UKBG NEWS United Kingdom Bartenders Guild , London Area & Southern Area Newsletter October, November, December 2013

London Cocktail Week: Langley’s 8 at The Met Bar with “Connie”!

To celebrate London Cocktail Week, Fabio Immovilli, Head Bartender at the Met Bar in Park Lane & UKBG Vice Chairman

(London Area) has created this superb serve kindly sponsored by Langley ’s 8 Gin... The gentlemen Gin!

Fabio, what is it Connie?

Connie is a journey between 3 Classic Cocktails :Langley's 8 Gin Fizz, Langley's 8

Gin Tonic and Langley's 8 Gin Martini;

Is a Cocktail with three different textures and Connie’s journey starts from

liquid Langley's 8 gin fizz (with Canada dry instead of Soda), a solid

(Jelly) Langley's 8 Gin Tonic with lemon peel, and of course the trait-d’union will

be a vaporized Langley's 8 Gin Martini.

So... Please feel free to Sip...Bite… and Sniff...

Where is coming from the inspiration for Connie?

The Inspiration is coming from my passion for gin and for me the Langley's 8 is a very good one. Not to mention that the same

distillery is distilling my second favourite. The making of Connie is been developed around the 8 Botanicals :Juniper berries ,

Sweet Orange peel, lemon peel, coriander seed, cassia barks, nutmeg, and the last two (They say) are secret so, following this "

langl-ish mist"...I'm not going to tell you the full recipe...

Does the name Connie has a meaning?

Well, of course. At the beginning of the middle

age.......no I'm mocking you.....

The Langley's 8 gin is distilled in

Birmingham in a small copper pot steel

named "Connie" after the master

distiller's late mother, Constance. And

the alembic was made in the 1960 by

John Dore and Co.

The LCW has been a great success in

the Met Bar and I never seen so many

LCW serve sold in one week, and by the

way even if the Langley's 8 was saying

that it is a "Gentleman's Gin"… the

majority of my clientele asking for

Connie was Female.

In This Issue

Connie at LCW

Cognac Road Trip

Competitions

It’s almost

Christmas!!!

Our Contacts

Cognac, discover our Journey!

Cognac! Let the journey begin… Day 1… Hine & Martell

Just outside the airport in Bordeaux we had a coach waiting for us which took us to the hotel, get ready very quick

and… let’s go...

First STOP: Hine!

Even Allaire, Hine Brand Ambassador welcomed us

with a great explanation of the history of their brand

and the tradition passed from generation to

generation;

a marvellous tour in their cellar explaining step by step

their making process, starting from the terror to their

aging standards.

We completed our tour in a beautiful room with red

carpet and with four different cognacs to taste from

the basic cognac they make great for cocktail making

to the XO ending with a bottle labelled 1975! What an harmony of flavours in our palate!!!

Martell Château

Our tour started from their boutique thorough their cel-

lars, where a very detailed explanation along with videos

and reconstructions of the original house and distillery

leaving the feeling of the Martell’s employees hundreds

years ago!!! Well… this was like going back in time!

It was a very fascinating story just at the end of our tour

we met Mr Thierry Giraud Brand Development Manager.

He took us to their marvellous Château where he

hosted a

fantastic

aperitif and dinner followed by a nice brake in the lounge with a good

selection of cigars and beautiful Cognac!.

The surprises' weren't finished as Mr. Giraud wanted to show their new

cellar…

at the end of this marvellous ‘n dark cellar we spot a table with a beam

light and….a Bottle of Martell Canteloupe Perspective was waiting for

us… just incredible Cognac! But the surprises weren’t finish as on day

2 we found a bottle of Martell XO in our room! Thank you Martell fairies!!!

...Day 2… ABEK6 & Ferrand

As a first thing we had to deal with the beautiful

cognac still swimming in our brains, and god..

I never missed a Full English Breakfast and a

Bloody Mary in my life like I did that morning!!! But

we couldn’t wait for the next Château so happy

enough with our French breakfast and we hit the

road again towards

Cognac ABK6/ Leyrat!

The tour started from the very first must know

step: the Terroir, followed by the explanation

of the types of grape and ...because we were

very curious we can shout out loud we try the

product in all is process by picking and tasting

the grapes from the vineyard, the distillation, and the aging process.

Just before lunch Elodie Abecassis welcome us in their boutique and along with the cellar Master guide us in a

fantastic taste of their new ABK6 ICE Cognac, and their VS and VSOP & XO Leyrat Cognac.

Unfortunately just after lunch we had to make our way to the hotel, well we had such a great time that leave wasn ’t

really part of our wishes to leave but we had to run to the hotel and get ready for the next stop!

Château Bonbonnet

We faced a big challenge to find our way… Matthieu Gouze, Export Manager &

Spirit Educator for the Cognac Ferrand company likely has been very patient

and waited for us at their distillery!

