Rum for the Sun: There’s nothing like a Hurricane, Daiquiri or a Mojito on a hot summer’s day. Thankfully, cashing in some much-needed jollity, London has been blessed with sunlight over the last week and a half, so it is only fitting to write about the common ingredient in all these cocktails – rum. I […]
Mai Tai Cocktail with Navy Island Rum
The Mai Tai – a classic rum cocktail Popular in the 1950s, the Mai Tai is a classic rum cocktail made with orgeat (a kind of sweet almond syrup), Orange Curacao and lime juice. Victor J. Bergeron claimed to have invented the Mai Tai in 1944 at his restaurant, Trader Vic’s, in Oakland, California. Intended to […]
White Rum Cocktail – Daiquiri – Classic Cocktails
Daiquiri with White Rum, Lime and Sugar – a Simple Classic. What makes a cocktail classic? Most of the classic cocktails I’ve learnt to make are really simple with just a few, easy to find ingredients. The Daiquiri, a white rum cocktail with just three ingredients is a great example. Simple cocktails though, really work […]
Buttered Rum Cocktail with Chairman’s Reserve Rum
Buttered Rum Cocktail – the perfect winter warmer. There’s something counterintuitive about a buttered rum cocktail…until you try it. Perhaps it is that for most of us rum is a summer drink – something we associate with Caribbean sunshine? I love those wonderful Caribbean rum cocktails – every island has its own rums and every […]
Flor de Cana Rum and Good Together by Mr Lyan – Review
A Smashing Little Devil of a Rum Cocktail with Flor de Cana: I’m a big fan of the cocktail maestro and bar impresario and Ryan Chetiyawardana (he calls himself Mr Lyan). His Tom Dixon designed bar Dandelyan in the Mondrian Hotel on the South Bank is ranked at number one in the World’s 50 Best […]
WSET – Level 1 Award in Spirits
Never too old to learn? Inspired by my 90-year-old father, who has re-started art classes, I jumped at the invitation to undertake the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 1 Award in Spirits course. I love experimenting when making cocktails, but I know that my knowledge about some of the spirits I use […]
Aluna Coconut Rum – Mocha Espresso Martini
Mocha Espresso Martini with Aluna Coconut Rum. I love a good cocktail. My perfect tipple is full of flavour with a good alcoholic ‘kick’ but with a clean finish and no nasty aftertaste. And not too sweet. To achieve all that, it’s vital to start with good base ingredients – and Aluna coconut rum is an […]
Cottons Restaurant and Rum Shack, Vauxhall
Rum, Reggae and Rice’n Peas at Cottons: The Cottons group of Caribbean restaurants have been bringing tropical tastes to Londoners north of the river since 1985. But with the opening of Cottons Caribbean Restaurant & Rum Shack at St Georges Wharf in Vauxhall, South Londoners can now join in the fun too. Situated right on the riverside, Cottons […]
Chocolate and Rum Roast Banana Muffins
Chocolate banana muffins with rum. My excuse, which I’m sticking to, is that I was sent a new and rather smart muffin tin from George Wilkinson to review. So, of course, I needed to make muffins. And, since the point was to test whether or not the bakeware was genuinely non-stick, I needed to make […]