How to Master Drinks PR with Alex Chatwin & Alex Irving

Have you tried to find Le Syndicat bar on Rue Faubourg Saint Denis? They don’t make it easy. Our guest today explains what’s going on behind all those posters and why it’s not to miss on your next trip to Paris.I think we need to toast to the father of Thibault Massina, the Creative Director at the one and only Le Syndicat bar in the 10th arrondissement in the City of Lights. Thanks to his introduction to wine’s merits at an early-ish age, Thibault has become the wine connoisseur he is today. He has brought all his know-how to his role at Le Syndicat, changing up what we think of as a wine cocktail. After this episode, you might be rethinking all you know about wine in cocktails and I don’t just mean vermouth.Our cocktail of the week is Appolin’Air. For those who might not know, Guillaume Apollinaire was one of the most famous French poets of the early 20th century - if Le Syndicat were around back then I am sure it would have been his local. I know he would have loved this cocktail, it’s hard not to.INGREDIENTS40ml Grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed 25ml Simple sugar syrup (1 sugar to 1 water)15ml Eau de vie de Framboise 30ml Sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley 10ml Egg whiteMETHODPut all ingredients in your blender with 3 big ice cubesPut ice cubes into a chilled lowball glass Fine strain into the glassAdd a grapefruit zest on the top of the foam. You’ll find this recipe, more cocktail recipes using wine - at least vermouth, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll also find most of the ingredients in our shop.Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/le-syndicat-with-thibault-massina-----Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to buymeacoffee.com/lushlife.Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! Produced by Simpler MediaFollow us on Twitter and InstagramGet great cocktail ideas on PinterestNew episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

6 Kesä 202235min

Our guest today fell into distilling after years of being a self-proclaimed Pinot chaser. What is it exactly that drew her over to the spirit world? Sarah Elsom, Master Distiller of the Cardrona Distillery on the South Island of New Zealand, knew she wanted to work in wine from the age of 16. That passion took her all over the world and back again.When she returned home, she was lucky enough to walk into the fledgling Cardrona Distillery, and she has never left. Cardrona has grown over the years to produce not only award-winning whisky but also vodka, gin, and liqueurs. Thanks to the miracles of modern science, I was able to chat with Sarah, who guides us through Cardrona’s approach to spirit making while she was in New Zealand and I was home in London!Here’s the Cardona Raspberry Cooler, perfect for the summer!INGREDIENTS40ml The Source Gin20ml Lemon 10ml Sugar 4 Raspberries Garnish: more raspberries and mint sprigMETHODGrab your highball glassDrop your raspberries and sugar into the glass and muddle them together until crushedAdd the gin and lemonStir wellAdd crushed iceGarnish with raspberries and a mint sprig You’ll find this recipe, more summery cocktails, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll also find all the ingredients in our shop.Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/cardrona-spirits-with-sarah-elsom-----Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to buymeacoffee.com/lushlife.Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! Produced by Simpler MediaFollow us on Twitter and InstagramGet great cocktail ideas on PinterestNew episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

30 Touko 202238min

What to do when your country bans alcohol sales during the height of covid, and you own a distillery? Create a non-alcoholic spirit, and then find the perfect partner to help you introduce it to the world.Danielle Schoeman used her distilling know-how to produce Mahala Botanical, then she sent it to Paul Scanlon to see what he thought. After years working for a drinks company, he was ready to bring one of his own to market. It was kismet, and they have not looked back.I was lucky enough to meet them both at the launch of Mahala in London a few weeks ago, and am delighted to have them here on Lush Life to let them tell you their story! Thanks so much to Danielle and Paul for not only introducing us to Mahala but also sponsoring the transcription for the hearing impaired! I know I’m thirsty after all that chat about cocktails…Which brings us right to our cocktail of the week!Here’s one of Paul’s favorite cocktails made with Mahala - the Mahala Mule:INGREDIENTS50ml Mahala Botanical150ml Ginger beer15ml Lime juiceLimesMETHODAdd the Mahala over ice in a Mule cup or rocks glassTop up with the ginger beerAdd the lime juiceStir gentlyGarnish with lime You’ll find this recipe, more non-alcoholic cocktails, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll also find all the ingredients in our shop.Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/mahala-with-danielle-schoeman-paul-scanlon-----Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to buymeacoffee.com/lushlife.Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! Produced by Simpler MediaFollow us on Twitter and InstagramGet great cocktail ideas on PinterestNew episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

