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The Hide Bar - Newsletter

Number 22, December2008

Firstly, my apologies for the length of time it's taken me to send you the December newsletter. My excuses are that I wanted to wait until we had our new floor in, just so I could tell you about it (it's lovely and dark so the front bar looks considerably warmer and more inviting!). I was also waiting for our new products to come in (see below), and also just very, very busy making sure you all have a great time over Christmas! The back room has been fully booked every day in December for a while now, so sorry if you haven't managed to get a table, but there's always space at the bar. Thanks to all those of you who have said nice things about us after your Christmas parties. You probably won't remember it, but you were lovely!

The new product news for December is that we have been buying up old Armagnac. We're not the first bar in London to do this, but we are one of the more accessible and you don't have to be a member to make the most of our late-night drinking! We have taken rather a liking to Armagnac recently (not least after Bar Manager Paolo's trip down there last month - which he's written about at the end of the newsletter), and we thought December would be a good month to up the Armagnac ante.

We have vintages most of the way from 1960 through to 1985, with a new page in the drinks list giving you their characteristics, from the heavy 'rancio' character present on the Comte de Lauvia 1976 (a very good year in my opinion), to the dried prune and vanilla of the 1963. Hopefully we'll have a vintage that means something to you, or failing that, one that suits your after-dinner requirements exactly!

We also have some great bin-ends, with some of the 2004 'Dom Martinho' from Quinta do Carmo, part of the Domaines Barons De Rothschild group based in Portugal. A blend of Aragnoez (Tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Castelao (a dark-skinned Portuguese varietal) spicy with black berry fruits and surprisingly light and drinkable. On our list at a not too challenging £27. If spice and fruit are your thing though, the mulled wine is still flying out (£4)! Other bin ends include the ever-popular Bonny Doon vineyard's 'Clos de Gilroy' 2004 - 100% Grenache fruit and all the usual puns you'd expect from their wines (£27), and one of my personal favourites at the moment, the Clos Jordanne Pinot Noir from Canada. Old-World leathery and dusty pinot notes, but with the vibrancy and intensity of a New-World wine (£42). Delicious.

My last bit of news is that it's my last month at The Hide. I'm off to discover the delights of Chinese wines and Baijiu in Beijing. You'll have to come in for a drink to get the full story, but no doubt I'll have a few Baijiu/Shaojiu stories for you in next month's newsletter.

Cheers!

Paul

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EVENTS

Tuesday tastings

Unfortunately or otherwise, depending on which way you look at it, the back room has been booked up for every evening in December and so we are unable to run any tastings this month.

Starting again in January, tastings are going to be run fortnightly, one led by us, one by a wine or spirit supplier. The first will be on the 13th January and we'll let you know what it's going to be in the next newsletter at the start of January.

A few people have asked about New Year at The Hide. It'll be £200 a head, Krug on the door, and you have to wear gold. Um, actually we're going to be pretty much business as usual as we don't want to get all pretentious. Drop in if you can. There will be a DJ playing some fun stuff (nothing too crazy), and our usual selection of award-winning cocktails, delicious wines and some of the world's best beers. We will be serving food, so drop in before you head out, and again on your way back, or just stay all night if you like!

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LAST BIT - Armagnac
Paolo decided he needed to know a little more about Armagnac, so sauntered off to sample the wares.

After just a two hour flight from the chaos of London, we’re in the land of Armagnac, a region of France steeped in history and traditions.
Many of these are detailed in manuscripts dating back to 1411 (considerably before Cognac came to fame), which describe over three hundred medical uses for this spirit, including the claims that “Armagnac brings back stamina, improves memory and brings back happiness and joy”. These days we can highly recommend it as a digestive that rounds off your evening, or is delicious in classic brandy cocktails.

Armagnac in divided into three areas, Bas Armagnac, Tenareze and Haut Armagnac, but it is the first that is regarded as the home of the finest examples. It’s a matter of “terroir” they say…and they’re absolutely right!

Bas Armagnac is home to many spirit houses, including “Comte de Lauvia”, The Hide’s house Armagnac (we use the 8 year old VSOP in our cocktails).

Comte de Lauvia is made in Eauze, the capital of Armagnac, and its wines come from the best vineyards of Bas Armagnac and Tenareze, where the sun of Gascony gives the grapes of Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, Baco and Colombard a special taste of the south west of France.

As with the rest of Armagnac, Comte de Lauvia has its traditions and history. The family can trace its heritage back to the 11th Century, including the legendary Comte d’Artagnan, Muskeeter of the king of France!

A history not to be sniffed at, but the thing they are particularly proud of today is the presence of a piece of contemporary history: “Le Grand Connoisseur” Jean-Claude Dallas.

In the world of spirits and their different methods of production, I like to think that when technology and research stops, it is time for men like him, men that “are” the spirit more than simply knowing about it. His knowledge and passion can be found in every single blend and in every single vintage as it’s his responsibility to decide when the vintage casks are ready for bottling, and how to marry them to make the characteristic house blends.

If you’re not a fan of Armagnac yet, my suggestion? Try a premium Cognac you like, then pick a vintage Armagnac that you like the sound of, or a blend, and see what you think. We will happily recommend one, and tell you a little more about the particular stills used, the time of day they distil, the characteristics of Black Gascon Oak used to mature the spirit and cathedrals of aging vintages. While we bore you with the details, you can tell us what you think!

Paolo

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OTHER STUFF

Our back room is available for hire, and we’d love to hold tailored wine tastings or cocktail classes for you. Just get in touch and let us know what you’d like to do. We 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.

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