Last month 30 bartenders gathered in Manchester for a rum blending session lead by James Triffo from Banks Rum and Mal Evans the Mojo head honcho. After an educational talk on the blending process everyone in the room was given a selection of rums from across the Caribbean and allowed to blend their own.

Since then the blends have been resting  up to allow the flavours to blend together, tomorrow (Tuesday 8th May)they will be unveiled to allow the amateur blenders the chance to try their creations.

James and Mal will be joined by Banks Master Blender Arnaud de Trabuc who has flown over specifically to try the blends. Who better to judge the results than the man behind Banks Rum and I am sure he’ll be pleasantly surprised by the results (especially mine!).

The tasting session will be taking place on Tuesday 8th May at 7pm at Mojo Bar Manchester (19 Back Bridge Street, M3 2PB). Banks are inviting all of those who attended the session to come down and try their blends and have a chat with Arnaud.

If you didn’t manage to make it to the session you are more than welcome to come along for some complimentary Banks cocktails and cheer on the rum blending greatness (they have also promised a few surprises along the way – perhaps Triffo will be doing his Elephant impression again).

We look forward to hearing how the blends all worked out.

For more details e-mail James at james@spiritcartel.com or give him a bell on 0779 1275 419.

…including the opportunity to try some brand new products to hit the UK bar market. BarLifeUK has picked a few to whet your appetite for what’s in store:

ish Gin – The Poshmakers – Stand number 21

It's a bottle-ish....

A new London Dry Gin to hit the shelves, ish Gin is sticking close to its roots with the twist being an extra shot of juniper.

Hand crafted in small batches in the heart of London and made from all British grain, ish Gin is distilled in a traditional pot still at Thames Distillers by Master Distiller Charles Maxwell whose family boast the longest history of gin making in the UK.

Using the highest quality grain spirit, ish is infused with the taste and aromas of its eleven selected botanicals – juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, almond, orris root, nutmeg, cinnamon, cassia, liquorice, lemon peel and orange peel.

It is refreshing to see a new gin launched into the market without any ‘experimental’ or ‘unusual’ botanicals to catch the headlines, just that extra shot of juniper, which is after all what gin is all about.

Old Grog Rum – Windward Trading – Stand number 16

Old Grog Rum

For the first time at any show in the UK Old Grog Rum will be available for you lucky people to try.

From the distillery at Clarke’s Court on Grenada which has been producing fine rums for many years comes Old Grog Rum. This rum has a great history behind it and maintains Grenada’s tradition of producing some of the finest blend rums.

Not only will Old Grog be available but the newly released #37 will also be there. We know you love rum so pop by and say hello and try these two great products.

Rigg’s Shrub – Eager Drinks – Stand number 37

Rigg's Shrub available at the show

The Shrub category has been reinvigorated of late and here is your chance to try Rigg’s Shrub – an alcoholic Shrub cordial.

The history of the Shrub is interwoven with that of rum and as such it is no surprise that this category is back in favour. Whilst most shrubs are either non-alcoholic or low in alcohol the history of shrubs finds that they were often much higher in alcohol and it is this historical version that Rigg’s brings you.

With a background in producing high quality fruit juices Rigg’s have the expertise to make a fantastic product and you will no doubt see us on their stand trying it out ourselves.

Wooden Hand Brewery – CASK Liquid Marketing – Stand number 2

A great looking range

After all those spirits you might be in need of a refreshing beer and CASK are here to help you out with their Wooden Hand beers.

The Wooden Hand Brewery is based down in Truro in Cornwall and brew cask conditioned beers. There are six beers in the range – Pirates Gold, Cornish Buccaneer, Black Pearl, Cornish Mutiny, Cornish Gribben and Cornish Steam Lager.

We are particularly looking forward to the Pirates Gold and Cornish Steam Lager however it looks like there is something in the range to suit you no matter what your mood.

There are obviously many more fantastic products to try at the Boutique Bar Show but hopefully this snapshot will give you a little taste. If you haven’t already registered to attend simply jump on the website we will see you there or for more info on the show go here.

Erik and Daniel with a bottle of 1930 Bacardi rum

(a full report of this interview will follow) and they showed us a bottle of Bacardi from 1930 that sits in pride of place on the back bar.

