New looks

Posted on by
Reply

Three established brands in Diageo went for a make-over.

As of this month, Smirnoff has altered the bottle to emphasize the vodka’s quality and its heritage as a supplier to Russia’s Imperial Court.

Smirnoff No.21 (alcohol-by-volume – 40%) and all its flavoured varieties will have the new look. Diageo has changed the vodka brand’s main icon from a spike to a “Regal Eagle”, which is accompanied on the bottle by a reference to Smirnoff’s supply contract with the Russian Tsars. It displays signatures of Smirnoff alongside the featured crown.

Pyotr Smirnov founded his vodka distillery in Moscow in the 1860s, pioneering charcoal filtration in the 1870s, and becoming the first to utilize newspaper ads to stifle anti-vodka sermons, capturing two-thirds of the Moscow market by 1886. Propaganda ads eh? His brand was reportedly the Tsar’s favorite. When he died, he was succeeded by his third son Vladimir Smirnov, under whom the company flourished.

Its now the world’s best-selling liquor.

As for Tanqueray (ABV 47.3%), the look is more like a cocktail shaker now. The new bottle is taller and more tapered than the original ‘fire-hydrant’ shape, and it also features elements of the brand’s heritage such as the company’s signature and an embossed Tanqueray family crest on the glass. The bottle’s labels have also been changed to give it a more contemporary look. It’s been around for a few months tho.

Tanqueray London Dry Gin was initially distilled in 1830 by Charles Tanqueray in London. Gin is  made through double-distillation of a neutral grain spirit with botanicals added during the second distillation. Its today produced in Scotland. Did u know they had a Tanqueray Malacca Gin?? Discontinued in ’04. Dammit.

The brand recently celebrated 200 years since Charles Tanqueray  was born. Where was da party?? London? How come i wasnt invited??

After 30 years, Baileys (ABV 17%) changed the look some time ago. Am sure u would have noticed the smoother, skinnier looking bottle.

Flavours available are Original, Creme Caramel, Mint, Coffee, Hazelnut and Biscotti. It’s the world’s best-selling liqueur.

Bailey’s (Ireland) starts life in happy Irish cows, all 40,000 of them. They’re happy coz they aint kept in a pen, but get out to graze nine months a year. Their milk is added to Irish whisky within hours, followed by cocoa nibs, vanilla pods, caramel and sugar.

Goes real nice as a dessert, poured generously over vanilla ice-cream.

Daamn.

Thanks buddy!

Share

Boozepimp of the Month – Geoff Siddle

Posted on by
7

Boozepimp of the Month is a new monthly column that will feature respectable players in the alcohol industry. These are interesting personalities in the scene that have made a significant impact, or have the potential to do so, or would like to do so.

(If u know of a candidate, u can lemme know).

It will culminate in the ‘Boozepimp of the Year’ Award at the end of the year. Besides the glamour of being da big-pimp mac daddy, he/she will receive several bottles of my special strong cider, Baad Apples™.

Mr Geoffrey Siddle

Our first guest is Geoffrey Siddle of Sid’s Neighbourhood Pubs. He’s the owner of a chain of English pubs than began very low-key about three years ago in TTDI in Sept 2007, and has now expanded to Bangsar and Kenny Hills. A fourth outlet is right now being created in Damansara Heights, KL.

Sid's Bangsar South

The name Sid’s is actually from his surname, Siddle. He’s 42, married with three kids, and lives in Bangsar.

Via Sid’s, Geoff has also unselfishly organized several community events and fund-raisers for various organizations and disadvantaged communities.

The long-term-inclined and forward-thinking Geoff is a genuinely friendly and sincere guy. And unlike some publicans who dont hangout & drink, Geoff’s basically one of the boys. He most def loves his Guinness!

Interestingly, Sid’s TTDI (already featured here – the food that is) is the biggest-selling Guinness outlet in Malaysia. Sid’s recently received an award from the Telegraph in the UK as the most “Highly Commended British Pub”.

It’s one few joints that have ALL-DAY happy hours, starting from just before noon till 8pm, and sometimes beyond. Solid! Prices of drinks are affordable, making drinkers come back for more all d time.

My fave food items at Sid’s are the Blue Cheese Shrooms, BBQ Pork Ribs, Cod n Chips, Pigs in Blanket and Beef n Onion pie. My fave drink items are all.

Sid's Kenny Hills

Here’s our chat:

1. So, how long u been in Malaysia and watchu been up to here?

I’ve been in Malaysia for thirteen and a half years. I first arrived to set up a cosy little winebar /cocktail bar in Changkat Bukit Bintang called “The Long Island Iced Teahouse” (way back in 1997) and was there for a couple of years.

DBKL thought it time for me to move on so I joined Finnegan’s Irish Pubs to help them with their expansion plans.  I was involved with their outlet in Desa Sri Hartamas as well as their Sultan Ismail branch.

2. And whats your F&B background?

I’ve been involved in the F&B industry in Asia for 20 years.  I’ve worked/managed/owned pubs & restaurants in Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore & Malaysia.

3. What made u start Sids??

I left Finnegan’s and wanted to set up my own chain of pubs!

4. What is the concept or feel u like to portray via Sids?

I believe the best entertainment is the “craic” created by people themselves. You’ll notice that in Sid’s Pubs the music is barely audible and the main noise is the general din of people chatting & laughing. This, as in most pubs in UK, is what I had hoped to have achieved here in Sid’s. The design & decor, along with the menu, is typically British.

