Oliver Strekeisen, Simplon Bar Zurich

Established in the 1920s, the Simplon Bar ,in the heart of Zurich, delights its customers with beautiful hand crafted cocktails. In 1927 this location was the birthplace of the Swiss Barkeeper Union (SBU). Oliver Strekeisen is the Chief Barkeeper at the Simplon Bar. He combines a friendly approach with real attention to detail when preparing cocktails. We first met Oliver at the very well managed Swiss Cocktail Championship organised by the SBU in Lausanne in October where there were 4 Brockmans Gin entries. Sadly Oliver was too busy organising the event as an active member of the SBU to compete.


Oliver has developed the very delicious Brocklin cocktail prepared with Brockmans Gin, lemon and lime and maraschino served in a martini glass. It is totally delicious and a real credit to the bar. The recipe is as follows

3cl        Brockman's Gin

2cl        Maraschino-Juice

1.5cl     Fresh lime juice

2cl        Citron Lemonade

Shake and double-strain in a cocktail glass, top with citron lemonade

Deko: Maraschino Cocktail-Cherry.

The next time you are in Zurich, say hi to Oliver at Simplon Bar at Schützengasse 16 8001 Zürich (near the main station) and enjoy watching some great cocktails being made and try a Brocklin

Brockmans Harvest at the Bubble Room

Jamie Ward and Jonny Dobbin have come up with a great new cocktail at the Bubble Room  in Alderley Edge. The Bubble Room is a great place to enjoy a relaxed evening with great food and superb cocktails.

Smoothly distinctive and delicious - Brockmans Harvest 

37.5ml Brockmans

A dash of gomme syrup

A bar spoon of cinnamon

50ml orange juice

A small cube of fresh ginger (dice size).

Muddle slightly, then shake and strain

Serve with a good rocks glass with crushed ice & top with bitter lemon 

The Bubble Room
 47 London Rd, Alderley Edge, SK9 7JT

www.thebubbleroom.co.uk

Carringtons Fine Wines - a Great Range

With outlets in Didsbury and Chorlton,  Carringtons offers a wide selection of wines from high quality small producers, a full range of premium spirits and some very interesting beers and ciders. Matt  and Ross (pictured) can help guide you through the myriad of wonderful drinks on offer with their reassuringly clear level of knowledge. They also conduct several tastings so keep an eye out for in-store announcements or messages on their blog-www.carringtonsmanchester.blogspot.com.  They have had great interest in Brockmans and recently ran a tasting evening with Louis Smith. Matt says "Brockmans Gin is a great spirit and sells well , people really enjoy the taste ”.

Matt and Ross enjoy premier cru Chablis or the occasional weiss beer. When they get time off you may find them in Manchesters Northern Quarter at the Angel.

You can find Carringtons in the following places
Didsbury:    668 Wilmslow Rd, Manchester, M20 2DN
and
Chorlton:    322 Barlow Moor Road, Manchester, M21 8AY.  

Made in Camden – catering for crowds and locals alike

Situated within The Roundhouse, one of London’s most important centres for culture, Made in Camden undoubtedly succeeds in the difficult task of living up to the  iconic status of its location. Yet the bar and restaurant does not merely cater for the Roundhouse crowds. Made in Camden also has a distinctively local feel, drawing in a crowd of regulars.

The interior is modern and minimalistic without sacrificing comfort, matching head chef Josh Katz’s adventurous and delicious menu. At the sleek pewter-topped bar, customers can order from a range of locally sourced beers and carefully selected wines. 

It is, however, the ever-changing cocktail menu that provides the bar with its most alluring feature. Although the staff at Made in Camden are happy to serve the classics on request,we recommend trying one of the specially created cocktails, some of which incorporate the unique flavour of Brockmans Gin.

Click below to view our interview with bar manager Mattia.

James

The Bubble Room - cocktails and great food

A smart bar with a relaxed atmosphere, Bubble Room offers a bit of everything. In each of its three locations across the North West – in Alderley Edge and Bramall in Cheshire and Woolton in Liverpool – The Bubble Room manages to maintain a stylish yet friendly tone.

The Bubble Room is furnished elegantly, but always with comfort in mind. While in the daytime the bar is bright and lively, at night the dimming of the lights combined with the soft colours of the décor provide a uniquely atmospheric backdrop. The bar team at the Alderley Edge location are helpful and well-informed. They are also passionate about their work, creating a number of distinctive and delicious cocktails.

Emma, the bar manager in charge of the Bubble Room’s extensive cocktail menu, has seven years of experience in the trade. While she names the classic Brockmans Bramble as her favourite cocktail, it is her own Brockmans Summer Cup which has most recently been making an impression on the Bubble Room clientèle  Expertly made with the following ingredients, the cocktail is an ideal match for the bar’s relaxed atmosphere, especially as the weather is getting warmer.

