Thames Valley Area
Online entries deadine for the De Kuyper Cocktail competition is
Friday 27th June 2008
Cocktail liqueurs
Finalists will be selected to go to Holland for the UK heat of the De Kuyper Cup at De Kuyper Works!
Winner of this heat plus 5 colleagues to attend the De Kuyper Cup final in Holland
UK heats in Rotterdam, Holland: July 2008
De Kuyper Cup Final, Holland: September 2008
Grand Prize: Trip for two to the Caribbean!
For more details of how to enter, visit www.in-the-spirit.co.uk
Tynley Hall 27th May 2008
The next meeting will be held at midday at Tynley Hall Hotel, in Rotherwick, Hook, North of Basingstoke on the M3, where our host will be Marcus Bosh.
Our sponsor for the day will be First Drinks, who will sponsor a cocktail competition using Hendricks Gin as a base ingredient,. The competition is based on pre-dinner cocktail. There will be some great prizes: 1st prize is £150 and a Martini kit.
Standard UKBG rules will comply.
Also on the day there will be a tasting and a presentation of the new type of BALVENIE MALT WHISKEY, as well as Hendricks Gin and other brands in the First Drinks range
Please come along and support us, event is also open to non-members
SUMMER HOLIDAY
We looking at the area of Cognac France, to visit the various Cognac houses, vineyards and French Vodka, Date will be Sunday the 14th September and come back on the Thursday late (18th), cost will be £300 for a member and £325 for non members, to book your place contact Armand Fasola at the Chesterfield Hotel London, or see him at the next meeting above, where more details will be announced. There will be max of 20 people; a deposit will be needed to secure your place.
email cunderwood@southlodgehotel.co.uk
The Thames Valley UKBG Visit to Scotland 2007
Day One
The day started at the SLTN show in Edinburgh watching Master Magicians Peter Dorelli and Salvatore Calabrese in action during their cocktail Masterclass sessions.
From Edinburgh we made the long trip to Craigellachie in the heart of Speyside, with the help of Paul Friel of First Drinks. The mastermind of malt whisky, Regis Lamaitre, chairmen of the Scottish UKBG, started a late tasting session and we all saw our first “Gold Cock”.
Day Two
The first distilleries on the agenda were Glenfiddich, which is the producer of the largest selling malt whisky in the world, and Balvenie, located in Dufftown. Even though these distilleries are located next door to each other, each chooses to use different spring water. At the Balvenie distillery, they use their own malting floors and shovel the barley by hand—the term “Monkey Shoulder” came from this activity. Here the manufacturing involves adding peat to the malting process.
At Glenfiddich the manufacturing process involves the use of different types of stills, whereas Balvenie only use the Swan neck style. We were lucky to be shown the cellars at close quarters, and role they take in the whisky process was explained to the tour.
After lunch we drove to the next glen, to Glenrothes a small malt whisky label, yet it has the fifth largest distillery in Scotland. However, only two percent of the distillery is used in malt production. It was explained to us that the different styles and sizes of barrels can effect the malt whisky; we also had a close look at the spirit safes where the heart is separated from the heads and the tails. A most enjoyable little tasting followed the tour.
A brief break then on to the Craigellachie Hotel for the Macallen Amber Cocktail Competition, the first one in the country, Amber is a new whisky liqueur, with notes of maple and hints of pecan nut.
Salvatore Dominao, winner of the country's first Macallen Amber
Cocktail Competition with Regis Lamaitre, Chairman of the Scottish
area UKBGThe winner of the competition was Salvatore Damiano (above) of Carey’s Manor in the New Forest. His winning cocktail, Vanilla Cask, was made with the following ingredients:
- 35ml Macallan Amber whisky liqueur
- 10ml Cointeau
- 15ml lychee juice
- Shake all ingredients and serve in a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with caramelized ginger and a vanilla pod.
The runner-up was Davide Trupia with his cocktail, Manor’s Delice.
After the competition a visit to the renowned Quake Bar which is renown for its 700 malt whiskies on its shelves. This session was followed by a gourmet dinner at the Craigellachie Hotel, with entertainment from local Scottish artist Robin Laing.
Day Three
From Craigellachie, we left for Crieff, which is south of the Cairngorm Mountains. We were headed for the Famous Grouse distillery, where the different styles of Scotch were explained, as well as how blends are made. A long tasting session of blends that make up Famous Grouse was endured by all! After all, this is the biggest selling Scotch in Scotland.
November 2006 - The UKBG Thames Valley & South West Area trip to Jerez, Spain, to learn all about sherry.
Read about the trip and see the photos »
Thames Valley UKBG Awards Lunch November 2006
Firstly, a big thank-you to all members, sponsors and friends who came along to our biggest day of the year. The Chain of Office was passed to Chris Underwood from the former chairman Armand Fasola. Armand has been the driving force of the Thames Valley since its creation in1998. He made it the most successful area in the country and will remain a member of the committee as an ambassador for the UKBG. Charlie Martin is the new treasurer. We would like to thank Ron for his hard work in translating Armand’s faxes.
2006 Award Winners are:
Thames Valley UKBG Bartender of the Year
Salvatore Domino of Carey’s Manor (above)Thames Valley UKBG Brand Supporter of the Year
Davidoff, represented by Ron BaldwinsonThe Thames Valley Outstanding Achievement 2007
The award has been renamed due to the recipient’s outstanding achievement and friendship over the years. It is now The Armand Fasola Award. The first winner was Armand!
Would like to thank The Management and Staff of The Grand Hotel Eastbourne
for hosting this year awards. The staff gave excellent service to us all.
Thanks to the sponsors, Cellar Trends, Davidoff, Welco Snacks, French Cqo, Vedrenne Liqueurs, J & B, Pago Fruit Juices and Hildon Mineral Water.
