

A Martini with ChatGPT
A few different occurrences prompted me to sit down with some artificial intelligence and enjoy a strong drink with some questioning. One of those occurrences was a new play, currently sold out in a number of venues around Scotland. Spin! is written and directed by Catriona MacLeod. It’s a dark satire examining the blurring lines between human existence and artificial intelligence and it’s touring the … Continue reading A Martini with ChatGPT

A Microwave Popcorn Bowl
The Joseph Joseph M Cuisine Popcorn Making Bowl is a surprisingly effective tool for your martini-making repertoire. Continue reading A Microwave Popcorn Bowl

A Western Isles Martini in Tobermory
A martini in the Western Isles Hotel in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. Continue reading A Western Isles Martini in Tobermory

A simple olive trick for colder martinis
An easy hack to making your martinis stay colder for longer using frozen olives. Continue reading A simple olive trick for colder martinis

Bubbling Crispy Cheese Wafers
Easy to make, small, crunchy and tasty cheese wafers that you can serve as an appetiser or even a garnish with your martini. Continue reading Bubbling Crispy Cheese Wafers

Control Room B at Battersea Power Station
A review of the cocktail bar Control Room B in the newly renovated Battersea Power Station. Continue reading Control Room B at Battersea Power Station

A Martini with Catriona MacLeod
This is a martini interview with Catriona MacLeod. I have wanted to have this conversation for a while now, and I was not disappointed. I also have to say that during our chat, Catriona gave me a rendition of Billie Holliday whilst I enjoyed my second martini. What an absolute privilege. What has been the highpoint of your day so far? I decided to wake … Continue reading A Martini with Catriona MacLeod

The Fujian Martini – made with Lapsang Souchong
This is a really easy martini to make. You infuse gin or vodka with Lapsang Souchong tea and use this to create a martini in the same way as a classic. This is another of the “mar-tea-nis” (martinis made with gin/vodka infused with tea) and is my joint favourite alongside an Earl Grey Martini. It’s also pretty simple to put together. Lapsang Souchong is my … Continue reading The Fujian Martini – made with Lapsang Souchong

How to rapidly chill your gin, vodka or other bottles
I keep my gin in the freezer permanently, so I’m always ready to mix up a frosty, cold classic martini. Nonetheless, we can all get caught short occasionally. If you’ve only got an hour or two to try and cool down your gin from room temperature to sub-zero (centigrade) here’s a tip that can at least help speed up the freezing process. First, get two … Continue reading How to rapidly chill your gin, vodka or other bottles

Lithuania’s Femme Fatale and Instant Martini Classic
Whilst casually watching Eurovision 2022, I couldn’t help notice that the overall quality of performances has increased significantly in recent years. However, one performance in particular caught me completely off guard. I can’t stop thinking about Lithuania’s Monika Liu. When introducing her, Graham Norton almost took it upon himself to warn us that this act was going to be “very retro” as if that might … Continue reading Lithuania’s Femme Fatale and Instant Martini Classic