16 Touko 202250min

I have a penchant for wild cats; one, in particular, go tigers! Now there is another cat begging for my attention, and I just can’t ignore it. Who could when these cats are distilling rum?On Lush Life today, sponsored by Louisiana Travel, I am thrilled to have Tait Martin, Ph.D., President & CEO of Wildcat Brothers Distillery who is with us to recount the story of how a cocktail made with their rum found its way to being THE official cocktail of the city of Lafayette, Louisiana and so much more.Lafayette is the heart and soul of Cajun culture, a party to be found every night filled with live Cajun and Zydeco music, authentic gumbo, and of course, cocktails. Have you ever been to Louisiana? I love it for its Creole and Cajun culture, Mardi Gras, and the beautiful city of New Orleans, but the Pelican State, offers so much more, including the amazing live music scene covering everything from Jazz to Swamp pop and Zydeco, a fascinating history combining diverse cultures, over 400 festivals a year and adventures including kayaking on the bayous and lakes, hiking in the many National and State Parks throughout the state or the newly launched Louisiana Civil Rights Trail. If you didn’t know already, it’s the home of the cocktail, and gumbo, jambalaya, Tabasco hot sauce, King Cake, and beignets! Louisiana offers a food and drink experience that is second to none. Meet craft distillers, brewers, and mixologists who are working with local traditions and making a name for themselves on the Louisiana Culinary Trails or Louisiana Libations Trail.Let the endless beauty of Louisiana feed your soul and inspire you. You can check out more by visiting www.louisianatravel.com.Now, let’s go to Tait, one of the Wildcats himself! Here’s one of my favorite cocktails made with Wildcat Brothers’ Noire rum, The Jungle Bird:INGREDIENTS1 ½ oz Noire Rum¾ oz Campari 1 ½ oz Pineapple juice½ oz Fresh lime juice½ oz Demerara syrup METHODAdd all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake. Double strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with pineapple leaves and a dehydrated pineapple slice (optional). You’ll find this recipe, more Louisiana cocktails, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll also find all the ingredients in our shop.Full Episode Details: https://alushlifemanual.com/wildcat-brothers-rum-with-tait-martin-----Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to buymeacoffee.com/lushlife.Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! Produced by Simpler MediaFollow us on Twitter and InstagramGet great cocktail ideas on PinterestNew episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

25 Huhti 202252min

If you already call yourself a cocktail fan, then I will take it for granted that my two guests are already known to you. If not, I am proud to introduce you to The Cocktail Lovers!Who are the Cocktail Lovers? Just the industry icons who launched the award-winning The Cocktail Lovers magazine 11 years ago. Individually they are Sandrae Lawrence and Gary Sharpen. They’ve been listed on the London Evening Standard’s The Progress 1000 of London’s Most Influential People, the Bar World Top 100 people in the drinks industry, and too many other lists to list here!They are also my friends, and finally, after ages of trying, we were able to schedule a moment to sit down and have a chat.Our cocktail of the week is the Gin Martini - now Gary likes his super dry, and Sandrae likes it less dry - so I leave the amount of vermouth up to you. This recipe is slightly on the wetter side.INGREDIENTS 2 1/2 oz gin1/2 ounce dry vermouthOptional: 1 dash orange bittersLemon TwistMETHODAdd the gin and vermouth to a mixing glass with the bitters if you wishFill with ice and stir until chilledStrain into a martini glassExpress the lemon over the cocktail and add to the drinkYou’ll find this recipe, more gin recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll find most of the ingredients in our shop.-----Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to buymeacoffee.com/lushlife.Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! Produced by Simpler MediaFollow us on Twitter and InstagramGet great cocktail ideas on PinterestNew episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

