The Hide Bar - Newsletter

Number 12, February 2008 

 

February already! Blimey, time flies when you’re having fun.

 

Well I’ve been having fun at least, with a very nice trip to the wine-lands of South Africa. Something I can’t recommend enough! As a result, I’ll be suggesting South African wines at every opportunity (we have three on the bin end list for you this month in addition to the usual).  

In my absence, Hannah has been busy with the cocktail list and we have some brilliant drinks on there as a result. For those of you into your fizz, we have the Westminster (one of Hannah’s making) with Limoncello, Liquor 43 (primarily vanilla), lemon juice, topped with Champagne, the classic Satan’s Whiskers with gin, sweet vermouth, orange juice and Curacao or Grand Marnier depending whether you want your whiskers ‘curled’ or ‘straight’, and the aptly named Delicious Sour from the 1892 publication of The Flowing Bowl, containing calvados, apricot brandy, sugar, lemon and egg white. There are lots of other additions as well, but we’ll leave those up to you to find next time you’re in (although the new list is also on the web site if you want to look them up).  

 

The other thing I’d say is “thank you”! We opened on the 2^nd February 2007 and things have been getting better and better ever since, which is all down to the great support and enthusiastic recommendations from our regulars. To celebrate we have blended our own Birthday Grog (some of the world’s best rums blended to complement each other) and will be dispensing a free daiquiri, rum old fashioned or straight serving to anyone who wishes us happy birthday this month (one per customer, while stocks last, etc, etc!).

 

Cheers!  

 

Paul 

EVENTS 

 

St. Valentine’s Day, Thursday 14^th We have a special set menu for Valentines. £40 a head for three courses including a glass of Bolly and a dessert wine. The full menu can be downloaded here: Valentine’s Menu 

Tuesday tastings: Last roughly an hour and include random facts, helpful hints and a little bit of tasting. They are free to attend for the moment and you don’t need to book. Just turn up and see what’s going on.

Tuesday the 5^th February, 7pm

Vodka. We have a couple of new vodkas in, so we’ll do some blind tasting to see what appeals. We like blind tasting with our customers at The Hide, because if you don’t like the taste, it doesn’t matter how good the story or PR behind the brand is. After that, we will make a few vodka cocktails with the new brands and see how they go.   

 

Tuesday the 12^th February, 7pm

Tequila. Another tequila tasting, but this time with some new brands and a special guest, so if there was something you wanted to know about tequila, from growing to drinking and everything in-between, this is the night to ask. We also have new tequila cocktails on the menu, so we will be offering some at knock-down, special offer prices 

 

Tuesday the 19^th February, 7pm – Ticketed tasting

A very special Tuesday and hopefully the first of a few to come during the course of the year.

We have Eddie Ludlow joining us to do a whisky tasting entitled ‘The Regions of Scotland’. Ex Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Brand Ambassador in the UK, Eddie has now set up The Whisky Lounge, dedicated to furthering your knowledge of whiskies (www.thewhiskylounge.com). Eddie describes the tasting as: “examining whiskies from all the main regions of Scotland and the differences between them. There will be a few surprises for even the experienced taster and, of course, some fantastic whiskies to taste.” The only down side to this fantastic tasting is that we’re going to have to charge. Tickets will be £25, available from the bar in advance (tickets@thehidebar.com) and on the night, though booking in advance is recommended. 

 

Tuesday the 26^th February, 7pm

Italian reds. Postponed from January, we’re going to pull the stops out with some fantastic wines to showcase the best of Italy; probably best to call and book a seat as it’s likely to be busy.

Last bit – musings on a year of bartending.

As on all birthdays, we’ve been thinking about the last year and what’s happened to mark the passing of time. Being bartenders, most of this musing has been conducted in the early hours of the morning over a glass of something nice to mark the end of a shift, so is insightful, intellectual and probably best not written down.  Having said that, we thought we’d share some of our thoughts none the less: 

-        Fire spreads. Make one flaming cocktail and you end up making 10. Fire also makes people go ‘ahhhhh’ in that firework-way.

-        The highest qualified wine expert in the bar will always order the corked bottle. If someone doesn’t like their choice of wine, it will also be ‘corked’, but appreciated by the bartender.

-        Caipirinhas are like water to some people.

-        People who sell nice shoes buy nice drinks. People who wear nice shoes buy nice drinks too. What is it with shoes?

-        We know what you want to drink before you do. If you’re stuck, ask us. We’re professionals with a huge range of excellent tools for the job.

-        Like Campari, it takes at least three attempts at Kummel before you enjoy it. After that it can become strangely addictive. Up to a point.

-        Bartenders from other venues will always try to catch you out. They will become good friends once they realise you know what you’re talking about and stock something they’ve never tried before.

-        Saturday night at 11.30 is mojito time. No matter how many delicious drinks you may have on the menu, 9 out of 10 ordered will be a mojito. If you have just done a round of 8 mojitos, the next drink will be a mojito.

-        We all like to drink at The Hide on our nights off. Whilst slightly odd, this is a good sign. Half of the bartenders have also been here since we opened. Also a good sign.

-          Don’t try to suck more than four wasabi peanuts at a time. Four make your eyes water, then you sneeze. Rum is good.

-        So is whisk(e)y.

-        (Good) tequila isn’t bad either.

Other stuff

Our congratulations and thanks to Dom and Jaan, a couple of friends who have recently been on a Hide-promoting tour of France (you can just about make out the bumper stickers on the picture opposite), aka The Beaujolais Run.  

The Beaujolais Run began in 1972 when The Times journalist Alan Hall threw down the gauntlet to Fleet Street and readers to bring back the first bottle of that year's Beaujolais Nouveau to his desk. The challenge caught the imagination of both car and wine enthusiasts. The event began as a straight race and the current record is held by a team from the RAF. But then, they did use a Harrier. It is now more of a navigational trial with the focus on raising money for charity.  Monies raised went to The Downs Syndrome Association (www.downs-syndrome.org.uk), Winston's Wish (which gives help and support to bereaved children and their families (www.winstonswish.org.uk) and The Richard Burns Foundation, which supports people with serious injury or illness (www.richardburnsfoundation.com). 

They're doing it again this year, so if you're interested in racing or sponsoring, we can put you in touch.

 

Our back room is available for hire, and we’d love to hold tailored wine tastings or cocktail classes. Just get in touch and let us know what you’d like to do. We now have a price list of some of our more popular tastings, available from the website at www.thehidebar.com/parties.htm.

Likewise please get in touch if you have any comments and suggestions, please email everyone@thehidebar.com. You can also sign up to keep in touch at ‘people who like to drink at The Hide Bar’ on Facebook.

 

The Hide
39-45 Bermondsey Street , London . SE1 3XF
t: 0207 403 6655; f: 0207 117 4173
www.thehidebar.com; everyone@thehidebar.com