Drinks News
The future is pink
A Ruby Tuesday is the order of the day at new bar-restaurant Townhouse in London's Knighsbridge. The cocktail, a riotous shade of pink, is the brainchild of Townhouse co-owner Douglas Ankrah, one half of the award-winning duo who opened the funky Lab bar on Old Compton Street. Ankrah and his partner Richard Hargroves report that more than 80% of all drinks sales at Townhouse are cocktails. But then they do know a thing or two about mixing them. Lab is short for the London Academy of Bartenders, and training is the name of the game here.
Set over three floors in leafy Beauchamp Place, the Townhouse, staffed by 13, offers more than 100 cocktails, most of which are Ankrah's own recipes. Take the Ruby Tuesday (£8), currently topping sales - it's made with Cristall Cranberry vodka, Mandarin Napolean, Licor 43, passion fruit and cranberry juice. Another best seller is the Date Bourbon Sour, with date-infused Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Angostura bitters, lemon juice and caster sugars. When not downing cocktails, punters will choose from the extensive line-up of spirits on the back bar, or from the short list of wines, supplied by Coe Vintners.
And the good news is Townhouse is open to all. "Everybody is welcome here," says Ankrah, winner of Mixologist of the Year 2001 and countless other accolades, and who also reveals that they have opened a Lab in Cape Town.
Virgin coupling
Virgin Wines and Matthew Clark have announced a multi-million-pound supply partnership. The deal results in on-trade giant Matthew Clark providing Virgin Wines - Europe's largest independent online wine retailer - with a sourcing, shipping and primary logistics capability.
Better late than never
Spanish wine pioneer Miguel Torres has launched a new late-harvest Riesling from his Chilean outpost. The fruit comes from 25-year-old vines from a single vineyard in the San Francisco sub-region in Curicó. Harvest took place in May 2000 and only grapes affected by botrytis were used. After fermentation, the wine spent nine months in new French oak barrels. Expect orange blossoms on the nose, with a creamy, honeyed, spicy finish. It costs about £8.99 (retail) for a 37.5cl bottle. For information contact John E Fells on 01442 870900.
Roussillon revealed
Mug up on Roussillon in the South of France with the first wine book solely dedicated to the region. Written by Jonathan Healey, The Wines of Rousillon 2002 was published with the help of the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon, and skips through more than 50 châteaux and domains and 20 caves co-operatives, including some history and blurb on the wines, plus travel information (Editions Trabucaire, £9.99).
