Cocktails — Writing — Joe Patrick Rogers

LONDON'S BEST NEW COCKTAILS

“Put down the shaker, screw the cap back on the Campari, stop trying to figure out how to make those big clear ice cubes in your little home freezer; it’s time to give cocktail duties back to the professionals. After a tough year-or-so for the industry it’s basically the duty of every self-respecting cocktailian to head out and support our favourite spots by getting a few rounds in. Just as well then, that London’s bartenders are offering new menus, honed over months of lockdown, and filed with new drinks to get acquainted with. These are some of the best new cocktails on offer in the capital right now. Cheers.”

See the full list at the Spectator.

Bars, cocktails, London, Restaurants, spirits, WineJoe RogersJune 7, 2021London, Lockdown, Cocktails

HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT MARGARITA

“One popular origin story has a Texan socialite coming up with the Margarita during a jolly south of the border in the late ‘40s but that’s about as believable as her showing up in Acapulco and inventing guacamole. In reality, prototypical Margaritas were being mixed up by bartenders around Mexico as early as the 1930s. The drink's adaptability and sheer brilliance has seen it remain popular through nine decades of changing tastes.”

Read the full article at the Spectator.

cocktails, spiritsJoe RogersFebruary 19, 2021Margarita, Cocktails, Tequila

WHAT TO DRINK ON BURNS NIGHT

“The Burns Supper is not so much a dinner as it is a celebration of Scotland’s great contributions to poetry, distilling, and sausage making. Even though this year’s celebrations are set to be smaller scale than usual, the 25th of January still represents an opportunity to defy the winter gloom and raise a few glasses of guid auld Scotch drink. A dram or two, taken neat or with water, is traditional for toasting – but this is by no means the only way to enjoy your whisky on Burns night.”

Read on at The Spectator.

cocktails, whiskyJoe RogersJanuary 22, 2021Whisky, Cocktails, Burns Night, Scotch, Robert Burns

FIVE NEW YEAR COCKTAILS TO MAKE AT HOME

“A dry gin Martini in everything but garnish, this variation on the classic comes with a pickled onion or two. The Gibson had a bit of a moment this year after featuring in The Queen’s Gambit, but it’s been around forever. Hemingway favoured them during his Florida years – when he wasn’t favouring a Scotch and soda, Daiquiri, or Bloody Mary – and would keep onions in the freezer to make his Gibsons extra icy.”

Read the full article at Spectator Life

cocktailsJoe RogersDecember 29, 2020Cocktails, new years

HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT MOJITO

“The origin myth of the Mojito often credits Sir Francis Drake, the famous privateer and ruff enthusiast, with its invention. The story finds Drake on Cuba in 1586, absolutely knackered from plundering and at the command of an increasingly sickly and overheated crew. As a way to improve morale, get some fruit and greenery down everyone, and generally blow off steam Drake supposedly mixed lime and mint with some Spanish aguardente and in doing so invented the prototype for the modern mojito.”

Read the full article at Spectator Life

cocktails, spiritsJoe RogersAugust 28, 2020Cocktails, rum, mojito

THE BEST GINS TO BUY FOR FATHER'S DAY

‘Britain drank over £2.6 billion worth of gin in 2019 and while official figures don’t tell us how much of that was your dad it was probably a fair whack. It wouldn’t be Father’s Day without a bottle of gin for the old man so here’s six of the best to choose from.’

spirits, cocktailsJoe RogersJune 11, 2020Gin, Cocktails