This Week In London’s History
Random London Fact Of The Week
Fancy a slightly different tipple after work this Friday? We recommend that you find an obliging bartender and order yourself a Leap Year Cocktail:
2 measures gin
1/2 measure Grand Marnier
1/2 measure sweet vermouth
1/4 measure fresh lemon juice
A twist of lemon peel (for garnish)
Shake the ingredients (minus the lemon peel) over ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Add the garnish.
This cocktail was invented by the Savoy Hotel’s head bartender, Harry Craddock, on 29th February 1928 as a part of the hotel’s leap year celebrations. According to the Savoy Cocktail Book (1930), this cocktail has been used to support the tradition that the ‘leap day’ is an appropriate occasion for a lady to propose marriage to her suitor:
[This cocktail] is said to have been responsible for more proposals than any other cocktail that has ever been mixed.
So then, ladies, if you’re looking for some Dutch courage to help you pop the question to your man this Friday, you now know the perfect drink to help you out…
London’s Weather This Week
The temperatures promise to creep up a bit this week, but it’s going to be a bit breezy at times, and some of the evenings will probably still be a bit chilly. Prepare for some rain, also.
Photo of the tunnel to the Waterloo & City Line at Bank Station courtesy of paulbence photography’s Flickr photostream.