Access the digital magazine here. Not subscribed? Bartenders can sign up for a digital or hard copy here.
INSIDE CLASS
Hamish Smith introduces the latest edition of CLASS.
What do The New Yorker, Time magazine, Private Eye and CLASS all have in common? Well, up to now, very little, but as of now, each has featured the work of Gerald Scarfe on its cover. Sorry, I only mention it because I’m a shameless name dropper.
Scarfe, if you’ve not made the connection, is the legendary illustrator and political satirist who is also the eponym of Rosewood London’s Scarfes Bar. Those cartoon panels that adorn the walls – all Gerald Scarfe.
Thankfully – and slightly unexpectedly – he agreed to work with us. So all that was left was luck and good timing. In August the news dropped that bartending grandee Andy Loudon – formerly of Satan’s Whiskers and Tippling Club – had returned to these shores to take the reins and Kristijonas Bazys and Nóra Földvári were stepping up into a new-look leadership team.
So we had the hook – now over to Gerald to capture it. In this issue of Class we talk to him about his characterful illustrations, recent and past and, of course, to Loudon about London and his plans for his new digs. In the build-up to peak season, our autumn edition is full of our industry writers offering helping hands.
In mullet order (business at the front, party at the back) we kick off with UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls, who has an update on tipping legislation that will soon be statute. Meanwhile, Edmund Weil proves once again that he should have headed up Brexit negotiations – he shows us how to beat the system and still recruit from overseas.
Also with an eye on recruitment, Kevin Armstrong argues that efficiencies in our drinks making are de-skilling our workforce.
In more aspirational spirits, Iain Mcpherson encourages us to think and act globally, Monica Berg wants ingredient sourcing to chime, not clash, with the seasons, while Anna Sebastian argues for more selfless collaboration.
In my own column, I ask whether a bar can be great without serving great spirits, while debutant Sophie Bratt says a memorable bar experience is more about what’s outside of the glass. In his trends piece, Tyler Zielinski makes the case for cut-size cocktails, Clinton Cawood’s classical odyssey takes him to the Carajillo, while Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown are making drinks with tomatillos.
In spirits, Millie Milliken reports on American whiskey innovation, Oli Dodd returns with his quintet of quintessential spirits – this time non-London Dry gins – while Matthias Ingelmann explores the wider world of agave spirits.
Laura Foster takes us through the slightly oblique but no less delicious landscape of Spanish brandy, while Joe Wadsack is flying the flag for Australian wine.
In bars, we drop the spotlight on to Byrdi in Melbourne, while Sean Muldoon decries the erosion of the Irish pubs that have been his career’s – The Dead Rabbit included – inspiration.
With bars getting busier and so many cocktail weeks up and down the country this month and next – and bar shows abroad – here’s wishing you an eventful autumn. See you next when the trees are bare and our bars are full of life – our winter edition is already in the planning.