Tails Cocktails – Bristol Launch Party at Byzantium

'Authentic cocktails, anytime, anywhere' – it sounds like something that dreams are made of! Yet, this is the tag-line underpinning Tails: a company which has tapped into the illustrious market of on-the-go refreshment; though with a decidedly sophisticated edge. Yes, rather like you might enjoy a flask of tea on a frosty fishing trip, Tails allows you to 'shake your own' cocktail wherever you are – each of the four available concoctions served from its own recyclable shaker, (because supermarket-ready G&Ts and canned cocktails seem soooo dated nowadays don't you think?) Subsequently, upon being invited to discover 'Tails' at its official Bristol launch party, I couldn't help but question what would set this particular product aside from its aforementioned counterparts and also, whether the cocktails themselves would live up to the appeal of their packaging.

Date and Time: Thursday 29^th November 2012, 18:00-21:00

Name of Establishment: Byzantium

Location: 2 Portwall Lane, Bristol

Reason for Visit: An introduction to Tails Cocktails – Official Bristol Launch Party

Advertised as: Premium; whereby cocktails are pungently (at 14-16% by volume) blended from good quality spirits and liqueurs from around the globe, natural; given that each cocktail is free from artificial colours and flavours and bespoke; due to the innovative design of the packaging, Tails is a refreshing take on the culture of the take-away tipple – here, offering an assortment of classic cocktails that can be enjoyed 'on-the-go', within the comfort of one's home or out on the town; minus the typical queuing that seems to go hand-in-hand with hardcore cocktail creation! As the brainchild of father and son team Peter and Nick Wall, Tails has been launched in a number of top-end outlets including the likes of Selfridge’s, John Lewis and Harvey Nichols; the 500ml shaker priced from £12.50 and the 150ml 'mini' shaker at £4.50. For us Bristolians, it's also worth being aware that Tails will be stocked in a handful of the city's watering holes; namely Racks Bar and Kitchen, Luna, Byzantium and the Colston Hall.

Without further ado, let me tell you a little about Tails' range which, in true Sex and the City fashion, was sampled (rather shamelessly) in its entirety amongst our female foursome...for the sake of the review of course!

Elderflower Collins

They said: An invigorating cocktail of apple and lemon juice, made with elderflower liqueur and London Dry Gin

We thought..That this was a lovely addition to the line-up; channelling the essence of alfresco Summer-time drinking with its crisp, refreshing notes – the gin element adding the necessary punch and complementing the zing of the apple and the tart of lemon juice to perfection.

To sum up...EW gave the Elderflower Collins a rating of 8/10 and in three words described it as an, 'English Country Garden'.

Espresso Martini

They said: An indulgent cocktail of rich coffee, vanilla and chocolate, made with coffee liqueur and Premium French vodka

We thought...That this was a deliciously decadent concoction with bitter-sweet appeal and a rich, creamy finish; a suitable digestif or wicked pick-me-up given its unmistakable caffeine content - the latter evidenced with the positive correlation between the number of espresso martinis consumed and the extent of one's sleepless night! That said, this was a firm favourite and without doubt, my cocktail of choice from the collection overall.

To sum up...BR gave the Espresso Martini a rating of 9/10 and in three words commented that it had a 'smooth, balanced flavour'.

Mai Tai

They said: An exotic cocktail of pineapple, almond and lime made with a blend of light and dark Caribbean rums.

We thought...that this was lethally drinkable! A sweet yet fresh-tasting cocktail reminiscent of sunny days and holidays abroad! The ying-yang rum content was arguably somewhat undetectable but facilitated an enjoyable drinking experience nevertheless.

To sum up...LC gave the Mai Tai a rating of 7/10 and in three words described it as 'refreshing', 'zingy' but 'tame'.

Cosmopolitan

They said: A sophisticated cocktail of citrus and berry fruits, made with Italian Triple Sec and premium French vodka

We thought...That this was an ample Cosmo and yet unanimously our least favourite given that it sported a decidedly weak disposition; proving somewhat pale in colour and lacking the kick that the other four concoctions had in abundance.

