Guests enjoying cocktails and fragrances at Les Senteurs. Image courstesy of Russian Standard Vodka
We’re no experts but we do appreciate that there are striking similiarites between the making of a cocktail and the creation of a perfume. That’s why we teamed up with James Craven at Les Senteurs to talk Scent & Seduction at Les Senteurs. Here are the recipes for the cocktails we chose to illustrate ‘Fresh & Flirty’, ‘Temptress’ and ‘Naughty’ moods in fragrance for Valentine’s Day….
My Martini for two at Brown's
Valentine’s Day is supposed to be all about sharing your love, right? So why not literally get into the spirit of things with a sharing cocktail at one of our favourite bars?
A bottle of Manhattan for 2 (or 4) at Hawksmoor
If dark spirits are more your thing, try the delicious Bottle of Manhattan for two (£17.50) on the menu at Hawksmoor. The warming blend of bourbon, vermouth, Maraschino, Angostura Bitters and a dash of absinthe is served on an antique tray with cubes of ice, long swirls of orange peel and scrummy house-infused cherries.
Donovan Bar, Brown’s Hotel, Albemarle Street, W1S 4BP. T: 020 7493 6020. roccofortehotels.com
Hawksmoor, 10 Basinghall Street, EC2V 5BQ. T: 020 7397 8120; 11 Langley Street, WC2H 9JH. T: 020 7420 9390. thehawksmoor.co.uk
The Courtship Clinic from Hendrick's, 20 February
We won’t even waste your time with boring dinner for twos, here’s our pick of where to take your cocktail lover for a tipple or two before, on and after Valentine’s Day…
Our man Dickens
Join us as we raise our glasses to Charles Dickens, arguably the finest author in British history. Sure Shakespeare set the stage alight with his tales of love, war and mistaken identity yadiyadiya but Mr D gets our vote for putting Victorian London on the map. ‘Oliver Twist’, ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’, not to mention ‘Great Expectations’ and ‘A Tale of Two Citites’ – without his gritty observations we’d be devoid of at least half of the BBC’s costume dramas.
.
Valentines schmalentines. Forget schmaltzy roses and bland dinner for twos and join us for an evening of scent and out-and-out seduction instead…
The Cocktail Lovers: Official lowdown on World Class UK