LIFESTYLE – Page 31 – Freak Deluxe

12 Cocktails of Christmas with Patrón

Ultimate luxury drinks brand Patrón are launching a pop-up bar this month with leading retailer Harvey Nichols. The Patrón Bauble bar will transform the menswear floor in Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge into a Christmas wonderland with a grotto installation offering a selection of festive cocktails.

The Patrón Silver Reindeer at the Bistrotech last Christmas Source: Urban Junkies

The adult only grotto open from 12-9pm will provide a luxury setting to enjoy the perfect antidote to a hard day’s Christmas shopping, also doubling up as a man crêche.

The Patrón Silver Reindeer at the Bistrotech last Christmas

The Patrón Christmas Grotto will open from 16th -23rd Dec to over 18’s only.

Here’s 5 0f my favourite “sounding” cocktails, ones I want to sample and possibly make myself.

Spiced Silver Dove

Mandarin and Pomegranate Golden Cobbler

Old Saint Nick

Patrón Tree-quila

Mrs Claus

Get down to Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge from 16th-23rd to sample one of these and to find out what the other 7 are.

Europe’s First Patrón Bar

Rhodes W1 is now the new home of Europe’s first Patrón bar. (more…)

Dita Von Teese for Cointreau

Cointreau have teamed up with burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese to launch the limited edition “My Private Cointreau Coffret” exclusively at Selfridges.

What in the world is a “coffret? I hear you ask. I asked the same thing, it’s an all in one beauty essential and cocktail kit. The coffret holds two martini glasses, one bottle of Cointreau and a cocktail shaker and comes with a golden lock and key.

‘I love the idea of making things that we do and use into a glamorous moment…the Cointreau Coffret is like a secret bar, and also a place to store your jewels, love letters…anything!’ says ambassador Dita Von Teese.

Cointreau, the iconic French orange liqueur can be enjoyed neat, over ice or found at the heart of well loved cocktails such as the Margarita, White Lady, Side Car and Cointreaupolitan.

DVT has also designed her own cocktail called the Cointreau Teese with 40ml Cointreau, 20ml apple juice, 15ml violet syrup and 15ml fresh lemon juice. Simply fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add in Cointreau, apple juice, violet syrup and fresh lemon juice. Shake well together then strain into a cocktail glass. Run freshly cut ginger around the rim of the cocktail glass before garnishing with a violet flower.

The Cointreau Teese was damn tasty, and I’d love to make it at home but violet syrup? OK…

The cocktails and canapés on the night were delish, my fave was the Cointreau Teese, followed by the Cointreau Blush which came in a fabulous martini glass with a black feather collar!

Guests on the night were Henry Conway, Donna Air, Zoë Kravitz, Natt and Leah Weller, and Meredith Ostrom.

Henry Conway in his Cruella De Ville-esque Dalmation puppy coat!

Launch night DVT wore a purple silk and jewelled dress by Moschino.

Someone should’ve pointed out that she had her hanger loop sticking out before taking this pic.

“My Private Cointreau Coffret” is available from Selfridges for £199.

Levis – Shape What’s To Come

Levis held an event last Tuesday to introduce us to their new Global community for “Millennial” women. Levis Shape What’s To Come is a platform for young females around the world to interact and network with inspirational, successful young female mentors for help in reaching their goals. It’s a testament to the fact that nothing is impossible.

When I first got the invitation for this event my reaction was “huh? Didn’t we already see a whole shape thing from Levis a couple of months ago?” when speaking to others that received said invite they thought the same thing. Once the event got started we realised that it’s more about the “shape of things to come” and what can happen rather than physical shape.

Ambassadors from different backgrounds and creative fields were chosen from around the UK to represent and give input to the community of Shape What’s to Come. From left to right we have:

Annie Mac – Host of Shape What’s to Come

Art director Anna Murray, founder of design agency Patternity which specialises in the application of pattern to furniture and fashion, and textiles designer Grace Winteringham

Social change campaigner Justice Williams, the youngest black woman in the UK to be awarded an MBE

London-based Kristin Knox, the American author and founder of fashion blog theclotheswhisperer.co.uk. Kristin regularly lectures in art and fashion colleges around the UK

Acclaimed DJ and songwriter Ikonika, a young Londoner who is crafting her own unique musical sound with unusual hooks influenced by dubstep

Belfast-born Kathryn Ferguson, a self-taught filmmaker whose work has premiered at institutions including the ICA and the OnedotZero and Birds Eye View film festivals. Kathryn has also been featured in the likes of Vogue and SHOWstudio

There was a discussion between the audience and the panel, one of the points put to the panel was something to the effect of ” You’ve been talking about being business women all night, but I noticed not one of you have talked about the feminist issue”

The answer to this so called “question” was written all over the entire panel’s face. Like “Why do we have to make this a feminist thing?!” I’m sure the whole point of feminism in the first place was to become equal, not to take over the world? Anyway Justice put the issue to bed by saying “If you really want to start talking about labels, I’m a black, female, entrepreneur” Applause.

After the discussion there was an acoustic performance from the Noisettes