Bar Douro

Picture this: It’s a rainy Sunday afternoon and you are in search of the perfect place for an end-of-week treat that won’t break the bank. We have the perfect place for you! Tucked away in the Southwark Quarter by London Bridge is Bar Douro; a Portuguese bar and restaurant. The restaurant is small, intimate and cosy - ideal for rainy days sipping on a glass of red. There is also an outdoor terrace, which is great in the summer.

The menu has various traditional Portuguese tapas divided into 4 sections: snacks, garden, sea and land. These dishes are meant for sharing and the waitress recommended two to three plates per person. What we loved was that she also gave her recommendations based on what reminded her of home - a great personal touch! There is quite a wide price range, from £5 to £17, so you can choose how much you want to splurge on food. Our favourite dishes were the mushroom pie (a new addition to the menu) and the croquetes de alheira.

Now onto the exciting part - the wine. The extensive cellar list is filled with Portuguese wines organised by colour and then by region. This can naturally be confusing if you are not familiar with Portuguese wine regions, so a handy map is included, which also explains the key characteristics of the grapes. What filled us with even more excitement is that on Sundays, Bar Douro has a selection of wines sold at cellar prices (what they are calling “Festa Sundays”). We tried the Domino Foxtrot 2020, a beautiful light red from the Alentejo region for only £20. This wine was a light-bodied, easy drinking red, with notes of ripe red fruits, and went well with the wide variety of dishes we tried. 

Bar Douro is ideal for: Date night, or dinner with a friend. Due to the smaller space, we wouldn’t recommend large groups (4+)

Ambience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Range: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall: 9/10

To see more reviews, click here!

Words by Hannah van Houweninge.

Christina’s Shoreditch

In the heart of Shoreditch is Christina’s; a luxurious bar on the ground floor of the Mondrian Hotel and with their new cocktail menu, it should be at the top of your “to visit” list!

The bar itself is beautifully decorated and on opening the menu, it’s sure to be love at first sight. The new selection of drinks has been curated by the head bartender, Kevin Price Houghton, and focuses on using smaller producers, most of which are UK based. Kevin has also worked with less traditional ingredients such as alexander seed and rosehip. His goal was to make these unusual ingredients more ‘relatable’ by using them in classic cocktails.

The perfect example of this is the Hogweed Martini; a beautifully smooth cocktail, with the added twist of the hogweed, as well as a pickled radish garnish. If you are in the mood for something slightly sweeter though, the Rosehip Cosmo is also a great choice; especially as it has a tangier fruitiness compared to the ‘normal’ cosmo we are all used to. The cocktails range from £13-£15, so they’re slightly on the pricier side, but worth every penny for their flair and character.

The menu also has a great selection of mocktails (£10 each) for anyone who wants to enjoy something delicious without the alcohol buzz. If you’re in the mood for something warmer though, they offer a large array of coffees, lattes, and teas. The tea company used, Nemi teas is also based locally in London. 

Once drinks are ordered, you might be feeling a bit peckish and Christina’s has various artisanal toasted sandwiches and nibbles to choose from. Prices range from £4-£10 and for any fellow vegetarians out there, the Korean Fried Cauliflower (KFC) is mouth-wateringly delicious!

The bar is calmer during the day and can be used for working lunches if you need to get out of your WFH office set-up. Then from around 6pm onwards, it starts filling up, and the music picks up the pace. Currently, on Thursdays and Fridays, there is also a DJ that starts his/her set at 8:30 pm. What more could you ask for in a bar? It covers all bases.

Christina’s is ideal for: Girl’s night, anniversaries, dates and after work drinks.

Ambience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Value:  ⭐⭐⭐
Range:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall: 9/10

Words by Hannah van Houweninge

Dr Pepper's New Limited Edition Bourbon Flavoured Drink

Whiskey purists among you may deem it blasphemous to mix such a complex concoction with Dr Pepper, but there are many that do. So many in fact, that Dr Pepper have now launched their own combination!

It has to be said at this point that whilst bourbon flavours the drink, it isn’t alcoholic. It’s advertised as containing notes of oak, vanilla, honey, and cherry, and whilst we haven’t managed to get our hands on any just yet to vouch for this (you’ll see why if you keep reading), we’re intrigued. 

If you stumbled across it on the supermarket shelves you probably wouldn’t notice it as Dr Pepper at all because it’s a very nicely designed silver can with a vintage label, resembling the bourbon bottles of years gone by. However, you probably won’t be finding it in supermarkets anytime soon because there are a few hoops to jump through if you want to get your hands on a can.

