FRENCH 75: Carla Bruni

Will sometime chanteuse Carla join a mass exodus if le petit Nicolas meets his political Waterloo on Sunday? 1960s icon Françoise Hardy is among stars threatening to quit Paris for Londres if François Hollande wins. Will les Sarkozys presently be joining her in South Kensington over French 75s - 75%, ironically, the rate of tax Hollande aims to impose on the rich -  pondering pourquoi it all went horriblement wrong?  

Make it...shake 1½ shots gin, ½ shot lemon juice and ¼ sugar syrup with ice.

Strain into a chilled flute. Top with Champagne. Lemon twist garnish.

   

Drink it...Beaufort Bar WC2; Vertigo 42, EC2; Épernay, Manchester and Leeds; Square, Bristol; Piano Lounge, Cardiff; Angels, Oxford; Corinthian, Glasgow. 

image blindflaneur.com

GREEN EYES: Mark Ruffalo

Bruce Banner - portrayed by the normally laconic Ruffalo in box office biggie, Avengers Assemble -  has a disturbing tendency to rage. This cocktail’s lurid green hue should remind Ruffalo what can happen when, like Banner, one loses one’s cool. The alcohol slug might settle frayed nerves, but drink too many and those empty calories could turn you into The Incredible Bulk.

Make it...In a highball glass with ice, layer 2 parts orange juice and a squeeze of lemon over 1 part Absolut Citron. Float 1 part Bols Blue Curacao on top. Garnish with green apple slice.

   

Drink it...Test the barman’s knowledge at Zenna W1; London Cocktail Club W1; Happiness Forgets N1; Alma de Cuba, Liverpool; Tiki Bar, Glasgow; Hula, Manchester.    

. 

MINT JULEP: The Puppini Sisters

The vintage frock rockin’ ‘Sisters’ hit London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire tonight. The ladies’  brand of  Bei Mir Bist Du Schön retro glamour lends itself to this classic Kentucky cooler that’s mandatory for Southern belles. Sip it this summer by the pool: floral print one-piece bathing suit, winged diamanté shades and gold mules optional.

Make it...Gently muddle 12 fresh mint leaves and ¾ shot sugar syrup (gomme) in a tall glass. Add 3 shots of bourbon and crushed ice. Stir and fill glass to rim with more crushed ice. Garnish with a sprig. Sip through a straw.

Drink it...Nightjar EC1; The Lexington N1; Blues Kitchen NW3; Rockwell SW1; Trof NQ, Manchester; Mesmerist, Brighton; Hummingbird, Leeds; Tigerlily, Edinburgh. 

CAMPIRINHA: Harry Derbridge

What drink might former TOWIE star Harry order as the vapid vajazzleds convene to celebrate his 18th birthday at his big fake-tan-tastic bash ‘dahn’ Sugar Hut in Brentwood, tonight? Leafing through the excellent Difford’s Cocktails # 9 guide for inspiration,  I chanced on campirihna, an appropriately fruity sip based on Italy’s favourit aperitif. ‘Camp ‘arry?  No? Shut up!’

Make it...muddle together with ice, ½ fresh lime and ¼ fresh ruby grapefruit cut into wedges. Add 2 shots Campari and ½ shot gomme. 

Drink it...Demand it at the following fine bars. Sugar Hut, Brentwood; V Bar Colchester; Harry’s Bar London EC4 and EC2; Mojo Leeds, Liverpool & Manchester; St Jude’s, Glasgow. 

image: bestfaketan.org.uk  

BLUE LAGOON: Tom Daley

If diving’s blue-eyed boy is allowed the occasional alcopop ahead of his big splash this summer, how about a blue lagoon? Critics worry for Daley’s Olympic dream, citing too many  profile-raising celebrity gigs away from the pool. Starry interviews; fronting TV commercials; that camp YouTube vid, cavorting in Speedos: what next? A disco version of Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini if Tom ends up as Britain’s equivalent of Anna Kournikova?

Make it...pour 1 shot each of Bols blue Curacao and vodka over cubed ice in a tall tumbler. Top with lemonade. Stir gently. Accessorise with lemon wheel, straw and paper parasol.

Drink it… Lloyds No 1 Bars, London and nationwide; Reflex Bars, Birmingham, Glasgow, Wigan, Liverpool, Cardiff, Croydon and other UK locations.

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL: John Lanchester

Lanchester has reason to cheer: his latest novel, Capital, is storming the book charts. Whatever the celebration, this foolproof classic is an appropriate pour. London banker Roger Yount, the central character in Capital, might prefer vintage Dom Pérignon in his, but for those not as fortunate to own a multi-million pound Clapham villa like his, this works equally well with £15 supermarket promo champagne or cava.  

Make it...drip two 4 drops of Angostura bitters onto a white sugar cube. Place in the bottom of a flute glass. Cover with cognac (20ml). Top with chilled bubbly.

Drink it…The Bar at The Capital Hotel, SW3; Claridge’s Bar W1; Prism EC3; Épernay, Manchester and Leeds; Hotel du Vin, Glasgow and Brighton; Malmaison, Oxford; 23, Sheffield.

DRAMBUIE 15 RUSTY NAIL: Don Draper

Mad Men fans are salivating over the prospect of Series 5. From 27th March, Sky Atlantic will screen new episodes just two days after broadcast in the US. Apparently, the action jumps forward in time. Will Don ditch his Old Fashioneds for something newer? As he’s a whisky man, how about a Rusty Nail? Big in mid-60s America, it was actually created around the time of Pearl Harbor. Of course, were I his doctor, I’d suggest Draper switch to neat soda water.

Make it...Over crushed ice in a short tumbler, pour 25ml Drambuie 15 year old then 25ml whisky. Stir gently. Add lemon twist garnish.

Drink it…Albannach WC2; Good Godfrey’s at the Aldwych Hilton London; Coco Tang, Nottingham; The Corinthian, Glasgow; 56 North, Edinburgh.