Brockmans Gin, 

Strawberry, Cucumber, Orange, Lemon and Mint,

Pimms, ice

finished with Ginger Ale

Be sure to sample this and other excellent cocktails at The Bubble Room soon.­­­
www.thebubbleroom.co.uk

James

Corks Out – fine wines and premium spirits in the North West

Having picked up over 20 different industry accolades since its establishment in 2003, Corks Out has undoubtedly become one of the leading wine suppliers in the UK, aiming to “demystify” one of the nation’s favourite drinks.

While the focus remains on wine, the staff at Corks Out are also willing to communicate their expert knowledge on the store’s range of premium spirits. Certainly, Corks Out is no ordinary off-licence, as customers are also given the opportunity to sample the drink of their choice in an in-store bar area.

Kieran, the assistant manager at the Alderley Edge branch, who adores Pinot Noir and fine Cognac, has been in the business for 13 years. According to him, the best way to enjoy the unique flavour of the botanicals present in Brockmans Gin is in a simple tall glass, plenty of ice and topped up with a traditional lemonade.

To visit Kieran go to Corks Out at 73 London road, Alderley Edge, SK9 7DY. Other Corks Out stores can be found in Chester, Stockton Heath, Heswall and Timperley - find them on www.corksout.com.

James

Obsidian, Manchester - a hidden gem

It's always doubly rewarding to discover a new luxurious experience. Obsidian Restaurant & Bar at 24 Princess Street Manchester is one such gem.
It has a beautifully sumptuous feel without being intimidating. The offering is subtle. The décor tells you are somewhere special. The bar team, with Tom Lloyd heading it up, make you feel relaxed. They also offer some truly unique cocktail creations. Further this team are interested in what they are doing. At Obsidian you have no doubt that Tom and his team are engaged in their art. It is a real joy to watch.




Obsidian Restaurant and Bar has been open for 6 years. It is part of the Arora Hotel. The bar and restaurant were refurbished 2 years ago to allow for more space. The atmosphere is relaxed with a mix of cool and professional.





Most people have one thing in common. They are there to enjoy great drinks. The food is terrific too apparently, although we didn't have time for that.





Tom Lloyd, the bar manager, started as a bar back and worked is way up into bar management. You can tell that he enjoys what he does. One of his favourite cocktails at the moment is Brockback Mountain which is made up with the following ingredients and served in a martini glass.

Brockmans Gin,
Antica Formula Vermouth
Mozart Chocolate
Mandarin Napoleon

In keeping with the bar this is a luxuriously smooth taste.

The cocktail menu is both extensive and interesting so make sure you check out Obsidian soon.

Bob

Kronenhalle Bar - A 'must do' experience

Sometimes you come across a bar that has tradition, history, amazing decor, great drinks and a friendly and talented bar team. When you get all of that in abundance, it becomes a 'never to forget' experience.

I found myself in awe of all these things at the Kronenhalle Bar in Ramistrasse in Zurich last week. This a unique bar with exquisite mahogany panelling and marble top tables with legs designed by Diego Giacometti. Art by Picasso, Klee, Tinguely and Miro adorn the walls. The sheer majesty of the surroundings immediately tell you that you are in a special place. .

As you enter you feel like you have entered an expensive antiques shop, unnerved by the feeling that you might knock the odd piece of classic art over. After a while the ambience takes you over and you appreciate that this is a place where people have come to enjoy great drinks.

Then you meet the bar team, with Peter and Christian and their team creating wonderful drinks . Having expected reserved and stuffy tradition, you are greeted by an array of exciting cocktails served by a team that just look delighted to be working there.

Suddenly the art around the bar loses significance. The craft behind it becomes the focal point. Moreover, the decor misleads. This is not a place thats stuck in the past. This is a bar where professionalism and creativity work hand in hand. Peter Roth, a world renowned mixologist served us with a smile. He showed us a great repertoire of cocktails.

Finally we settled on one. 'Olio Nobile' as fine and logically named as it sounds. The name derives from the beautiful Tuscan olive oil that helps create it's delicious, smooth and refreshing taste. The dash of oil helps it go down easily, too easily. This wasnt quite spring or even summer when the drink would be even more appropriate. Even so we enjoyed a few. Our experience was complete except soon afterwards Peter Roth sent us his recipe. A true nobleman, offering a truly noble experience.

Olio Nobile:

4cl Brockmans Gin

1 Scoop Lemon Sorbet

1cl Olio Nobile 'Fruttato' Olive Oil

6cl Orange-Passion Fruit Juice

2 Tablespoons of Crushed Ice

Mix in blender.

Garnish with a Spring of Mint and a Green Olive

Enjoy!

Bob