Flaming Galliano

The newspapers are full of news of designer John Galliano who shocked Parisien cafe-goers with a racist rant. He has since been "fired" [seebelow] by Dior and has been grilled by the media. I don't need to add my scorn on top of everyone elses but you've got to feel sorry for him.

FLAMIN' GALLIANO

2 shots galliano

1 shot french absinthe (layer on top)

set fire to absinthe, then blow-out and drink. But if you burn yourself don't blame me!

Tell-tell Heart Cocktail

The Tell-tell Heart is simple to make. Pour 1oz of Amontillado Sherry into a heart a drink out with a straw. A traditional drink for Jan 19th or Oct 9th.

Martini No:5

Martini No:5

After the success of the Old Spiced Old Fashioned I rested on my laurels and considered the other perfumed potion I have imbibed in the past, one literally sprung to mind, the Martini No:5 (named after the Pérez Prado tune).

How does one go about mixing up one of these? Spray Chanel No:5 perfume into the inside of a frozen glass, freshly plucked from your ice box. Add some iced gin (from the same location) and pour generously into the glass. Your colorless drink is ready.

Once one gets past the mouthful of pot pourri this is deliciously decadent. The strong feminine fragrance of the drink reminds me of the frolics of a misspent youth. First you get a bang of Chanel and then some gin and then a long lasting perfume, this libation will be with you for hours to come, a long finish indeed. (In fact, in the past this has caused me some issues, it's difficult to explain to a female companion why you taste of a ladies perfume.)

The Martini No:5 would be drunk by a ageing screen icon, past her best, maudlin and full of self pity. Watching her old film on flickering projector screen these cocktails are her last reminders of the self-indulgent glamour she used to enjoy. This lady is a shell of her former self.

I once gave one of these to a young up-and-coming starlet but they made her quite ill to her tummy, upon this I told her that she would never make it in films or theatre and that she better switched to the television.

The Martini No:5 was a step up from The Toast Water (what wouldn't be) and with it's "colorful flavor" is my personal alternative to mouthwash.

Toast Water

Toast Water

When I feel pooped nothing picks me up like a wholesome glass of Toast water, long has it been the staple for Kids and Invalids across the world, so I was told anyone. My recipe is from 1910.

It is dead easy to make, take a thick crust of bread (at least an inch) and then toast it until brown (or brown it in the oven) make sure it doesn't burn! Then put it in a crock pot and add one pint of cold water. Leave it to sit in a cold place for one hour (the coldest place in our house is the "library") then strain out the bits of bread and your Toast Water is ready for you, your kids, your invalids to enjoy. Serve (in the traditional style) on the rocks.

Toast water is a lovely pale yellow color, smells like toast and tastes like soggy bread (typically I like to drink mine with a large vodka chaser.) Should you drink this? Honestly what do ya think?


After the success of the Calpolian and the Old Spice Old Fashioned this was let-down.

Old Spiced Old fashion

Old Spiced Old Fashioned

Your usual Old Fashioned, half the bitter and add 5 drops of Old Spice (try to source as fresh as possible).

Scrumptious! Obviously Old Spice is good behind your ears and good between the rocks.
It is a bit perfumey (what a suprise!) and very floral. (The yummy taste of crystallized violet flowers is lurking in the glass too).
It is a rather excellent drink, not too different to your standard but your poker buddies or female acquaintances won't be able to put their finger on it when you serve it to them, don't forget the low-jazz for the latter. But when you're wearing an ingredient of what they're drinking they will always be thinking of you. Smell is such a stimulating sense. (Well taste is too!)

So give the Old Spice Fashioned a go, even better than the Calpolian (who would have thought it?)

The Calpolian

Hey, pull up a chair and pick up a glass, this is Rough Diamond Drinks.

First drink of the blog is the Calpolian. Inspired by an adult love of this childhood draught and the fact that a lot of drinks and liqueurs tastes like medicine.

The recipe is simple:
0.5cl Calpol (Under 5s)
2.0cl Vodka
SHAKE
Add a Marashino Cherry and a bit of syrup.

This drink is a gorgeous shade of pink, rather nicely offset by the cheeky red of the cherry.
First off there is a luscious flavour of sweet strawberry, then (hello!) there is the vodka. At the end it gets a bit bitter, like a spoilt child. As it slips down the throat can I feel it curing my ills? No.