Chocolate and Whisky: The mystery deepened.

28-50 By Night | 76 Jason Court | Wigmore Street | W1U 2SJ
Thursday 26th January

We knew, on paper, that this pairing made perfect sense. In their purest forms, both chocolate and spirits are made from a simple set of ingredients that combine to produce a whole variety of diverse flavours. But nothing quite prepared us for the buzz this event would create in the already atmospheric setting of 28:50 By Night. Our senses were taken on a journey of sensory pleasure.

We were privileged to have the foremost trio of experts, Chantal Coady, the only person ever to be awarded an OBE for services to chocolate making, event host Paul Flatts of Whisky Drams, and Lucy Clare Tidal Rum’s Ambassador, who led our guests through the blind tasting. 28:50’s Head Sommelier Jules Bensacq presided over the whole event, taking care of the details right from the planning stage to shaking and serving.

Three shimmering glasses of varying shades of gold were lined up in front of us to smell, swirl and taste. And what a pleasure these were.  Voted the world’s best whiskey, Green Spot Leoville Barton was paired with delicious Grenada Special Cuvée 85% Broken Dark Chocolate, bringing out the clove and nutmeg in the whiskey. Lucy took us on the Tidal Rum journey, with a sense of freedom that the sea awakened in us with the subtle coastal flavours, paired adventurously with white chocolate with foraged fennel and cardamom. Jules guided us through the pure pleasure of the Delamain Pale & Dry XO Premier Cru Grande Champagne Cognac, which Chantal paired with chocolate-coated candied orange.  Such extravagant flavour pairings.

A special treat was Chantal sharing the unique taste of raw cocoa, a smooth fruity, tropical, tart, and naturally sweet subtle flavour. 

The Chocolate Detective team is working with cocoa farmers in Grenada and highlighting sustainable chocolate made at grassroots level (“Tree to Bar”) and keeping value in local economies. The voyage this chocolate follows is 99% emission-free, and it’s made even more special by watching this short video and appreciating its uniqueness. Sailboat Chocolate.

Thank you to the Mixology Team at 28:50, who managed multiple glasses during the tasting. They calmly went on to create a sea of cocktails with the Tidal Rum; Old Fashioned and Espresso Martinis spun out of their shakers.

Some lovely feedback –

Hi Barbara, thanks for a fun night.  Great fun and made many new friends also good to reconnect with a few people I hadn’t seen for a while !!  Cheers. R

---

Thank you, Barbara for a wonderful evening. I had too much fun xx

---

Dear Barbara, thank you so much for a lovely evening, let me know when the next one is please! x

---

About the Italian Job; a Marylebone party

The Italian Job Party l The Italian Greyhound, Marylebone

Wednesday 2^nd November 2022

Our Italian Job party was a roaring success despite the absence of the fleet of red, white, and blue minis.  Michael Caine’s character Charlie Croker would have agreed it was a party with the spirit of dolce vita. Beep Beep!

Our stylish party was in the elegant Italian Greyhound restaurant, our private downstairs space was filled to the brim. The atmosphere was warmed by pleasantly low-decibel jazz.

The room was in excellent spirits, with at least 35 new people who were just such fun to have there and who mixed enthusiastically with our regulars, which, as usual, felt like a group of treasured and fun friends.

More marvellous memories were made in this W1 basement, adding to the many we have gathered over the year Including our delight to see some new couples move their conversation upstairs to the dining room of the graceful hound. The menu is perfect to share and to enjoy sharing conversations a plenty.

Thank you to the team at the Italian Greyhound for being such welcoming hosts.

Some lovely feedback –

Thank you for the wonderful event on Wednesday night. It’s such a lovely place you have created, it feels safe and inviting and easy to meet people and make friends, just delightful, thank you.

---

Another great party, everyone was very friendly. You always manage to assemble a good mix of interesting and fun people.  Thank you, Barbara, for being such a great hostess, looking forward to the next one!

---

Thank you, Barbara, it was a lovely, lively evening – such a great turn out. Thoroughly enjoyable as always! Well worth braving the lashing rain. The evening always seems to go so quickly, catching up with old acquaintances and making new friends, and then all to soon it’s time to head home….

---