In short, you have to win one. If you sign up for Dr Pepper’s rewards, you’ll be able to play a completely free scratch card that will tell you if you’ve won. There are lots of other rewards too if you happen to already be a regular buyer of the original. You’ll have to be quick though, as you only have till November 17th. 

If your luck is in and you do win one, the Fansville Reserve will arrive in a very nice-looking burgundy gift box, and if what’s inside does legitimately taste of bourbon, then it could be amazing for adding subtle whiskey flavouring to drinks without the extra alcohol or to make some first class mocktails. 

When Dr Pepper announced their latest creation, some people responded with revulsion, whilst others desperately want it stocked in supermarkets – which camp do you fall into?

If you’ve tried some then don’t be shy, reach out to us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter to let us know what you thought!

And if you want to be in it to win it, here’s the link! Good luck!

Bring A Bottle Podcast: Episode 95

In Bring a Bottle Podcast Episode 95, Helena is joined by the fabulous founder of, ‘All Things Drinks’, Dimple Athavia. They chat about grape powered skincare, a liqueur that smells like baked cherry pie, Helena’s new wine slogan t-shirts and how to explore great wines on a budget! There are some really great recommendations in this episode too that you definitely won’t want to miss, so listen now!

OUR GUEST DRINKER

This week we’re joined by the lovely Dimple Athavia, a wine and spirits enthusiast who used her passion to set up ‘All Things Drinks’, an online drinks company specialising in curating a wonderfully varied selection of craft drinks. As the name suggests, they really do sell pretty much everything! They also want to create an inclusive community within the drinking world that goes beyond retail, educating and connecting those with the same passion. Cheers to that! @dimpsflavourgirl

WHAT’S IN OUR GLASS?

Last week we tried the Glen Grant 10-year-old, and this week it’s the older 12-year-old single malt Scotch that’s gracing our glasses. It has gorgeous vanilla aromas on the nose, and a hint of caramel alongside touches of spice to taste. This isn’t a peaty scotch at all, it’s smooth and gentle and a fantastic option for beginners wanting to try a classic Speyside Malt.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £39.94

Rob Roy Cocktail

Whisky is all too often buried in cocktails but using this fantastic Scotch in a Rob Roy allows it to be the star of the show. The warm vanilla flavours are very much in the limelight leading to a delicious and surprisingly light, cocktail.

Ingredients
40ml Glen Grant 12YO
20ml sweet white vermouth
A couple of dashes of angostura bitters
Maraschino cherry (garnish)

Method:
Shake everything with plenty of ice because dilution is key here. Finish with a gorgeous Maraschino cherry and voilà!

DRINKS NEWS

Did you know that grapes are used in skincare? Brad Pitt’s new, ‘Le Domaine’ range worked with Mirabeau to use grape skins and seeds in an effort to waste as little of the grape as possible. The science behind it is that the antioxidant high polyphenols in wine are good for the skin, and Le Domaine aren’t the first to cotton on to this. Westwell and Pelegrims also use grape extract, and Caudalie use oil from the seeds in their products.

Helena’s T-Shirts

Helena has been busy making her own wine slogan t-shirts, ‘Mama loves Malbec’ and, ‘Talk Terroir to Me’! All made with the environment in mind, there’s no plastic packaging and they’re fully recyclable! You can literally send them back to be recycled when you’re done with them.

Buy it or Bin it

This week’s, ‘Buy it or Bin it’ is super autumnal. If we say it smells like marzipan and almonds, then you might already be able to guess what kind of drink it is? That’s right, it’s Amaretto...well, almost. It’s actually a slight reimagining of it, and it’s called Adriatico. It’s full of morello cherries so combined with the classic amaretto flavours, it smells like a baked cherry pie once you crack it open. It’s drier on tasting than you might expect, and has a surprising saltiness intertwining with cinnamon, cocoa, and subtle coffee flavours. At 28% it’s fantastic over ice and would also work well in a hot cosy cocktail or coffee.  

Size: 700ml
ABV: 28%
Find here: £28.74

Quickfire Questions

What is the best drink for a very hot curry? 
What is the best wine restaurant in London? 
What is the best winter warmer you’ve ever tried?
Our guest has all the answers, and some must-try recommendations too!

Mailbag

We have one of the most famously contested drinks questions this week and it’s, ‘Do I have to spend a lot of money to find really good wine?’ 

Listen in to find out what the sweet spot is for finding value in wine, and how you can still try new and exciting wines throughout the year without breaking the bank! 

Red Wines for Halloween 2022

Are you drink ready for Hallowine, I mean, Halloween? You may have caught me on talkTV with Mike Graham talking about the first three wines on this list, but there are many more that are worth your attention! Here’s a list of spooktastic sips for various budgets.

