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Julian de Féral
As Scotch whisky reinvents itself, Japan struggles to keep up with demand and the American whiskey scene is like a joyous Spaghetti Western–with strangers and unexpected heroes taking pot shots at the Sheriffs, breaking all the rules and generally having a rootin’ tootin’ time–‘whisky vision’ is suddenly less myopic. Somewhat less restrained than the Scots…
If you read about whisky anywhere close to half as much as you drink it, you’ll have noticed not one but several brouhahas recently. A notable one is the rise of ‘non-age statement single malts’: i.e. non-blended whiskies that eschew the tradition of specifying a year, instead choosing to name their expressions after monosyllabic natural occurrences, elements…
The most famous grand hotel ever is probably The Savoy. The most famous chef ever is probably Auguste Escoffier. His most famous dish ever is probably the Peach Melba, created in The Savoy – as it so happens – where it was initially rolled out on a swan made out of ice. So, for The Savoy’s…
The onset of Winter chill thinly veils an excuse to seek out new whiskies, although in all honesty I’d have to be set on fire before considering turning down a wee dram. A crisp Winter morning and aboard the 90 year old Thames barge ‘Will’, I eye up the coal fire both warily and…
Last week saw the reopening of the eagerly anticipated private member’s club pop up at 19 Greek Street. La Maison Rémy Martin is back, slicker and sexier than ever. Exploring hidden talents of those involved, the opening party saw the delicious actress Gemma Chan pick up (and play) a violin for a captive audience, whilst…
Contrary to popular belief, my lunchtimes rarely involve strings of Martinis punctuated by amuse-bouches, but rather a more conventional sandwich or perhaps an impromptu reformulating of last night’s culinary experiment (dinner). On Wednesday the 2nd of September however, I had the pleasure of being invited to a somewhat hush-hush unveiling at the Royal Opera House,…
Julian de Feral wants you not to go to Original Sin. Okay? *tappy nose thing* Don’t go to Original Sin if you think a good drink is made good by precariously attaching an elaborately crimped zest fashioned in the shape of a hummingbird on to a burning lavender sprig with a mini-peg and served…
Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences is an emblem of a great Victorian past that still offers the very best in contemporary pampering. Julian de Feral is amused.
A century ago, had you walked into a bar and simply asked for an Old Fashioned, quite likely you’d have been answered with an inquisitive raise of the handlebar ‘tache. The very name of the cocktail we all know and recognise as the go-to tipple for serious whisky cocktail imbibers was purely an instruction for…
Style. A good thing right? Stylish people, stylish things, stylish places, stylish magazine. In his mesmerising ‘lost’ 1971 interview, Bruce Lee says “I do not believe in styles anymore: because of styles people are separated. They are not united together because styles became law.” Granted, he was talking about style in the context of Jeet…