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BEER + CIDER NEWS
BARS + DRINK
THE FIRST RULE OF BREW CLUB…
Keen home brewers have a new place to
learn how to make beer thanks to Brew
Club in east London. It provides the
opportunity to hire brew stations, order
ingredients and book a place on a beer
course. Complete novices can go for
the All Grain Beginner's Class (£100),
where a course in making IPA, bitter or
stout results in 40 bottles of your own
creation to take home. brewclub.uk.com
FIRST�CLASS FLIGHTS
If our article on Japanese drinks in London (p.108) inspires
you, head to Sexy Fish, where the bar team has launched a
collection of Japanese whisky flights. If you're just dipping
a toe, order the First Sip flight (£21), which features
four samples, including no-age-statement whiskies from
Yamazaki, Hakushu and Nikka. Those with deep pockets
and a keen interest in the category should go for While
it Lasts (£175), a flight of rare whiskies from Hanyu and
Karuizawa - two closed Japanese distilleries. Sexy Fish,
Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, W1J 6BR
A ripe old age
�ere's been much launched for the Queen's
90th, but this pair of 1986 Hine Cognacs, aged
in different places, takes some beating. EarlyLanded
went to Wickwar, near Bristol, while
the second stayed in Jarnac, the home of Hine.
Bernard Hine tell us that "the Jarnac-matured
Cognac has notes of white peach and hints of
spice" while Early-Landed has "floral aromas" and
"hints of cedar wood and mountain honey." Hine
1986 Jarnac-matured, £535, Fortnum & Mason;
Hine 1986 Early-Landed, £355, masterofmalt.com
ON THE SCENT
Trip around the world without leaving London, thanks to seven
new cocktails at The Donovan Bar at Brown's Hotel. Customers
smell cards that represent each continent, before their chosen
drink is mixed up in eyecatching
glassware. We
loved the floral Asia -
gin, cherry bitters, violet
liqueur and oolong tea
syrup. Brown's Hotel,
33 Albermarle Street,
W1S 4BP
GO DUTCH
An Amsterdam company is reviving an old
local brewing tradition of using botanicals in
beer. Lowlander Beer has created three brews
using the method, including a White Ale
made with curaçao orange, elderflower and
camomile and an IPA brewed with coriander
and white tea. From £2.64, masterofmalt.com
TIDDLY POMME
How's this for smart cider? Or
should we say 'cidre'? Sassy, made in
Normandy, comes in three flavours:
original, pear and rosé. Made with
100 per cent pure juice, it comes in
smaller single-serve bottles and largeformat
sharing ones too.
£3 for 330ml, £7 for 750ml;