients
30ml dry gin
15ml lemon juice
15ml créme de violette
30ml sparkling wine
Tbsp of syrup (optional) 

Method
Wine aside, shake everything and double strain into your glass. Top up with fizz and stir gently! Voilá!

That’s cocktails locked down, but if you have your eye on the spirits and wines to go in them or just fancy something simpler, then check out the rest of our Valentine’s Guides! There are the Best Sprits and Best Sparking Wine and Best Pink Gin here.

Viajante 87

Listen to us when we tell you: Go try Viajante 87 as soon as you can. This newly opened experimental bar is by Los Mochis and the agave-based drinks menu is crafted with a zero waste approach. ‘Waste’ from Los Mochis restaurants is used as the inspiration for each cocktail and is used to infuse the tequila or mezcal, added to the cocktail itself, or to create a garnish. The bar gives the impression of a speakeasy, located in the basement of 87 Notting Hill Gate. The decor is elegant and dark, making each guest feel like a VIP as they sip on their drink and nibble on the bar snacks. 

While you can get overwhelmed by the menu, the bartenders and staff are all incredibly knowledgeable and will manage to find the perfect drink for you. Each cocktail is based on a classic cocktail, just with added twists and the Viajante flair. Every drink has a unique palette and presentation, however we would recommend the Smoked Earth. The name does describe the flavours perfectly: a savoury cocktail with beautiful smokiness. If you are searching for something sweeter, you could try the Lana in Tulum, with a lovely freeze-dried strawberry garnish adding that extra zing. 

Although the kitchen is not fully renovated yet, we did get a small taste of what is going to be on offer such as the guacamole with homemade tortilla chips, truffle guacamole on crispy rice, and baked crab taco-maki. We can confirm- the food tastes even better than it sounds.  

Viajante 87 is great for one on one drinks, whether it is for a special occasion or even just a treat-yourself-moment.

Ambience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Value:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Range:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall: 10/10

Address: Basement, 87 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3JZ

Budmo! Dima’s Cocktail Book Supporting Ukraine

Dima Deinega is the man behind namesake brand, Dima’s Vodka, an award-winning triple-grain expression picking up prestigious gongs from the IWSC, World Vodka Awards and Vodka Masters… and now, he’s also the man behind, ‘Budmo!’, a book of vodka cocktails from his homeland.

If you’re wondering, Budmo (pronounced Bood-more) means, ‘let us be’ and is the shortest and most popular Ukrainian toast, usually featuring a hierarchy of toasts around the table. Dima’s book celebrating the art of toasting features fifty essential recipes created by expert mixologists from Kyiv cocktails bars, celebrating vodka’s special place in the culture. As Dima himself puts it, “Vodka is an integral part of the Ukrainian lifestyle with generations of expertise and tradition behind it. With different regional flavour profiles, it crosses class and status boundaries and is suffused into the country’s culture, uniting the nation.”

Highlights include the Kyiv Mule, The White Ukrainian, the Beetroot Bloody Mary and Parovoz Bar’s Green Pea Cocktail, a smoothly shaken cocktail entwining the richness of Dima’s Vodka with green pea shoots and celery bitters! You even get a QR code to walk you through making each one, as well as insight into the exciting Ukrainian bar scene, vodka infusions (nalyvkas), traditional pickles and beautiful accompanying photos.

Most importantly, a minimum of £5 from every purchase goes towards First Aid Ukraine in their time of need, and you can purchase the book on its own for £25 or combine it with a gorgeous bottle of Dima’s for £55 (the perfect star of the show for your vodka cocktails).

Super inventive recipes, stunning Vodka, and the opportunity to support and celebrate Ukraine – Budmo to that we say.

If it sounds like it’s up your street, please visit Dima’s website to learn more about their premium products and purchase the cocktail book!