The Dip 

The deliciously decorated bottle in red and black, is named after a demon dog that’s famous in Catalan legend. This rustic Spanish red, made from a blend of Tintorera and Tempranillo, screams dark, dried berry fruits and a kick of licorice spice. Try it with smoky or grilled meat. 

Find it at Laithwaites for £8.99 mix six price

The Wanderer Malbec 

This smart, day of the dead themed bottle is no gimmick when you taste the wine inside. A gorgeously classy, smooth Malbec made from grapes harvested from long lost vineyards in San Juan and left to hang longer than usual to boost concentration and ripe fruit flavours. A winter warmer that’s great alone or with rich, meaty dishes. 

Find it at Sainsbury’s on offer for £9 

Simpsons Sparkling Syrah

The first European sparkling Syrah /Shiraz I have come across and hailing from the Languedoc-Roussillon area in Southern France and made by English couple, Ruth and Charles Simpson. With more of those classic garrigue-like, French Syrah notes than the purple jam of Australia, this, served slightly chilled, is a brilliant match for Christmas turkey with the trimming, but also works well with duck and lamb cutlets.

Find it at Naked Wines for £14.99

T-bone Malbec 

A seriously delicious, juicy, Argentinian Malbec with a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon for structure. Great value and a perfect crowd pleaser. Make the most of the mix six price. 

Find it at Laithwaites for £7.99 mix 6 price

19 Crimes The Uprising, glow in the dark labels

You’ll want to keep the empty, limited edition, glow in the dark bottle of this 19 Crimes ‘Uprising’ red. A blend from Australia, this is another big and fruity red with notes of redcurrant, blackcurrant and baking spice

Find it at Asda on offer for £8

Chronic Cellars, Space Doubt Zinfandel

If you like your wine big, bold and figgy, then this Californian Zinfandel is right up your street. Think strawberry, plum and ripe fig with notes of baking spice. Delicious. 

Find it at Sainsburys for £13 

Velvet Devil Merlot

If anyone orders this Merlot, I will certainly NOT be leaving! (Geeky Sideways quote). This impressive, American Merlot hails form the fine wine region of Washington State and boast velvety tones of red berry, cedar and tobacco leaf. Very smart. 

Find it on Ocado for £17

Palermo, Orin Swift, Napa Valley

The Iconic Orin Swift winery in Napa brings us this hefty, 2018 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon, ‘Palermo’. Brooding and powerful, think bold flavours of cassis and mint, cedar, raspberry and plenty of complexity. Get it open to air and have with a big hunk of cheese, pie or steak.

Find it at Majestic for £44.99 Mix 6 price

Words by Helena Nicklin

talkTV: Perfect Halloween Wines

In case you are wondering, it was very hard to not call this article ‘hallowines’ but that would have not worked for SEO, so here we are! Perfect halloween wines for your delectation. There is a theme here of course, with rich and spicy, blood red vino in various guises from around the world and a spooky, sparkling red thrown into the mix. Here are the three wines I’m tasting with Mike Graham on talkTV and a link to more options on thethreedrinkers.com.

The Dip 

The deliciously decorated bottle in red and black, is named after a demon dog that’s famous in Catalan legend. This rustic Spanish red, made from a blend of Tintorera and Tempranillo, screams dark, dried berry fruits and a kick of licorice spice. Try it with smoky or grilled meat. 

Find it at Laithwaites for £8.99 mix six price

The Wanderer Malbec 

This smart, day of the dead themed bottle is no gimmick when you taste the wine inside. A gorgeously classy, smooth Malbec made from grapes harvested from long lost vineyards in San Juan and left to hang longer than usual to boost concentration and ripe fruit flavours. A winter warmer that’s great alone or with rich, meaty dishes. 

Find it at Sainsbury’s on offer for £9 

Simpsons Sparkling Syrah

The first European sparkling Syrah /Shiraz I have come across and hailing from the Languedoc-Roussillon area in Southern France and made by English couple, Ruth and Charles Simpson. With more of those classic garrigue-like, French Syrah notes than the purple jam of Australia, this, served slightly chilled, is a brilliant match for Christmas turkey with the trimming, but also works well with duck and lamb cutlets.

Find it at Naked Wines for £14.99

See more spooktastic halloween wine suggestions here!

The Best Gins For Your G&T Under £30

You don’t need an excuse, but if you’re looking for a reason to pour yourself a crisp G&T today then we’ve assembled a fantastic collection of gins below for you to enjoy, and all for under £30 too!

