Hazelnuts have been consumed by humans for thousands of years. I am currently on the Island of Mull in the Hebrides. On the nearby island of Colonsay evidence suggests that local residents were consuming large amounts of the nut in 7000BC. The Hebrides can often feel very far from civilisation so the fact that people living here enjoyed this tasty snack several millennia before … Continue reading Hazelnut snacks
“Which martini would you drink in the event of a zombie apocalypse?” Bear with me as I explain the link… I have mentioned before that I come from the Hebrides. I was therefore very keen to taste this gin, crafted on the island of Islay. In the event of some kind of apocalypse or worldwide catastrophe (zombies etc), I always thought that my … Continue reading The Botanist Gin
“Make me something that wakes me up and then f#*€s me up.” I’ve wanted to make this one for a long time but given its chemical stimulant potency I found myself putting it off until a suitable situation arose. The origin of most cocktails is blurry (a testament to their effectiveness) but it is believed that the espresso martini was created in a bar … Continue reading The Espresso Martini
This is a very simple variation on the classic martini. The only thing I have changed is the garnish. Marsh Samphire is one of my favourite foods. Harvested in the summer months from coastal rocky areas it is comparable to asparagus, but with a saltier and less pungent aftertaste. It’s very simple to prepare but it’s fleshy, crunchy freshness makes for a lovely … Continue reading A Martini with Samphire
I’ve previously mentioned my penchant for Plymouth Gin which I find smooth and strong on juniper, but tanqueray is another favourite. There has definitely been a bit of a backlash (not a unanimous one though) against some of the more florally extravagant brands of gin to emerge over recent years. I would feel inclined to agree as I like gin to taste of juniper and … Continue reading Tanqueray in a martini
What do you drink after you’ve consumed two martinis? You don’t want to break the Two Martini Rule. Here is a selection of spirits that you can drink without adding a mixer. Smokey, velvety Mezcal from Oaxaca, Mexico. ¡Salud! Kirchwasser, cherry schnapps from Germany. Prost! Deep, dark, rich, herbal and smoky, this is Balsams from Latvia. Priekā! Some schnapps from Sweden. Skål! And finally my … Continue reading Some other spirits
It’s Christmas time and last night I decided to have a non-martini drink. I’ve previously mentioned my liking for akvavit for midsommar, but I also like it during the winter (to keep warm). I put some miniature bottles of akvavit (from Ikea) in the freezer for a day, then served them in heavy glasses and a single spherical ice cube. I like all the different … Continue reading Swedish akvavit
