Pimms

Kraken Rum

Now that jugs of Pimms, white wine spritzers and lazy afternoons spent in beer gardens drinking just-pulled pints are but a distant, sun-drenched memory, now is the time to be indulging in winter-appropriate tipples. And while we're not yet ready to be sipping eggnog and mulled wine, the gang at The Amazing Blog has stumbled across the perfect tipple to see us through winter.

Named after a mythical sea beast, The Kraken is a spiced Caribbean rum aged and enriched with exotic spices including cinnamon, ginger and clove. Distilled in Trinidad and Tobego from sweet molasses, the ageing takes place over a two-year period in ex-bourbon whiskey barrels and is blended with an exotic combination of 14 spices, giving it a smooth and sultry taste.

Unlike many rums which have a sharp bite and a burn that lingers long after it's swallowed, Kraken Black Spiced Rum has a rich, caramel-like flavour with a gentle after-taste. Certainly none of the willing volunteers here at The Amazing Blog had cause for complain after drinking a generous serving on the rocks. Perfect on it's own, or mixed with coke for a great alternative to vodka, the rather lovely peeps who have spearheaded a successful campaign making The Kraken the fastest growing rum-brand in the USA have provided us with this rather lovely recipe (to be enjoyed in moderation!):

The Perfect Storm:

Mix together 50ml Kraken Black Spiced Rum with 25ml freshly squeezed lime juice, 5ml sugar syrup and 2 dashes Angostura Bitters.

Top up with ginger beer, serve over ice in a highball glass and garnish with two squeezed lime wedges.

Kraken Rum is available to buy from leading retailers including Waitrose, Asda, Tesco, Selfridges, Majestic Wine and Sainsbury's. Cheers!

 

The Big Rooftop Tea & Golf Party at Selfridges

Well folks, it's a Friday, the sun is out and home time is drawing near so chances are you're pretty damn excited about the impending weekend, particularly given the fact that the temperature is supposed to reach highs of a whopping 29c. And while many Londoners will be revelling in the heatwave, heading for the abundance of parks we have on offer or hopping on a train for some seaside action, we at The Amazing Blog got a suggestion for anyone that wants to try something a bit different.

 

The Big Rooftop Tea & Golf Party at everyone's favourite department store, Selfridges, has been around since the end of May, but never has there been a better time to indulge in a bit of crazy golf. The most famous roof on Oxford Street has been transformed by Bompass and Parr into the destination of the summer, offering its visitors a round of crazy golf like no other. Part of the Big British Bang Campaign that Selfridges launched to celebrate all things British in the year of the Diamond Jubilee and the home-hosted Olympics, The Big Rooftop Tea & Golf Party certainly celebrate two British favourite past-times - a round of golf and a nice cup of tea!

And the award-winning Daylesford Organic Cafe is also on hand serving the highest tea in London, perfect for when you need a thirst-quenching tipple or two. Also on their menu is an array of delicious, organic food, all of which is sourced from their farm and is served within a playful picnic setting. Or, for the more mature, there's the option of winding down in the evening with a glass of Pimms as the sun sets over London's famous skyline.

The perfect antidote

Give summer a kick-start and get yourself along to one of Après Summer ‘Garden Parties’. Every Sunday till the end of the summer will see them firing up the barbie on the garden terrace. While the DJ cranks up the tunes, sip on jugs of Pimms to soothe a hangover and slip on some sunnies to catch some rays (ever hopeful!). Not quite your tea and croquet kind of garden party, but we think it sounds like a most enjoyable way to while away an afternoon.

The party starts from 3pm on each Sunday hereafter at Apres. End of the weekend blues? We think we have the perfect antidote...a Sunday session at an Apres Summer Garden Party.