Matthieu made our tour very interesting… starting

from the history of their Château to the terroir, a

quick walk in their vineyard followed by an

explanation of all the steps and products extracted

from the distillation process… very interesting and beautiful to see, we could smell the

heads, the heart and the tails and of course a taste of their cognac from the Premier Cru

de Cognac From Gran Champagne and inside a dump cellar we had the honour to taste

three other fine Cognac!

But hey Surprises were not over… they are not only producing great Cognac… they also do some other great

products such us Citadelle Gin and Plantation Rum from all around Caribbean, for more info check it out with instil!

Mathueu Gouze went through a exhausted explanation of their process and I must say… he has been very patient to

answer to all our question… we are sure that Mathieu understand that we believe only when we see and we touch

with our hands… hem palate I would say… In fact… without thinking twice, he jump on top of the barrel and pour a

sample in our glass…

Just to remark this unforgettable evening we had a fantastic aperitif, followed by a superb dinner and how avoid a

great cigar with our digestive! … Well… the products and the hospitality… were just amazing!!!

...Day 3...Vicard Cooperage, Mekouw & Baron Otard!

Vicard cooperage!

The day started just in a perfect way… I personally feel we realize a common

dream of all the bartender and sommelier (or most of it!) How they make the

barrels? How it is possible from a tree we get

such an aromatized wood? We know books tell

a lot but not enough!

Well, we witness this fantastic art work, from the

very beginning the Limousin Oak logs to the

toasting and all the steps to the end...packaging!

Must say, Vicard employees are not just

workers, are artist!!!

A very big thank you to all the employees and their patience to work surrounded by

very curios bartenders and for all the explanations given, .

Witness the whole process has been just amazing… touch with hand that precious

wood responsible for outstanding flavours is not happening everyday, and for sure

is not easy to forget! Thank you to Vicard’s Marketing Manager Pierre Marchaise for hosting this great tour!

Château Meukow

Our next stop was. After a warm welcome we where taken for a

fantastic tour in their museum, first stop was a very dark room were a

presentation video was shown, we continue walking in their corridor, we

sat in wooden steps in front of their 50 years old eaux de vie barrels...

A marvellous video was displayed in their barrels, their leopard took us

for a journey of the seasonal process... just impressive!

After showing us their range of products, explaining the difference and

the importance of the Cognac, we discovered the story behind the

bottles, all of them has a meaning the most impressive was the bottle of

their Meukow XO, white glass (just below the crystal glass) with their

symbol the Leopard in gold painted by hand… each bottle a unique

piece of art… so beautiful!!!

Around lunch time we have been directed to their restaurant, where just

before our lunch was served we were kindly invited to prepare our

aperitif, few ingredients, bar tools and ice were provided…

Let the bartenders play!

It was a very funny experience, mainly we could play with some fantastic products that unfortunately are not in the

UK market… a unique experience I would say…

But surprises were not finished there, in fact after the fantastic lunch we had the local press “Le Charente Libre”

came to visit us, an interview with Armand Fasola took place and it was great pleasure the next day to see our group

picture in their paper! …. This is just one of the few reasons that make you feel proud to be part of the huge and

lovely “UKBG Family!”

Baron Otard Castle

Very busy day? Yes it was, but hey, is not easy to describe the great feeling when you walk in a such a beautiful

place!!!

Our tour started right inside the castle , while telling the story of the castle and it ’s kings, princess etc.. We have

been shown all the royal lounge, with the unremarkable signs of when it used to be a prison.

We continue our tour under the castle, where probably an area was designated for their horses and while we kept

on walking we saw a door with a sign with “Paradis” written on it.

In very small groups we cross the door and

yeah.. We were in a real paradise!!! The most

humid cellar in cognac where eau de vie were

stored from the early 1800 to today… yes, it

was very dirty and of course humid down

there… but is just amazing what our eyes

witness!

Our tour continue in their “museum” where all

the very old bottles were displayed and all the

publicity posters were hanging from the walls!

It really make you feel you are leaving in a

time gone by!!!

Just before dinner we had a tasting of their

products, and after we were invited to go in

their beautiful (and dark!) balcony outside,

were an aperitif and canapés were offered

and very unusual but great our dinner was served with a Cognac and food pairing!!! All of us were awarded with a

certificate of “Guest of honour” and a bottle of Otard XO Cognac. Another unforgettable experience!!!

...Day 4… Château Delamain,L’Yeuse Chateau & Remy Martain

Château Delamain

Charles Braasted General Director welcomed us in his estate, our first stop of

the day.

Still morning and a lot of Cognac still in our

blood! It looked like he knew our feelings, so

the day started very smooth!