The humble G&T goes back hundreds of years when it was originally used to ward off malaria and its official day of celebration, International G&T Day celebrated on 19th October, is a recent invention. On this day in 2010, 95-year-old gin lover Mary Edith Keyburn had her family sneak in one final gin and tonic to her hospital bed before passing away, so what began as a private family moment has become a global celebration of Mary’s favourite beverage! What a woman!

So without further ado, here are our gin recommendations for a delicious and affordable G&T…

Brecon Botanicals Gin

As you might guess from the illustrations on the bottle, this special edition from the wonderful Welsh Penderyn Distillery uses botanicals from the four corners of the world. There is a hint of citrus and deep bergamot that gives way to oriental spice, with a luxuriously clean and crisp finish as it’s made with pure water from the Brecon Beacons National Park. After all, there’s a reason it picked up a Gold at the 2021 Gin Masters! Serve it simply with lots of ice, premium tonic and some fresh lemon slices to really elevate the citrus notes. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £22.99

Broker’s Gin

Andy and Martin Dawson set out on a mission in 1998 to create the best London Dry Gin, and in 2010 they became the first ever gin to be awarded a score of 98 at the prestigious Ultimate Spirits Challenge, so you could say that’s mission complete. This fantastic gin is produced in a 200-year-old distillery using traditional copper pot stills and 10 botanicals including orange and lemon peel, angelica root, cinnamon, liquorice, and cassia bark. As the Broker’s themselves say, there are, ‘no frills and no peculiar ingredients’ and that’s true, it’s just a superbly balanced combination that creates a gorgeous, very subtly herbal, and slightly creamy profile. Hats off! Serve it over ice, with tonic and a lime for garnish. It would also make for a top drawer Negroni, but it’s a weighty 47% so careful with the ratios ;)

Size: 700ml
ABV: 47%
Find here: £23.75

Boodles British Gin

This is another London Dry Gin, and one that has gone from strength to strength since a big 2013 overhaul. Inspired by a recipe dating back to 1845 when Boodle’s Gentlemen’s Club was in full swing, Boodles oodles with flavour. The botanical list includes sage, rosemary, and nutmeg but there is a very unusual omission; there’s no citrus. As a result, Boodles has a mellow, aromatic, and gorgeously herbaceous quality to it. Serve with plenty of ice, premium tonic, and a peppermint leaf for a glass of refreshing coolness.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £23.93 // US $24.99

Edinburgh Gin

Made in the heart of Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh Gin have been making a name for themselves for over a decade now. This is a gin that isn’t afraid to lead with its smooth juniper, but underneath that is citrus sweetness, earthy pine, and a really complimentary creaminess from the inclusion of milk thistle. All of this is topped off with a gentle touch of warming spice to finish, what’s not to love?! Try it over ice with your favourite tonic and an orange slice for garnish.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £25.94 // US $34.99

Malfy Gin Rosa

Malfy Gin Rosa is easily a gin you can get lost in and after a few sips you’ll wish you were enjoying it on the Amalfi Coast, but it’s still pretty good at home we have to say. Underneath that stunning pale rose colouring is a beautiful aroma of rhubarb and fresh citrus, followed by vibrant fresh Sicilian grapefruit and a long juniper finish. This would be fantastic with a Mediterranean tonic and of course some pink grapefruit to top it all off! On the other hand, or perhaps even in your other hand, if you’re in the mood for cocktails then it’s begging to be at the centre of a Clover Club, or perhaps a Gin Fizz too! Stunning.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: UK £26.49 // US $27.99

Love Delhi Gin

Have you ever thought about accompanying Indian food with gin? Well now’s the time. Love Delhi was created by one of the largest Indian caterers in the UK to compliment gourmet Indian food, paying homage to the fact that G&T originated in India! At the heart of this vibrant gin is the national fruit, Mango. Alongside pomegranate and juniper, they offset the spicy undertone superbly to create a wonderfully unique tropical gin. Plenty of ice (maybe more if you’re having a particularly spicy curry with it) and premium tonic is great to allow the gin’s strong flavours to come to the fore, and there’s only one garnish here – a sweet slice of mango! Nom!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £27.99

Crafter's London Dry Gin 

This gin is distilled in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia as it has been for over a century. Their oldest pot has even got its own name, which is Mamma Ilse named after the legendary master who worked there, Ilse Maar. Production secrets have been passed down through the years, including the skill involved in distilling 6 different botanicals separately. The unique bouquet of Nordic plants is spearheaded by veronica and fennel seed, creating herbaceous and flowery notes. It’s a beautifully aromatic dry gin that tends to win people around on a first try – see for yourself! Premium tonic, ice and a sprig of rosemary provide the perfect set up for this herby gin and tonic.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £27.99

