The Cocktail Lovers

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 recently-opened Cato in London’s Covent Garden. And we'll continue to share our views on an array of wonderful products, such as our pick this week which is the ever-so luxe L’Époque Cognac Baroque XO.

We'll occasionally be reviewing books but we've added a new section which focuses on just that: news. That includes openings, menus, guests shifts and more from across the globe.

And as ever, we’ll be welcoming some incredible guests from the international drinks world. And who better to get the season started with than the person who recently took the No.1 spot as the most influential bar industry figure on the Drinks International’s Bar World 100, and is soon to be recipient of The Tales Visionary Award? It's everybody's role model, Jean Trinh founder of Alquímico in Columbia.

For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.com

For the products featured in this episode, see websites below:

What we're drinking:

Spicy Watermelon Margarita

50ml blanco tequila
Kazimo Spicy Watermelon Mixer
Lime wedge to garnish

Method:
Pour tequila into a rocks glass over ice. Top with Kazimo Spicy Watermelon Mixer. Pull through and garnish with lime wedge.

1986 Steakhouse
Casual By Tayer
Cato
Dokidoki
Kazimo Mixers
L'Epoque Cognac Grande Champagne XO
Sample
The Museum Bar & Gift Shop
Tres Monos Hotel Bar at Dua Miami Hotel

The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' Watson
Edited by Christian Fox
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, managers or bartenders. The only stipulation is that they’ve been working in the industry for less than 6 years.

Over four days, from May 9th to 13th, the 15 finalists from around the world will be in Tokyo and Kyoto where they’ll be tested across a variety of disciplines. In this bonus episode we hear from from Cloé Auger, Global Trade Advocacy Leader at Pernod Ricard; Hedda Bruce, one of the judges and Danil Nevsky one of the mentors to hear more about SIP Supernova from their unique perspectives.

Follow SIP at join-sip.com
Find out more about SIP Supernova here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 attitude, the brand was born with a greater mission – to create a movement for making non-drinking aspirational.

In just 5 years Free AF has built a global following for its alcohol-free cocktails – as well as being the No.1 non-alcoholic ready-to-drink brand in New Zealand, it’s one of the fastest growing non-alc RTD’s in the USA, has been endorsed by Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner and is listed in Morrison in the UK. What’s all the fuss about? That's what we’re speaking to her about in this episode.

For more information on Free AF, visit af-drinks.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Bar. And rather than interviewing them, they've flipped the script and asked us the questions. Oh, and we get a turn behind that famous trolley and get to make them a Martini!

With very special thanks to:

Agostino Perrone, Director of Mixology at The Connaught
Giorgio Bargiani, Assistant Director of Mixology at The Connaught
The Connaught Bar team

Produced by Laura Grassulini

For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.com

Tune in to episode one featuring Agostino Perrone, Giorgio Bargiani and Maura Millia, here

The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' Watson
Edited by Christian Fox
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 York.

Botanicals are also front and centre of Danny Childs inspiring book 'Slow Drinks', while top-notch music (live and vinyl) and no-nonsense classic cocktails are at the core of the deliciously low key, high value Bird’s in New York.

And we’re thrilled to welcome Denny Kallivoka and Dimitris Alpanezos, the bright minds behind Vision, a pioneering, much needed platform they’ve created to make hospitality spaces more inclusive for people who are blind or partially sighted.

For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.com

For the products featured in this episode, see websites below:

What we're drinking:

The Truly British Hanky Panky

40ml Cygnet 22 Dry Welsh Gin
40ml Asterley Bros Sweet Vermouth
7ml Asterley Bros Britannica London Fernet
Orange coin to garnish

Method:
Chill Martini glasses. Stir ingredients over ice. Pour into the chilled Martini glass and garnish with an orange coin.

Atheras Spirits
Birds NYC
Harp of Darkness Black Irish Whiskey
Slow Drinks – A field guide to foraging and fermenting seasonal sodas, botanical cocktails, homemade wines and more, by Danny Childs
Vision by Metron Ariston

Listen to the original episode featuring the Hanky Panky recipe here

The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' Watson
Edited by Christian Fox
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.