Drinks News

Are You Being Served? Great Service Explained

From a warm greeting to recommending perfect wines and anticipating your every need, waiting staff play a huge part in making your restaurant visit memorable. Chris Losh finds out what it takes to deliver great service

Towards a Fluid State

Towards a Fluid State is an ambitious, unconventional tasting event taking place on 5 December in a warehouse in Dalston. Working with a number of cutting edge drink and food producers, the team behind The Tasting Sessions is embarking on this larger-scale event with characteristic style.

Courvoisier's 'I don't know' cocktail

The ‘I don’t know’ cocktail is Courvoisier’s answer to the often-daunting amount of choice we’re presented with when ordering at a cocktail bar. Courvoisier Exclusif has been specifically created with cocktails in mind. This makes it the perfect choice for those indecisive moments. And to ensure that you get a chance to test this theory out, when you order an Exclusif ‘I don’t know’ you’ll get a second complimentary one.

Champagne Lanson at Corney & Barrow

Leading Champagne house Lanson is celebrating its 250th anniversary next year, so what better time to launch a brand new aged cuvée? Designed to recreate the styles of Champagne that were being enjoyed in the 19th century, Champagne Lanson Extra Age Brut is made from 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay grown in grand and premier cru vineyards.

Drinks News

The latest spirits and beer news and launches compiled by Clinton Cawood

Celebrate Wimbledon with Champagne Lanson

Tennis fans rejoice: Wimbledon kicks off on Monday. As the tournament’s official Champagne sponsor, Lanson is celebrating by joining forces with Corney & Barrow to offer you the chance to get in on the action – even if you haven’t got a ticket to one of the matches. Simply pop into any one of Corney & Barrow’s nine City wine bars and order a glass of refreshing Champagne Lanson Rosé Brut NV, and you’ll be entered into a competition to win a range of prizes including a holiday to Champagne. Plus, if you visit the Broadgate Arena or Newstreet Square branches, you’ll be able to enjoy your glass of rosé fizz alfresco on the terrace, while watching the day’s play at Wimbledon live on plasma screens. With its summery aromas of redcurrant, raspberry and forest fruits leading to an elegant palate with more raspberry notes, the Rosé Brut NV has the characteristic Lanson crispness, which makes it an ideal aperitif for sunny days. The promotion runs for the duration of Wimbledon (22 June - 5 July).

Russian cocktails at the Tate

The Tate Modern’s level 7 bar has created three Russian-inspired cocktails to accompany its current exhibition: Rodchenko & Popova: Defining Constructivism. The drinks, a Raspberry & Lychee Martini, Redcurrant & Elderflower Sour and Apple & Cinnamon Martini, will be available until the exhibition ends on 12 May.

Red Nose Red & White

Make sure you’ve got the right wine to match your red nose this year. For the first time, there is a limited edition range of Red Nose wines to celebrate the day, and contribute to Comic Relief while you’re at it. The range, which consists of a red and a white wine, has been created by Saam Mountain Vineyards in Paarl, South Africa, with labels featuring a Damien Hirst red nose. The wines cost £4.99 each, at least £1 of which will go to Comic Relief, a charity that benefits disadvantaged people in both the UK and in Africa.

Rosé Champagne for Valentine's Day

There’s no shortage of choice when it comes to gift-packaged rosé Champagne for Valentine’s Day. Dom Pérignon has just launched a Love gift box for its vintage rosé 1998. The pack includes a pair of striking Champagne flutes created by Swiss artist Sylvie Fleurie.

Moet Atelier Bespoke Boutique

Atelier Moet is a pop-up Champagne store where Christmas shoppers can get a bottle of Moet & Chandon personalised with Swarovski crystals. Opening Wednesday 3 December on 70 New Bond Street, artisans will be at work in the boutique applying the crystals to 75cl bottles, as well as larger formats (all the way up to 1,500cl nebuchadnezzars). The stores will also be opening in other selected cities around the world.

Bottles can be customised with a name, monogram or date, with a same-day or next-day service (£75 and £50 for 75cl bottles, respectively). Atelier Moet will be open until 28 December. More information is available at the Atelier Moet website.

Veuve Clicquot bar and boutique at Harrods

Veuve Clicquot has opened its first Champagne Bar and Boutique at Harrods in London. The brand’s entire range of cuvees is available at the bar. Visitors can select from Yellow Label, Veuve Cliquot Rose, Vintages, and La Grande Dame, all available by the glass or bottle. A range of Veuve Clicquot gifts can also be purchased at the bar, including some items exclusive to this outlet. Shoppers can choose between the bar area, with angular bar stools and a view of the international fashions available, or the more intimate lounge area. A selection of dishes from an a la carte menu is available. The bar and boutique is located on the first floor of Harrods.

The Perfect Match

We regularly pop a cork as a pre-prandial treat, but Champagne also makes a great partner for many foods. Champagne’s popularity as an aperitif is no accident: it perks up the palate and stimulates the appetite for the meal ahead. But it is a much more versatile accompaniment for food than it is generally given credit. Fiona Beckett provides some pointers..