Boxer Gin

Named in honour of the first Heavy Champion of the World, Tom King, who knocked back gins before each fight, Boxer Gin packs a mighty punch. The juniper berries are harvested from the slopes of Mount Everest and the botanical elixir is completed with fresh Italian bergamot, lemon, and orange, all meticulously blended in Victorian copper pot stills. These lively flavours are painted on a canvas of woody spice and subtle floral notes to create an incredibly complex and rewarding dry gin. This will make for a great G&T with a classic or elderflower tonic, and cucumber garnish to sit perfectly with the fresh and mellow palate. Truly a gin for champions!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £27.99

That’s your gin covered, but a great gin must be paired with a premium tonic to match right? Have a look here or here for some of our favourites!

By Calum Ecroyd

Bring A Bottle Podcast: Episode 94

Greetings drinkers! We’re back with a brand new Bring a Bottle Podcast and Aidy is joined by a wine wizard and spirit sage to sip one of the most magical Speyside whiskies going. Also, the drinkers guess the most popular British pub name, plan the ultimate Halloween cocktail, and there’s even some juicy drinking confessions thrown in! Listen now for all that and more!

OUR GUEST DRINKERS

We’re lucky enough to be accompanied by two wonderful guests this week. Firstly, it’s Chris Dennis - a mixology mastermind and spirit sage. Two decades of industry experience mean his name is known at some of the finest bars in the world, like Zetter Town House, Calooh Callay, Milk & Honey, and Trailer Happiness. After co-founding Disrepute in Soho, his newest venture is Heads & Tails in West London where Chris has continued to work with tonnes of different spirit brands... so much so that since 2021, he’s been the Rum and Whiskies Brand Ambassador for Campari, representing some beautiful drinks like Glen Grant and Appleton Rum. Welcome!

Our second fantastic guest is Hannah Crosbie, a food and wine writer extraordinaire! Her understanding of wine is second to none and in sky high demand, so she can often be found curating wine lists for restaurants or hosting a plethora of events at the likes of Soho House and One Hundred Shoreditch. From Mob Kitchen to Refinery29, from Courier and the Evening Standard, Hannah has written for them all. In 2020, she set up the Dalston Wine Club, with the aim of making wine more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all. Bravo! We’re delighted to have you!

WHAT’S IN OUR GLASS?

In this episode we’re sipping on a 10-year-old Speyside single malt – Glen Grant because who better to introduce us to it than the official brand rep Chris? Beautifully amber on the eye, it has notes of green orchard, toffee and vanilla. It’s equally quaffable for a whisky beginner or a seasoned drinker and would sit perfectly in a long cocktail topped with Ginger ale.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £29.49

Glen Grant 10 Year Old Cocktail Discovery

The Glen Grant is used in a whisky sour style cocktail – The Brigadoon! Sour lemon intertwined with sweet apricot liqueur blends with the strong Speyside base to create an intense burst of flavour, settling down into complex layers with a subtle nuttiness from the orgeat. It’s incredible!

Ingredients
40ml Glen Grant 10YO
20ml apricot liqueur
20ml lemon juice
10ml orgeat (almond syrup)

Method:
Simply shake everything and serve over ice! Simply delicious.

DRINKS NEWS

From the ones seen in almost every village across Britain, to the weird and wonderful, we all love pub names. Did you know they date back to 1393 when King Richard II ordered every pub to be clearly signposted? Aidy has the list of most popular pub names, and Hannah and Chris get guessing! What’s your guess for top spot?

DRINKS CONFESSIONS

Drink related confessions always throw up something interesting, and this episode is no different. Is a 15k whisky wasted in porridge, or is it just a great start to the day? And find out why Chris was kicked out of a club for just opening a bottle of Champagne (we may have omitted a key detail there.)

Buy it or Bin it

The intriguingly named Tough Nut Moonshine is tried and tested in this episode! There are all kinds of smells going off with this, from Lotus biscoff to Belvita biscuits... but savoury also? It is indeed a tough nut to crack, but a dash of this hazelnut liqueur would really add to an Old Fashioned. It would also make a far more interesting cocktail balancer instead of sugar syrup! Their other flavours look just as alluring, from Sticky Toffee to Lemon Drizzle… a lovely Christmas gift.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 25%
Find here: £24.64

Mailbag

It’s the perfect October question this week, as the drinkers ponder, ‘What’s an easy Halloween cocktail to make at home?’ Their answer features one of the strangest ice ‘cubes’ we’ve ever heard of too – find out what we mean here.