18 Huhti 202247min

The daffodils are out and as some of you may know from previous episodes that when the daffodils come out, I get behind the mic for a short chat.I need to thank all of you for being so patient with me. It’s been kind of a crazy year. In between traveling and covid and other life stuff, I know Lush Life has been a bit sporadic! I also want to thank all of you who have helped me by filling out the Lush Life 2022 survey. If you had no idea I even had a survey, I would really appreciate your checking it out and filling it out. You can find it at alushlifemanual.com/survey-2022!So far, it’s been really interesting to hear what y’all think and what more you want out of Lush Life, both on the podcast and on the blog.Thank you all who said it was good as it is, but we can always improve! Overall, so far, you've suggested more industry icon interviews, more international bar reviews and booze travel, more easy-to-follow drink recipes, more basics for home bars, and even more Susan. Someone even asked for free drinks - which, unfortunately, I cannot provide.I assure you I am on the case, and many of your requests will be answered in the next few weeks! I promise. Industry legends tick, more international bar reviews tick. More basics for home bars and even more Susan coming your way!I’ve been busy writing up what I call the Lush Guides - what to drink and where to drink in a destination. For London, I’ll be finishing up South Kensington, the City of London, and adding to my favorite hotel bars in London after visiting Mr. Lyan’s new bar, The Seed Library, in the brand new hotel One Hundred Shoreditch. Many others are coming as quickly as I can write them! Please don’t forget to head to alushlifemanual.com to find loads of easy to advanced cocktail recipes and everything you need to set up that home bar. Remember to check out the survey if you haven’t already filled it out, and you know you can always show your support by buying me a coffee at buymeacoffee.com/lushlife Well, that’s all from me.Now, did you think I would leave you without a cocktail of the week? Never!Since April 9 is Gin and Tonic day, I guess that is my cocktail of the week!Spring is upon us, and I thought I would go Pink and make it the Pink Gin and Tonic. There are so many pink gins, I leave it to you to choose, but I am going with Gordon’s as my Dad’s name was Gordon and his birthday is in April.INGREDIENTS 50 ml Gordon’s Pink Gin150 ml Fever-Tree TonicStrawberriesMETHODFill your glass with iceAdd the ginTop up with the tonicStir gentlyAdd strawberriesYou’ll find this recipe, more recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll find most of the ingredients in our shop.-----Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to buymeacoffee.com/lushlife.Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! Produced by Simpler...

4 Huhti 20224min

Hidden away under the Bloomberg Building in the City of London lies the remains of the Roman Temple of Mithras, which you can visit. So what does that have to do with drinking? Our guest today is definitely the one to answer that question! Francis Grew, one of the fantastic curators of the fabulous Museum of London, knows all about the Romans in London and more specifically what the Romans were drinking in London when it was known as Londinium. He’s our guest today on this episode sponsored by the City of London.Did you know the City of London is just one square mile and forms the oldest part of London and was founded by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago? And already back then, it was a major trading port with goods including wine coming from all over Europe – how little the change! It even has its own mayor, the Lord Mayor, and government and is run independently from London? The City has so many things to see and do, before and after work, from quirky independent cafes to internationally-renowned cultural institutions, world-class modern architecture to historic heritage sites. From high-end shopping to vintage stalls, from street food to Michelin-star restaurants, and of course, from small boozers to glitzy wine and cocktail bars, there is a little bit of everything for everyone.The City of London today is a vibrant part of London with its own unique atmosphere, culture, and history just waiting to be re-discovered, but let’s head back in time with Francis to when the Romans ruled the roost!The “Square Smile '' campaign is designed to raise awareness of the benefits of returning to the City of London and face-to-face interaction as firms increasingly give their staff more flexibility on where they locate through hybrid working. It showcases the City’s vibrant offerings – ranging from world-class culture, heritage, cuisine, entertainment, retail, architecture, BARS, and so much more. Visit www.squaresmile.london for great ideas of places to visit, to see, discover, and drink. Francis’s favorite cocktail is the Old fashioned, but we’re going to mirror the Romans. They brought wine to London from afar just like The City of London Distillery makes their Old Fashioned by using a Blackpool-born sweet mash and sweets that might be popular here but were created elsewhere first! Our cocktail of the week is the City of London Distillery’s Werther’s Original Bankhall Old Fashioned:INGREDIENTS 50 ml Bankhall Sweet Mash10 ml Werther’s Original Sugar Syrup1 dash Angostura BittersGarnish: Orange ZestMETHODAdd all the ingredients to a mixing glassAdd iceStir, stir, stirStrain into rocks glass with one gorgeous piece of iceGarnish with the orange zestTo make the Werther’s Original Syrup - you need 100 ml of water and 10 candies. Just add the water and candy to a pot and heat it over the stove. When the candies have melted, you have Werther’s Syrup! I don’t add extra sugar as I find it sweet enough, but you can always add more.You’ll find this recipe, more City of London Distillery recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll find most of the ingredients in our shop.-----Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to buymeacoffee.com/lushlife.Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs,...