5. And why do u think Sids has been so successful?

I truly believe there is a large number of like-minded individuals out there who think along the same wavelengths as I do; the outlet must be friendly, low music, lights turned up with good quality food & drinks at affordable prices.

6. How did u come up with d food menu?

The food menu is typical of any good quality pub back in UK.

A top choice - Cod n Chips + green shit

7. Top 3 selling food items?

The more popular items on the menu must be the “Pigs-in-blankets” (pork sausages wrapped in bacon), genuine “Cod & Chips” and the “Pork Vindaloo”.

8. Top 5 drink items?

The most popular drinks in the house must be Guinness draught, Tiger draught, Strongbow cider, Snakebite Blacks & the house wine.  Being a proper British style of pub our draught beers are definitely the choice of the masses.

9. What do u think of drink prices generally in KL?

I think generally the prices are high.  A lot of the time this is beyond the control of the individual outlet as they are supplied drinks from the suppliers who have to charge a higher price due to the massive alcohol “sin tax” here in KL.

Some outlets go over-the-top by charging ludicrous prices whereas some, like Sid’s, would rather have a lower margin but aim for the higher volume.

Ma man!

One of my many D.I.A. drunken sessions at Sid's TTDI

10. What do u like or dislike about drinking outlets in KL?

What I like about the drinking outlets here is the majority have a really nice blend of customers, normally with a good selection of drinks.  If you’re into the music scene there’re a lot of choices.  My main dislike about a lot of the drinking outlets here is the lack of ventilation.  I think that when the smoking ban happens a lot of the pubs will have more appeal, also the toilets………

11. So what has Sid’s taught you?

If you have a concept you believe in, then be patient and let it happen, there will always be like-minded people around.

12. Tell us about your future plans regarding Sid’s pubs.

The plans are to have Sid’s Pubs in every nice neighbourhood in Malaysia – so watch out, there may be a Sid’s Pub near you soon!!

Why have only one drink when u can have two?

Share

Asahi ‘launches’

Posted on by
3

Japanese beers. Like Mexican beers, they’re always around, but have never really hit it big over here.

Anyway, Carlsberg Malaysia is tryin to get into the act via Asahi Super Dry, with sole ditributorship to Luen Heng F&B. The event went down on Friday at a joint called Canon in Solaris Mont Kiara.

Jepun mari

Asahi (which means rising sun) has been in the country for awhile, restricted mainly to Japanese tourists & expats. Carlsberg hopes to reinvigorate the brand  by increasing its distribution and marketing efforts.

Carlsberg’s MD Soren Ravn says “We aim for Asahi Super Dry to be a must-have premium imported beer at some well-known Japanese restaurants, trendy bars, premium hotels and resorts as well as upmarket retail stores nationwide including the duty free islands.”

Mmmmm…. duty-free islands. Where u’ll see n swallow stuff u’ve never ever before.

Dont know wattup with d tiny cans. For kids i assume!

Dont know what they’re gonna price it at. Its a reasonably-crisp beer that’s quite easy to drink. It comes in 640ml and 33oml bottles, as well as 330ml and…. 135ml cans! ABV is 5%.

Share

Beer cocktails for beerheads

Posted on by
14

I dunno what am gettin into here. Beer cocktails?? Well, they exist, so no point ignoring them.

Beer is a watered-down drink as it is, so ideally its best not to add too much of anything non-alcoholic into it, tho small amounts are fine. I tend to take my beer with a couple of shots of lime cordial for two reasons – it tastes good; and i end up drinking a lot faster and a lot more. Coz d problem with beer is the filling feel it gives.

Goddam beer is pretty versatile. Here are some of the more well-known cocktails.

Beer - more than a breakfast drink

1. Lager Lime – Like i said, beer with about 1.5 shots of lime cordial. (To know more about drink measurements, refer my post here.)

2. Snakebite – Half a pint of lager with half a pint of cider. Usually, a dash of blackcurrant cordial, “black”, is added as a sweetener. This is sometimes known as ‘diesel’. Some variants “float” the beer atop the cider in separate layers. Goes down too easy. A true Snakebite will also have a shot of vodka.

3. Black and Tan – Half and half – pale ale at the bottom, stout on the top. The most well-known brands of pale ale are Bass, Cooper’s and Sierra Nevada. Cant seem to find ’em here. Was a favourite when i was part-timing as a bartender in UK.

4. Black Velvet – Half stout, half champagne. Haha! Sounds like a winner. Cant wait to try dis one!

5. Red Eye – Add a shot (30ml) of tomato juice to any ale or lager (this cocktail is also known as Tomato Beer or a Red Rooster). Hmm. Dunno bout this, bout sounds ok.

6. Cili Haram – Add a few drops of Tabasco into your beer. Created this when i was bored at a bar. Also coz i miss this Mexican chili beer i used to have, dont remember in which country. At d bottom of d bottle there’ll be a cute lil mafucker, looks like a cili padi. Adds spice to every sip. Can recreate d effect with Tabasco.

7. Bee Sting – Dark beer plus some orange juice. I’d think lager / wheat beer would be a bettter choice.

8. I dunno what its called or who made it, maybe me – Lager with a few drops of Ribena.

9. Caribbean Night – Beer and a shot of coffee liqueur. Interesting.

10. Name unknown (lets call it Todi Negro) – toddy + stout. A favourite locally-created cocktail.

11. Top 10 – a Sabah specialty – half lager, half Royal Stout / Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. D wilder chicks over there seem to luv it!

12. Donkey Piss – Beer + tequila = Bad idea.

OK, now go fuck around with beer.

Related Posts with Thumbnails
Share