Party Like It's 1782 🥳🎉
Dear Lush Lifers,
Sometimes it’s not what you drink, but where you drink that counts. It’s even better when both a spectacular venue and spectacular cocktail come together. Today we go one step further and add that extra ingredient of historical importance to the mix.
(OK - To be honest, it’s not the room where this clip happened!)
As we troop toward July 4 (Independence Day (USA)), it’s my pleasure to be bringing Lush Life Podcast to you from the room where it happened. I am sipping Head Bartender Marco Caglià’s Pink Duke cocktail in the Round Room at the Lansdowne Club on Berkeley Square in London’s Mayfair.
Here in 1782, the Treaty of Paris which ended the American War of Independence was drafted, although it was signed actually in Paris in 1783. It was built by architect extraordinaire, Robert Adam, as the home of William Petty Fitzmaurice, second Earl of Shelburne and Secretary of State for the Southern Department, responsible for American affairs. His friends Benjamin Franklin and John Jay were in the house and I can imagine those men sharing a celebratory cocktail exactly where I am sitting!
Others habitués held some raucous parties as well, including English-American diplomat Willian Waldorf Astor and American Harry Gordon Selfridge of Selfridge’s department store fame! Now it holds the Lansdowne Club, the first club to invite women to join as full members. Pretty incredible given it was 1935!
Although it was rebuilt in the early 20th Century, you can still see Robert Adam’s incredible First Drawing Room reassembled at the Museum of Art in Philadelphia and the Great Eating Room at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
The Round Room remains in situ, but now has the added bonus of there being a bar right down in the center of it! I can’t wait for you to hear the other incredible stories from my guests today, David Herbert, the CEO of Lansdowne Club, and the aforementioned Marco.
Check all the links below for the podcast and also our cocktail of the week, the Pink Duke!
Meet a major power player in Georgian society, the Lansdowne House with CEO David Herbert and Head Bartender Marco Caglià!
Make the Pink Duke here
The Pink Duke is in honour of the myriad characters who have raised more than a few glasses under the roof of Lansdowne House!
The Inside Scoop
From time to time, I get the inside scoop on some great deals or unusual bottles. It’s because I am an affiliate, which means I make a little something if you buy. If there are any that I think you would like, I will pass them along!
1000 Stories Wine aged in bourbon barrels!
With a trailblazing portfolio, a newly christened Bison Conservation programme and a B Corp-certified winery, 1000 Stories is the choice for the discerning Dad, looking for more from their wine this Father’s Day.
Based in California, 1000 Stories was the first winery to bring bourbon barrel-aged wines to market and expanded to American oak with its unique ageing process, giving each sip of wine an expressive and bold taste on the pallet.
With a portfolio which includes the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Bourbon Barrel-Aged Gold Rush Red, 1000 Stories is readily available across all supermarkets including Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Asda, Ocado and Tesco in the UK or on their website in the USA!
The Bottle Club: Celebrating Father’s this month!
Discover Glenmorangie whisky, a true classic crafted from a rich heritage and dedicated craftsmanship. Since 1843, Glenmorangie Distillery has been set in the peaceful Scottish Highlands, inspiring a single malt whisky known for its complexity and unmatched smoothness.
From the towering stills that create its pure spirit to the careful selection of casks for aging, every step is perfected by The Men of Tain, the guardians of this exceptional whisky. Each sip of Glenmorangie embodies tradition, making it a perfect Father's Day gift that whisky lovers will cherish for years to come.
GLENMORANGIE ORIGINAL 10 YEAR OLD WHISKY GIFT BOX
The cornerstone of our elegant, floral whisky, Glenmorangie Original, is a 10-year-old single malt that's essential to our range. We create it by blending the delicate spirit from Scotland's tallest stills with first and second fill American white oak casks. It's a perfect Father's Day gift that will impress any whisky lover.
GLENMORANGIE LASANTA 12 YEAR OLD WHISKY
Dr. Bill, our Director of Whisky Creation and an avid traveler, has always found the setting sun magical no matter where he is in the world. This whisky is his attempt to capture the magic of sunset, with its endless horizon of reds, oranges, and purples. We age it in bourbon and sherry casks for 12 years, transforming it into a delicious journey filled with rich spiciness and sun-soaked sweetness.
GLENMORANGIE THE QUINTA RUBAN 14 YEAR OLD WHISKY
Quinta Ruban takes you on a whisky adventure into a wild, dark, and delightful forest, where the wind carries hints of peppermint, and you might encounter rich swirls of chocolate at any moment. Starting off soft and fruity in our tall stills, it deepens as it ages for 14 years in bourbon casks and port casks from Portugal.
Once again, your continued support and enthusiasm mean the world to me, and I'm grateful to all.
Until next time, bottoms up!
Susan, Your Drinking Companion 🍸🥃🍹