Curious and curiouser, celebrate London Cocktail Week with Mr. Gladstone’s Curious Emporium

Live the story you want to tell. 

I’ve always been drawn to the idea of an extraordinary life. Growing up, I had wild ambitions and visions of a life filled with adventure. A heart filled with a thirst for travel, newness and for exploration. Little did I know, that I’d end up living up (somewhat) to that ambition.

As an American, moving abroad was a big deal. It was the first step towards a lifetime of taking risks (ok, like very measured risks, I still hate heights). Making friends in a totally new country was also, a big deal. Finding a job and a career path… only to discover it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. It’s all part of the adventure. Every flight, every train, every move and every journey, over the past six years has been chock-a-block with adventure. 

And somehow, unsurprising, I have yet to tire of it.

So when an invitation came my way, celebrating the curious, the adventurers, the downright mischivious. Well, you take it, don’t you?

Obviously.

Because alongside my recent career change into full-time writing and blogging, I’m trying to stay out of my comfort zone by saying yes more. Yes to things that excite me. Yes to things that scare me a little bit too.

On this occasion, I was excited. A few weeks ago (I know, soon enough, it will be yesterday I did this thing!), I went to a very clandestine location… Mr. Foggs.

Have you ever been to the cocktail bar in Mayfair? Hidden away down a winding side street, you’ll find a totally unmarked building with a man standing at the door. He’ll let you in. Or you know, not. It’s mysterious, until it’s not. And you’re somehow let in on the secret club.

However, Mr. Fogg’s was simply the location for the introduction of foodies and lifestyle types alike to the new drinks collection from Mr. Gladstone’s Curious Emporium. Yes, curious and curiouser.

And that’s what struck me about it in the first place. In the face of saying yes to more adventure, I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. Would I feel positively wicked sipping on these babes? Spoiler alert, oh yes.

Here for a raucous evening, these confectionary treats are brimming with adventure. The collection includes Rhubarb and Custard, Pear Drop and two fizzy delights, Strawberry Bon Bon and Pineapple Cube.

It seemed only fitting to let you know about them during London Cocktail Week. While you can drink them on their own, like I did the other evening at home trying the Strawberry Bon Bon bubbles with JPW. My pro-tip? Add marshmallows to make it look like you put a hell of an effort into your creation.

But they’re also the kind of drinks you impressively pop out at parties to stir up your average cocktail or aperitif. Like, “look at my bar cart with these fancy things.” I said this verbatim. And I’m not even sorry about it. They look good on my bar cart.

Like I said, if you want to deviate from the easy life of impressing your mates, in honor of London Cocktail Week, here’s an easy bonus recipe to get you going. Courtesy of Mr. Gladstone’s and the bartenders at Mr. Foggs.

The recipe

• 40ml Bombay Sapphire gin (any would do the trick)
• 20ml Fresh lemon juice
• 15ml sugar syrup
• 40ml Mr. Gladstone’s Curious Emporium Strawberry Bon Bon
• Gin, stirred with fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup over cubed ice. Topped with the Strawberry Bon Bon and served in a champagne flute. Garnish with a cheeky strawberry pastel. Or hey, a strawberry itself! 

Because sometimes, even the best of adventures start right at home.

Kelly xoxo

PS. The bottles are only a fiver from Tesco. Win.

And I just wanted to say, because I forgot within my actual body of the post, the night at Mr. Fogg’s was ridiculous. I drank far too much. Participated in a magic show and came home carrying four bottles of Mr. Gladstone’s. I lived my best life and my most adventurous. That said, it’s super dark in Mr. Fogg’s. Yep, the photos didn’t make the cut. Except for this beauty below…