Having worked in London for some time now it's always a real pleasure to meet up with good colleagues in old stomping grounds, particularly if it's in a new venue and especially if it is their own!
We first went out a while back on a Monday (H. o T. is closed) to take The Tippler Team through the Sip Or Mix portfolio and talk specifically about Absinthe :-)
Like all good neighbourhood bars The Tippler is good to its' neighbours and had invited the Adventure Bar from across the road, formally known as Inside 72. They were particularly taken with SW4 London Dry Gin.
This Thursday's visit was to run through some cocktails with Tim and the very competent Max Whitney. First up we conducted some due diligence and Max made a Daiquiri with the new Unaged, White Rum from St Nicholas Abbey - nothing to worry about there then :-)
Next up was Tim's drink:
Smoking H. o T.
by
Tim Oakley
50ml Tequila Blanco
10ml Cane Syrup
25ml Lime
2 drops Abbots Bitters
Shake all ingredients in a Boston and strain into a coupette.
The nose of this Margarita style drink is surprisingly, really smoky (think Islay or Mezcal), the palate is clean and fresh with very distinct Perique notes throughout. The Bitters and Absinthe add more complexity and hold the whole thing together for great balance. All in all a fine drink and will be making it onto the new cocktail menu so you can try it for yourself.
Probably a Swizzle
by
Max Whitney
25ml London Dry Gin
10ml Creme de Mure
10ml Creme de Cassis
15ml Lemon Juice
50ml Apple Juice
Pile all the ingredients into a glass. The garnish is an ice cube float with raspberries and a lemon twist resting in. This will be a summer hit - if we ever get one of course... It's very easy drinking, fruity with a rich, creamy mouthfeel. This is designed to make people re-think about Absinthe in cocktails, the flavours and complexity of La Maison Fontaine come through nicely but in no way is the drink dominated by anise and fennel flavours. Nice one Max! Now you may have noticed the rather hefty amount of alcohol in Max's recipe and perhaps the odd name? Quite simply this cocktail doesn't have a name yet and it will probably be pared-down to a Swizzle....
The design of House of Tippler is very cool, well thought out and draws on influences from the 1920's through to the 1960's. It also makes very good use of the space, with different parts of the bar offering a different ambiance.
The space is growing too with the newly opened garden at the back with a herb garden in progress to boot! The front of the bar opens out onto the street and offers an inclusive feel to smokers and the outside, which must be great in the sunshine....
The attention to detail at House of Tippler is very impressive throughout. It obviously going to be a big hit! So the next time you're at a loose end why not hop on the 176 bus and visit
The Horniman Museum (just an idea) and on the way back drop off at The House of Tippler on Lordship Lane, East Dulwich. You will not be disappointed, unless you go on a Monday of course, because House of Tippler is closed on Mondays.
