Door: Daniël Meis Op 9 november aanstaande gaat Händels ‘Jephtha’ bij de Nationale Opera in première. Wat ons betreft een niet te missen duister stuk vol prachtige koorpartijen en duetten dat bovendien één van de mooiste aria’s bevat die Händel ooit heeft geschreven. Händel componeerde ‘Jephtha’, zijn laatste oratorium, in de eerste maanden van 1751. Het jaa… Read more
For 2 weeks only, this ultra-small pop-up bar will be at a secret location in Amsterdam. To give you a hint: look for this door with the Tanqueray logo at the Amstel. Behind the door is a long alley that leads to a small old chapel that normally functions as a b&b, but now, for just 2 weeks, as a pop-up bar by Tanqueray Gin. It’s the perfect way to start your evening with frien… Read more
Taste of Amsterdam has firmly established itself in the ever-expanding list of festivals as the leading event for food and lifestyle. In the last years the number of alcohol brands has expanded enormously and, as you can understand, this is what makes it all the more interesting to me. This year the presence was even greater, with wine, whisky and wodka and everything in between to enjoy f… Read more
Since the hotelbar in Amsterdam has sprung to life in the past years, there is no better place to visit than one of these little havens of luxury and comfort. Cocktails are a safe bet, with many internationally renowned bartenders shaking things up for you. So, where to go this weekend? Your first stop is the Vodka Vriday at the lush Bluespoon Bar at the Andaz Hotel, which has been designed by… Read more
James Bond famously promoted vodka in his films in the 1960s with the iconic Vesper Martini. In the book Casino Royale (1953) he specifies “Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodla, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?” This has been the drink of choice for Mr Bond ever since, eve… Read more
The Diplomático World Tournament has become one of the larger bartender competitions around with 28 countries participating this year. The finals are in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, where the battle takes place for a whopping $ 10,000 grande prize for the winner. In 2013 it was actually a bartender from Venezuela who got the highest marks from the jury, so who will take that crown from h… Read more
Since Bombay Sapphire initiated the Return of the Gin in the late 80’s, many, many new gins have been launched. Especially the launch of Hendrick’s Gin in the late 90s marked the area of the new style gins, and also the more expensive (or, to speak in marketing terms, Super Premium brands). This all has lead to a shift in brand perception: good old Gordon’s was considere… Read more
Typical is not a word that describes Brugal Rum. It’s a bit of an all or nothing rum actually, that is distinctly different from many other brands that surround the home island of Brugal: the Dominican Republic. Last Monday was the introduction for Amsterdam since Brugal has not been on the Dutch market for such a long time. And what a way to do so: one of Holland’s leading desig… Read more
In a summer filled with activations to promote their new brand message “Crusading for Le Charme“, yesterday’s boatride was a picture perfect setting to indulge a few lucky ones in French hospitality. Our two charming hosts made sure we were welcomed with the Grand Ginger, a mix they have been promoting for the past few years. With the release of last year’s lim… Read more
What could possibly be better then combining great food with one of the best spirits Mother Earth has given us: Mezcales. The kind people looking after Tequila Ocho, Don Julio Tequila and, Del Maguey Mezcal and Ilegal Mezcal in Holland decided do organize an event with exactly those ingredients. Combined with friends of course. One thing about this is truly remarkable: these are 4 compe… Read more