28 Maalis 202250min

What is a work of art? That question is so subjective. Yet I truly believe that my two guests have made it possible for us to drink every cocktail we have at the St. Regis Venice in a work of art. My first guest is Facundo Gallegos, the Bar Manager at the St. Regis Venice. The second is Adriano Berengo, the President of Berengo Studio 1989 and Fondazione Berengo. On my way to Venice last year, I happened to ask the Bar Manager of the Berkeley Hotel in London what was the one bar I shouldn’t miss. Without taking a breath, he said the St. Regis Venice. What made it so special, I asked, and he said, Facundo Gallegos.Adriano Berengo, on the other hand, was introduced to me by a random encounter in a coffee shop in Cannaregio. I was lucky enough to meet this cultural entrepreneur who established Berengo Studio thirty years ago with the goal of restoring glass to its rightful place in the world of fine art. Just by chance, I discovered they had collaborated on a project for the new Arts Bar at the St. Regis Venice. So, of course, I had to interview both of them. We are super lucky that thanks to the generosity of Facundo we have the singular sensation that is the recipe for the Santa Maria, the St Regis Venice’s own take on the Bloody Mary as our cocktail of the week. It’s a doozy, but hats off to those who try:INGREDIENTS 125 ml I 4.2 oz Clarified Tomato Juice45 ml /1.5 oz Horseradish-Infused Absolut Elyx Vodka25 ml I 0.8 oz Verjus du Perigord3 drops Homemade Salt Solution3 drops Homemade Spicy Tincture100 gr Cayenne Pepper50 gr Black PepperPoli Grappa to spray on topMETHODThe Clarified Tomato Juice: Blend tomato juice with agar-agar. Let it rest for 1/2 hour and then strain to get the clarified juiceThe Horseradish-Infused Vodka: Infuse a bottle of vodka with 100 gr of fresh horseradish chunks for 2 hours and strainSalt Solution: Blend 1 teaspoon of sea salt into 100 ml/ 3.3 oz of still natural waterSpicy Tincture: Infuse 1 liter/ 33.8 oz of vodka with 100 gr of cayenne pepper and 50 gr of black pepper for 48 hours and strainAdd all ingredients to a shaker with ice and throw 4-5 times. Serve in a coupe glass with a crystal-clear chunk of iceYou’ll find this recipe, more Bloody Mary cocktail recipes, and all the cocktails of the week at alushlifemanual.com, where you’ll find all the ingredients in our shop.-----Become a supporter of A Lush Life Manual for as little as $5 - all you have to do is go to buymeacoffee.com/lushlife.Lush Life Merchandise is here - we’re talking t-shirts, mugs, iPhone covers, duvet covers, iPad covers, and more covers for everything! And more! Produced by Simpler MediaFollow us on Twitter and InstagramGet great cocktail ideas on PinterestNew episodes every Tuesday, usually!!

14 Maalis 202237min