They will be bringing such a bottle to the Boutique Bar Show on Tuesday 20^th for their seminar, The American Bar – The Savoy Through the Ages.

During the seminar they will make a classic Daiquiri with this 1930 Bacardi, and if you are there, you will be able to taste it. I don’t know about you, but this is not to be missed.

Seminar details:

11.45 – 13.00 The American Bar – The Savoy through the Ages – Main Stage

Recently reopened to fantastic acclaim, join the Savoy Team headed by Daniel Baernreuther for a insight into the world famous American Bars development from it’s beginnings in 1905 with the first and only female head bartender Ada Coleman to the modern day with award winning Head Bartender Erik Lorincz.

Going through the archives recreating some classic drinks produced at The Savoy through the ages including a one off opportunity to try a Daiquiri made with a 1930′s bottle of Bacardi, your only opportunity to try a Daiquiri made as Harry Craddock would of enjoyed.

Register for the Boutique Bar Show here.

Andrew Campana on his way to providing BarLifeUK with a memorable hangover.

The London Boutique Bar Show is looming large, so it’s time to tell you about some of the seminars taking place in the theatre. One that jumped straight out of us was the DNA of Cocktails session by Andrew Campana and Kevin Armstrong.

BarLifeUK recently spent an evening with Andrew at his Clapham bar, Loft. Much to the annoyance of his bar team, Andrew ensconced us behind the bar on a busy Friday night and ran us through some of the liqueurs he has made on site. They were quite exceptional, he knows his stuff through and through. Spirit production methods and history are a specialty of his, and so the DNA of Cocktails session is bound to be enlightening.

You can register for a Boutique Bar Show ticket by clicking here.

Session details:

Leading industry drinks maker Andrew Campana (Owner, The Loft Lounge, Plan B) and Kevin Armstrong (Theme Bartender of the Year, Soulshakers) will be breaking down the DNA of the Cocktail. Taking a scientific approach the talk will cover the effects of sweet, sours, bitters, barrel ageing, flavour combinations and flavour profiles over time.

From Bar tender to Bar Owner: Wed 21st 09.00 – 11.30

Have you dreamed of owning your own bar one day?  Be your own boss and watch the money come rolling in? All this may well happen but it pays to go in well prepared and aware of some of the potential pitfalls, problems and opportunities associated with opening a venue.

This business seminar gives aspiring bar owners the opportunity to learn from operators who’ve taken the leap and are now running successful venues. Benefit from their shared experiences and advice with this excellent and invaluable presentation.

With a leading panel of experts including Richard Wynne (Callooh Callay), Rhys Oldfield (BE@1) and Sam Surl (Rising Star Leisure) the seminar will cover the following key areas:

• Concept Development
• Site Selection
• Licensing and Legalities
• Project Managing your Opening
• Recruitment and Training
• Running a profitable business

Book your place now

To apply for a place to email andrew@boutiquebarshow.com using bartender to bar owner in the subject line.

With immediate effect, BarLifeUK will provide media support to the 2011 London and Edinburgh Boutique Bar Shows by regularly informing readers of show developments, session and seminar details and also which great boutique brands they can expect to find at the shows.

Post event, BarLifeUK will provide editorial coverage of each show by profiling brands, interviewing visitors and reporting on demonstration bar and theatre sessions, providing greatly increased exposure for exhibiting brands.

This will also allow visitors to recap the knowledge gained at the show, as well as being a valuable resource for anyone unable to attend.

In 2012, BarLifeUK will expand their involvement and begin curating the demonstration bars and theatres at all three shows.

Boutique Bar Show founder, Andrew Scutts, says of the partnership: “It is fantastic to have BarLifeUK as a media partner. They have the same demographic focus as The Boutique Bar Show and it will give my show and my exhibitors greater exposure – the two businesses complement each other very well.”

BarLifeUK editor, Andy Ives, adds: “This is a great partnership because both Boutique Bar Show and BarLifeUK are bartender-focused. Bringing people together to learn about new techniques and brands is the heart of a strong bartending industry. The UK does this exceptionally well, which is why we have the best bartenders in the world working here.”

Click here to attend the Boutique Bar Show