Rory Sorrell

WORLD CLASS GB 26 SANPO ALBA Johnnie Walker Black Label - Ponzu - Blossom Honey - Yuzu SANPO (散歩): A relaxed walk to clear one’s mind and focus on the present. ALBA: Scotland. SANPO ALBA: A walk through the four corners of Scotland guided by the iconic flavours of Washoku. From the rich layers of Johnnie Walker Black Label to the surreal soundscapes of DJ Krush, the art of blending transcends borders.  Innovators in all art forms have sampled existing images, sounds and flavours, deconstructing and reassembling them to create something new.  In whisky, it's blending.  In art, it's collage.  And in music, it's sampling.  Three artforms.  One idea. Krush is a master of sampling, regularly composing on the spot for live audiences. "It's like being a painter," he says. "The records and samples are like a palette. The key is how I can express the image into music."  With a career spanning three decades, he smashed the invisible wall between Japan and the outside world to becoming one of the most successful Japanese artists worldwide, reshaping the future of hip hop and electronic music. Washoku blends five key seasonings: sugar, salt, vinegar, soy sauce, and miso to create a range of diverse, yet unmistakably Japanese flavours.  One such flavour blends Pons (a citrussy Dutch punch) with soy sauce, vinegar and kombu to create a new, distinctly Japanese ingredient: Ponzu.  Paired with Black Label, Okinawa sugar highlights the creamy toffee of Clynelish, fragrant yuzu releases the floral aroma of Glenkinchie, apple vinegar sharpens the orchard fruits of Cardhu, and smoky, umami-rich soy sauce and kombu ignite the beach-bonfire of Caol Ila. Together, they form the rhythm section of my drink, accompanied by the rich harmony of honey and the sharp tang of yuzu. Shout out to the ever wonderful @boeveyphotography for an awesome photo inspired by the art of blending. @worldclassgreatbritain

Find someone who looks at you like @martini_rozza looks at our new Sherry Cobbler – with the tantalising combination of surprise, gentle concern and arousal. 

 Sherry Cobbler
 Summery - Refreshing - Delicate Manzanilla Pedro Ximenez
 Umeshu Orange Blossom
 Amaro Blend

An endlessly easy lover from the new menu to kick off your week: Bird of Paradise Fizz Fruity - Alluring - Uncomplicated. RCE @58andco Gin Wild raspberry Vermouth blend Citrus Egg white @schweppes soda

🚨NEW MENU COMING SOON - WATCH THIS SPACE 🚨 ‘Oh yeah?’ You say... OHHH YEAAAAH! Here’s a wee taster of what’s to come. 🎥 by @boeveyphotography

Slightly late to this one, but I wanna give a huge shout out to the MeisterHunter family! @laurie_mixes @ifonlypeoplecouldbepigeons @mileykshreds @t0by.p3ters it was a pleasure competing - and just generally spending time - with all of you. You're all weapons (including Joe and Eden who I wasn't able to tag). Big thank you to the whole team at @crucibleldn for letting us use your space, helping us out wherever you could - and supplying enough edible glitter to make a life-size Elton John cake. And an especially big thank you to @florianbeuren , @ninaeggeling and the @jagermeister team for making it all happen! As well as @bar_emotion , @emmilei and more who I can't find, but will tag you if I do! Big love to all of you making this happen!!!

What can I say? @worldclassgreatbritain has been a journey. Massive thanks to the whole world class team, too many to tag but you've made the last few days so memorable, and the support throughout has been unreal. Also a massive shout-out to the @royalcocktailexchange team for putting up with the mountain of props, terracotta pots and milk punches that have been getting in your way for the last three weeks. You're all heros. So proud to make the top 10 out of some truly special people, and it's only made me more hungry to work and compete with all of you again... See you next year? 👀 📸 Shout-out to @samboevey for the awesome drink pics, and to @mattsmithysmith for the live-action shot. You guys are magicians. 🍸 The Bev's: Hero's Journey: @johnniewalker Black Label 🔸 Malagouzia 🔸 Quince 🔸 Jasmine 🔸 Yogurt Whey 🔸 Bubbles Stone Blue: @johnniewalker Blue Label 🔹 Lacto-Cherry Vermouth 🔹 Red Dulse 🔹 Mastiha