To sum up...SE gave the Cosmopolitan a rating of 6/10 and in three words described it as, 'a little disappointing'.

To note that each beverage was finished with an appropriate garnish which obviously, you'd have to provide yourself...

A 'Mock Tai' was also available (though I'm told that this is not on the market at present) which, made with passionfruit and a touch of sparkle, was really rather well-received; the designated driver of our party enjoying that the non-alcoholic option was served with as much gusto as its boozier equivalents.

As for the venue, Byzantuim never fails to deliver in terms of its intriguing ambiance, eye-catching Moroccan-themed décor and colourful yet comfortable seating – I should also mention the canapés (which did become rather essential given the number of cocktails consumed on a 'school night' and in rather quick succession! which were beautifully presented, tasty and varied – the shredded duck and horseradish tartlet proving particularly popular amongst our party.

In conclusion, there are a number of plus points to this progressive concept of 'shake and serve' – we considered it a welcome change to be promptly served at the bar rather than to wait it out whilst one's beverage is painstakingly concocted from scratch. However, you may well argue that the theatre of mixology will become redundant; falling behind in the ever-present tussle between art and convenience. On a similar front, there are a number of cocktails which simply could not be created in this way – the ever-popular Mojito for instance which, despite its undeniable 'best-seller' status, would lose its appeal if you were to take away the altogether essential effects of fresh lime and crushed mint. Nevertheless, there are many avenues which could be explored instead – perhaps deviating from the classics and exploring alternative themes and eras; reflecting perhaps the originality of the packaging with a contemporary content. Predominantly though, the brief has been met as Tails' cocktails have been well-executed, thoughtfully blended and really do fare rather well as *the* upmarket takeaway-tipple (plus, albeit more expensive, far classier than gin in a tin!) And so, suitable for quality quaffing on-the-go, as an after-dinner treat or as a quirky Christmas gift (well, 'tis the season after all), there really is no reason not to experience Tails for yourself!

References:

*http://www.tailscocktails.com/

*http://www.byzantium.co.uk/default.aspx

Harvey Nichols' Second Floor Restaurant, Quakers Friars

To say I was intrigued by the second floor restaurant at Bristol's Boutique Harvey Nichols' store was an understatement. I'd heard stories of carpeted walls and glitzy metallic décor as well as experiences whereby a distinct lack of atmosphere and questionable service had a somewhat negative impact. Yet, all the critiques I had read had one thing in common; they all agreed that the cuisine itself was of a very high standard, which I suppose one would expect from a venue which constitutes a prestigious UK institution. Consequently, the Best Foodie Friend (BFF) and I proceeded to book-up a table in order to suss out this venue for ourselves and, as the elevator 'ding' marked the second floor, it would be fair to say that we were really rather excited...

Date and Time: Tuesday 26th July 2011, 19:30

Name of Establishment: Harvey Nichols Second Floor Restaurant*

Location: Quakers Friars, Bristol

Reason for Visit: Dinner date with the BFF

Passing the cordoned-off areas and glass fronted displays of vintage bubbly into the restaurant, the initial feature which is somewhat obtrusive is the colour-scheme. Decked out in gold from the ceiling to the plushy carpet underfoot and everything else in between, (including the walls which are indeed textured), it's reasonable to describe this space as unnecessarily extravagant, especially when the evening sun pours through the full windows casting the whole space in an amber haze! Not that this meant that the BFF and I weren't comfortable; quite the contrary as we were quite content, especially considering the appeasing ambiance created by cushy furniture and the chill-out soundtrack overhead. 

