Beware of expensive imitations that are not London Gins with nasty additive flavourings and sugar that are guaranteed to give you a hangover: Beefeater Gin with Fever Tree tonic water. Why settle for anything less when in a gin mood?
I am not a big fan of gin, on the account of its ability to reduce hardened oil men to morbidity and tears, but when you're in the mood for it, it packs just the right white spirit kick.
Wetherspoons festival; weakest - Batemans oatmeal biscuit 3.6% & Greene King Hop Monster @ 7.2 % were both excellent.
Grand National in the background (unusual for Wetherspoons). I remember when every workplace had a National sweepstake. Happy Days ! I retire tomorrow (new tax year).
Then a lovely carvery, with a pint of Youngs in a Toby. Decent young white couples with kids, plus canny Chinese and Indians looking for the meat and two veg experience. God is in his heaven and all is well with the world.
Batemans! I've been to the brewery in Lincolnshire, use to love their beers back in the 90s.
Enjoy your retirement Kingy, but if it's anything like my industry, you'll be back in work on Monday as a contractor on an inflated rate!
* chia grass juice
* brocolli sprout juice
I've been full of flu all week and self-medicating on the missus's supply of codeine which takes the edge off it enough for me to manage work, now that's run-out, so I've opened a bottle of Remy Martin XO Excellence and after half a nip I'm feeling much better already. Perhaps after another one and 8-10 hours decent kip, I might be cured.
Highland Park 1998 (for Export or international travellors or something) Single Malt my brother got me at duty free Malaysia on the way out here. I haven't told him that the price is $1 dearer than at my local grog shop here.
Glen Grant 10 years old.
Cheers bro, I'm having another short snort right now.
I have a bottle of Balvenie 18 I'm itching to open.
Woodford Reserve Kentucky bourbon for me, a great appertif with plenty of ice.
Makers neat.
I walked down this road on Sunday to get to Woodies pub
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-27122410
It is a long walk and I only do it in good weather. I never thought I would reading this about such a quiet suburban street a couple of days later. Sad.
St George's Day beer festival in a pub in the back streets of Kingston.
These men were on. Ewell Morris http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27062873
They do a stint at Leadenhall Market in the City at midday and Kingston at 7ish.
One of them was in black with goggles on his top hat. When I asked, he said he getting more steam punk. A gas mask next year?
Kingston Jamaica?
Welton's Crusader Longsword as part of the St George's beer fest. Lovely crisp pint, clear as a bell.
http://www.weltonsbeer.co.uk/index.php/our-beers/monthly-ales
Two brewers Irish Stout 4.4% Wetgerspoons. £1.49 a pint!
After sirloin steak and pint of Guinness for £7.09. No wonder other pubs cannot compete.
Now watching Real destroy Bayern on ITV.
Second half
Ballantine's 17 year old. Top marks 97.5 - Jim Murray 2014 Whisky Bible.
Not cheap - but not outrageously expensive. This and Ardbeg Uigedaile around the 100 quid mark for the pair.
I like the Ballantyne 17 a lot, one of the go to's when I go home.
Kingston beer festival. Various ales below 4% alcohol, from about 3 til 10pm. Good session, lots of of folk I know.
I was wearing a Surrey golf-club-bore blazer with gold buttons(not Ivy). I also had a shirt with a collar. This made me one of the best dressed men in the building. I was called "Sir" a lot. Dress code is crappy T shirt with slogan and crappy shorts, or trousers.
Dedicated real ale twats fall in the door when the place opens and bag all the tables. They leave at 4 to avoid the rush hour.
^There was an 80 year old Teddy Boy at the beer fest. He had black and white thick crepe sole brothel creepers and a full knee-length, drape jacket and matching trahseez. Big hair in a grey quiff. Not overweight or using a walking stick which is unusual at a beer festival.
The fact that he made an effort is as close to gravitas as you will ever find at a beer festival.