This week was the Bartender’s Book by Lisa Hughes. This cocktail book I have pretty mixed feelings about. It has some great recipes but lacks many of the classics which is a shame. That said we gave a Tom Collins a go. A Tom Collins is a precursor in many respects to a gin and tonic. It is traditionally made with Old Tom – the original gin – quite different to the gin we drink today. The Tom Collins from this book was gin (we used Tanquary), fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, all over ice and then topped up with soda water. It is delicious, very refreshing and a refreshing change from our much loved gin and tonic. Also this week we made a classic martini – three measures of vodka with a teaspoon of dry vermouth and shaken, not stirred and an olive. Normally when I have a martini it’s with a lemon twist but I went with the olive as suggested – I have to say it was great. I suspect this was due to the rather wonderful Vestel Vodka and amazing vermouth, Belsazar, a German vermouth with incredible flavours. Next week its more cocktails, of a wintery variety!