Boldly Gold

Given the apprehension created by the accounts I’d read, it can be noted that the BFF and I found the service during our visit to be both polite and efficient. Despite the minor niggle that our coats were not taken and instead, sat next to us within the booth-style seating for the duration of the evening, we were pleased overall with the upbeat attitude of our particular waitress who proved a smiley asset to the evening's proceedings. Menus were dispensed and a choice between the à la carte, whereby main courses average £15, and the 'prix fixe' which offers two courses for £16 or three for £19. The latter comprises a choice from three options in the case of each course and includes complimentary canapés as standard. BFF and I were uncharacteristically in sync on this particular evening, both settling for two courses from the set menu and choosing the same main and dessert (though, more of that later). We also decided against a supplementary vino on this occasion but casually noted the range of champagnes on offer, the vintage variety coming in at a mere £1750 a pop – I'll take two! After ordering, our canapés arrived; melt-in-the-mouth parmesan sable biscuits and cheddar gougères which, essentially savoury profiteroles, were delicately textured and subtly cheesy to contrast the punchy notes of its parmesan coupling. Clearing the empty sharing plate signalled the arrival of the bread basket and a choice between sweet rolls, sliced soda bread or salted focaccia. The latter was an obvious choice for me and, proving fresh and delicious, I just had to ask for seconds to accompany my main course.

Cheesy Canapés

Main courses arrived and the courgette fritters, which were stacked under their triangular canopy of fried feta, were served alongside courgette ribbons, a soft herb salad, a dollop of dill mascarpone and finished with a beetroot dressing. This was simply beautiful both in terms of its colour and its arrangement. I loved the complexities which existed in terms of contrasting textures and tastes as well as the Greek-inspiration behind the nature of marrying together the different elements; the underlying bitter-sweet bite of lemon against the freshness of dill and the rich tang of feta. The BFF and I were particularly pleased that we had ordered a side of Cornish new potatoes with English butter and Cornish sea salt (£3.25) to share as they were the perfect accompaniment to the smooth mascarpone. All-in-all, indubitably resting within the fine dining remit but without the stingy portion sizes that one would normally associate with this genre of cuisine – subsequently, this dish left me feeling satisfied and enthusiastic about what was to follow….

Main Course - easy on the eye as well as the stomach!

There was rather a long wait between main and dessert courses and although we weren’t in a hurry, this did build a real sense of expectant appreciation for the Valrhona Chocolate Mousse we had opted for but had yet to sample. Upon first mouthful though it was evident that this glutinous pud would fully live up to our hopeful preconceptions – made, we were told, with olive oil, this stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth indulgence was perfectly textured and hard-hitting with the richness of good-quality dark chocolate; the result of which was an almost intoxicating kick! Finished with a fennel biscuit (which the BFF suggested was a little too elusive in terms of the usual distinctness of its aniseed flavour) and a flourish of mint, this dessert was the highlight of the meal for me and really took my experience of this venue from fantastic, to simply outstanding. 

Chocolaty Heaven

I think that Head Chef Louise McCrimmon’s creative flair for putting together a menu which ticks all the boxes in terms of taste whilst focusing on high quality, locally-sourced ingredients is offered so reasonably that it perhaps explains why the venue was so well attended on the evening of our visit. Initially, this is where Harvey Nichols’ exclusive reputation may have hindered it with many perhaps dismissing the restaurant as too expensive. However, word has obviously gotten out and rightly so because there really is something to tantalise the taste-buds within the most platonic of palates. After all, metallic flamboyances aside, this is a venue which had me planning my next visit before I'd even returned to its ground floor exit (I certainly want to come for brunch – buttermilk pancakes with smoked back bacon and maple syrup at just £4.50 – yes please!). To sum up, I may not be able to stretch to the cost of its designer handbags, nor can I do little more than ogle the Jimmy Choos from afar, but I can certainly afford Harvey Nichols; cuisine - at last, I have discovered an aspect of the 'bling' that is comfortably within my grasp!

And now for the second opinion…

The BFF gave Harvey Nichols' Second Floor Restaurant a rating of 9/10 and in three words, described her experience as 'pretty', 'modern' and, of course...'gold'!

I just couldn't resist...!

References:

*http://www.harveynichols.com/restaurants/second-floor-bristol

To note: At the moment, the second floor restaurant is offering a deal whereby children, when accompanied by an adult, can dine for free from Head Chef Louise McCrimmon’s Children’s menu – great stuff!