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a pasty-faced bartender crawling out of a two-year Instagram blackout with a tasty bev for ya'll. That's right, it's time for World Class GB 2024. And I have a story to share about Speyside Stinger: SPEYSIDE STINGER The Singleton 12🔹Mint Chocolate🔹Cinnamon🔹Szechuan Pepper Float like a butterfly, sting like a highly trained military assassin. I like a drink that tells a story. Narrative and themes help me organise flavours into a concept I can understand and communicate. The Speyside Stinger is no different, named after 'Stinger,' a former Gurkha-turned-assassin who fled London after failing to kill James Bond. He now resides in Dufftown, laying low and living out his days drinking The Singleton with creme de menthe. At the Royal Cocktail Exchange, we like to delve into the origins of classic cocktails, find their essence, and subvert or reinforce them to create an extraordinary drinking experience. Want a drink that feels like a punch from your grandma? The classic Stinger is for you. Want the mouth-numbing experience of taking a spinning back fist from a Gurkha? Look no further than the Speyside Stinger. The menthol in the creme de menthe gives the classic its nip. But with the added eugenol from the cinnamon and hydroxy-alpha sanshool from the Szechuan peppercorn, it's a 10-8 round for your tastebuds. The best way to showcase a flavour is by pairing it with its opposite. Freshly squeezed lemon on fried fish, vinegary barbeque sauce on brisket, and now, the stewed fruit and nuts of The Singleton contrasted with bright mint chocolate. The pair are bridged by spicy cinnamon and livened by zesty, floral Szechuan peppercorn. I've minimally diluted the drink to ensure as much stone fruit and nuttiness remains, as diluting The Singleton releases brighter notes - and takes the sting out! #worldclassgb2024

Don't tell Captain Jack Sparrow, but we know where the rum went.

@rhum_saintjames Ti Punch and a @rhum_saintjames Pina Colada by the sea. #welcometomartinique#11amvibez

To many, January marks a fresh start after saying ‘fuck it, it’s Christmas’ to every mulled wine, mince pie and candy cane December threw at you. But as the weather gets colder and the lockdowns get longer, I’m postponing any dry or vegan thoughts ‘til I’ve had enough booze and butter to keep me warm through winter. Luckily, I think this’ll do it: Buttered Rum, Ginger Toffee, Milk Oolong Tea. #nationalhottoddyday #hottoddy #hottoddytime #rum #booze #cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram

Neither pineapple nor grenadine; Must make its way inside the tin; If yellow, red and orange are seen; You throw that garbage in the bin. Happy National Mai Tai Day, folks! These were the words spoken by Victor J. Bergeron at his California based establishment: Trader Vic’s, on this very day in 1944. Just kidding. But seriously, if ever you receive a mai tai that looks like a tequila sunrise, feel free to recite them as you exit the bar calmly, but quickly. If, however, you receive something that looks like it belongs to a Spanish grandma, you’ve accidentally walked into one of my famously underwhelming dinner parties. But don’t worry, there’s rum. Presenting the Mai Tai de Santiago—a riff on the classic tarta de Santiago using ground almonds, orange, lemon and Jamaican rum—served with rum-coconut ice cream, and rum! #maitai #nationalmaitaiday #rum #cake #tartadesantiago #baking #booze

“Glance at the vermouth bottle briefly while pouring the juniper distillate freely.” Winston Churchill gave this peculiar instruction when ordering a martini, and it’s far from the strangest I’ve heard. Any bartender will tell you there are many ways to enjoy this drink. Wet or dry, gin or vodka, olive, onion or twist—there is no wrong way to order a martini. Except shaken. Though not a cultured martini drinker like so many of you out there, I too have a preference. And here it is: 40ml London Dry or Plymouth Gin 40ml Dry Vermouth 1 dash Regan’s Orange Bitters no. 6 #martinicocktail #nationalmartiniday2020 #nationalmartiniday #gin #bartender