After introduced him self and their fantastic

family run business (one of the few in Cognac

unfortunately!), along with the cellar master he explain all the steps they follow in

order to achieve such a gold for their bottles, and for each stage there was

something to smell and feel the aging difference up to their fantastic range of

cognac!

The very last step was really impressive… the packaging… wow everything hand

made! It was very impressive to see how such a great product, still keep strong the

family tradition, and prefer handy work rather than rely on modern machines!

Another beautiful experience to add to our memories!

L’Yeuse Château

A tasty meal was served, courtesy of the BNIC, Hosted by Laurine Caute, the lady responsible to this fantastic

journey!!! Beautiful venue and another great meal to add to our kilos taken in these days! Just before the lunch was

served a raffle took place, and each one of us took home some more gifts!!!

Not even the time to get our coffee and we realized that we had to make a move as Remy Martin was waiting for us

just before our flight.

Remy Martin

Another warm welcome from Alexandre Quintin Remy Martin Global Ambassador. Just be-

fore to start rules has been made clear, No smoke, no pics!... Soon as we enter inside the

premises we understand why they are so strict… their gold nectar, needs rest without light

and without blowing up!

Another great explanation of

their method of production.

The tour carry on till the Louis

XIII house….

It is hard to explain the feeling when you walk right

down this cellar, where the aromas surround you…

something powerful and delightful especially if you

get a chance to smell from Louis XIII’s barrel as well!

We know it’s hard to leave when you fell in love so

much… but some food and Cognac pairing was

waiting for us just before our flight!

The end!

France open their doors with a sunny day and made sure we would not miss the English rain… however at the

Airport the big guy up there mange to make us

forgive the naughty weather with a fantastic

rainbow!!! But yes we had a price to pay for that…

one hour delay for our flight! Nightmare!!!

It was an incredible experience, we were a fantastic

group of 16 people, all of us with the same passion

and commitment.

We manage to build up a great friendship, and even

if we had a very busy time (and we were a bit tired)

this trip it was very enjoyable!

A huge thank you to Laurine Caute and the BNIC for

supporting the UKBG on making this happen,

Thank you to Mr Armand Fasola, Peter Rogers, Mike Sweetman and the UKBG Committee for the hard work on

organizing this trip!

But we must don’t forget the high standard hospitality we had from each Château, each one have been very patient

to cope with our curiosity questions and requests, but not only this… as each one of them give us a little present to

take at home and drink when we miss some good Cognac!

Louis XIII

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Here is the last Competition of the

year, along with a open day to all!!!

Biggest bar event in Bournemouth for

2013 in association with Bar So ,

1812 and Bournemouth Bartenders

League.

Check the Rules in our website,

many sponsor a lot of products to

play with Appleton Estate VX ; Rus-

sian Standard Vodka ,Chivas Regal 18 yo, Langley’s Gin Number 8,Remy Mar-

tin vsop, Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Jim Bean Red Stag ...

You just have to mix in your own original drink with “a local or regional prod-

uct” (spirit, soft drink, dairy product ,jams, honey, seasonal fruit ,nut, no home-

made ingredients) or “a special ingredient from your bar” you can also compli-

ment your drink using the following Brands ingredients: Frobishers Juices

(cranberry ,grapefruit; pear; brambleberry ,mango) Fever Tree (Sicilian

Lemonade and Ginger Ale) ASPALL Chevallier Cuvee; Mum Champagne, Jim-

my Iced Coffee, Oro di Milano Doppio malto, O’hara’s Leanne Follain, Kingdom

Beer Don’t miss it… See you there the 21st November!!!

It’s gonna be great fun!!!

Mike Sweet-

man Judging

at the Luxardo

cocktail com-

petition at the

Boutique Bar

Show!

Another memorable event organized by Su-Lin Ong

Coco Real Competition!!! Amaro Averna Competition!!!

Auchentoshan Switch Competi-

tion!!!

Great achieve for our barman

Matteo Corsalini, That manage to

be classified to the finals In the

European Challenge!!!

Well Done!!!

For more info check our web site www.ukbartendersguild.co.uk !!!

Young Bartender of the Year Competition

Do you want to know

more?

Visit our web site at

www.ukbartendersguild.co.uk

Or e-mail

Michael Sweetman, London Area

Chairman

m.sweetman2@ntlworld.com

Chris underwood, Southern Area

Chairman

cunder1999@gmail.com

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Shout it loud!!!

UKBG Committee

Christmas it’s just behind the corner…

We know Christmas it’s one of the busiest time of the year,

and our bartenders are all very busy…

but hey!!! after so much effort at work and with the guild, our

bartenders deserve a little break down.

In order not to put too much pressure on our members we

decided to take time for a brake, do not organize any

competition for this busy period… but….

Be in touch!

Our bartenders deserve some Christmas wishes…!