Reverend JW Simpson is delighted to announce the continuation of its incredibly popular series of informative, interactive and innovative Spirited Sermons master-classes. The Reverend will be praising and preaching about some of the world’s oldest and most fascinating spirits, offering delicious new takes on classic recipes before inviting guests to try their hand at shaking them to life.
Hosted by ambassadors and master distillers from carefully selected premium and boutique drink brands, the Summer-Autumn series of Spirited Sermons will transport London’s cocktail enthusiasts on a circumnavigation of the globe; from Italy all the way to Jamaica via Brazil and back to Britain’s unique and treasured spirits. Guests will discover some of the most distinctive and creative tastes that the spirit market has to offer.
Throughout the evening, the host will join guests at their table to examine the chosen spirit, offering fascinating facts and amusing anecdotes about its history and production, whilst Rev JW Simpson’s experienced cocktail bartenders demonstrate how to use the spirit’s unique tastes to create beautiful, delicate and delicious concoctions. Guests will then have the opportunity to use their newly learnt skills to shake and stir their own cocktail at the pop up bar.
23rd August 2016: Amore e Amaro – Italian Bitters with Campari, Aperol, Cynar & Averna
From the Aperol Spritz to the Negroni, aperitifs to digestifs, we’ll explore the history, stories, and culture behind centuries of Italian love of complex herbal liqueurs and spirits.
6th September 2016: Pisco Beyond the Sour – Spirit of Peru with Barsol Pisco
Much more than the heart of the windely-loved Pisco Sour, this amazing complex spirit has a fascinating history. We’ll learn about this from Pisco Guru Tom Bartram, as we taste the incredible range of spirits from a century of production at Barsol.
20th September 2016: From Jamaica with Love – Blackwell’s Rum, Bond & Bob Marley
Chris Blackwell is one of the most interesting people of our time. As well as having family roots, which date back to the origins of both rum and Jamaica; he founded Island Records, discovered Bob Marley, and had Errol Flynn as a neighbour. We’ll discover the story of this amazing man and his amazing rum, the true Jamaica, and everything from pirates to James Bond along the way.
4th October 2016: London Cocktail Week Special with Yaguara Cachaca – Spirit of Brasil
One of the oldest sugarcane spirits, Cachaça is an intrinsic part of Brazilian life. Yaguara Cachaça marries age-old traditional techniques with modern know-how, and we’ll meet this delicious liquid and the guys behind it as part of this LCW special Spirited Sermon.
18th October 2016: Small Batch, Big Flavours – Hand-crafted Bourbons of Kentucky with Booker’s, Baker’s, Basil Hayden and Knob Creek
American whiskey is in the ascendance, with the Old Fashioned a staple of the modern savvy drinker, and a wider understanding of the awesome flavours contained within diferent craft bottlings. We’ve a range of four of the best Small Batch Bourbons, and will delve into the production, history and idiosyncrasies that make each one truly special.
1st November 2016: Don’t Be Bitter! Introducing Angostura Amaro and the Origins of Bitters
Healthy, herbaceous, one of the few ingredients in the first cocktail, Angostura bitters have an incredibly interesting world to explore. We’ll be introducing the new Angostura Amaro, as well as deconstructing the centuries of history that have led to this ubiquitous but unknown category of delicious booze.
15th November 2016: Surpassing Whisky – Putting the Lad in ‘Laddie, The Bruichladdich Story
Bruichladdich, like many single malt distilleries, has been a favourite of whisky connoisseurs for well over a century. Also like many others, not too long ago it faced closure, and reacted by becoming a new entity: An independent maverick evolving distillery, challenging established norms and accepted practises; still creating some of the finest whiskies in Scotland, but adding a gin, unaged drams, super-peaty whiskies never before seen, as well as reviving another whisky which had gone the way of the dodo – Port Charlotte. It’s an incredible journey, and we’ll travel it with them with liquid illustrations of their continuing success.
29th November 2016: Raising the Spirits – Crystal Head Vodka & Dan Ackroyd
Ghostbusters. Blues Brothers. Trading Places. Hilarious comedies and characters are Dan Ackroyd’s stock-in-trade, so when he announced he was launching a vodka with distillation genius John Alexander, one might’ve been forgiven for dismissing it. Crystal Head vodka is far just branding and a clever bottle, however. We’ll learn all about the production and the origin of this very special liquid, including some of the team’s very best cocktails to show of Crystal Head’s depth and complexity.
For more information click here