Mr Lyan reveals all his secrets...

Mr Lyan (aka Ryan Chetiyawardana) is the man behind much celebrated cocktail bar White Lyan (where, incidentally, we had hands down one of the best Manhattan’s we’ve ever tasted) and the wonderful Dandelyan bar in London. We're crowning him the King of Cocktails, after all he has won the UK Bartender of the Year award.. twice, and has been nominated for a host of awards at the upcoming 'Tales of the Cocktail’s 9th Annual Spirited Awards'. Perhaps more than this though, he is the man that has a recipe for "chocolate wine", yes, yes, you read that right! Now he's opening up Pandora's box and revealing many of his previously closely-guarded recipes, with the publication of his book Good Things to Drink with Mr Lyan & Friends published by Francis Lincoln.

In his book, Mr Lyan doesn't hang about; a quick one-page intro and then we're straight into the equipment and tools section, and then the detail and nuances of cocktail ingredients. All very accessible and starting with some gloriously sunny breakfast tipples, however, let's cut to the chase; on page 143 we have the ingredients and full method for the aforementioned liquid gold aka chocolate wine. This is fruity red wine mixed with cocoa nibs, apricots and cognac (amongst other ingredients) and then served over ice; no more selling required. If you're in a hurry and need a pick-me-up on a wintry day, you can then flick straight to page 181 for the spiked hot chocolate; this isn't Bourneville with a measure of rum, this is real dark chocolate, vanilla pod infusions, cinnamon and poire william. I mourn the passing of the summer, but every cloud has a silver lining (or a winter with a spiked hot chocolate up its sleave!).

The brilliance of Chetiyawardana's cocktail bars are captured in this book; use it to bring cocktails into your home, taking the fuss out of creating impressive drinks for any get-together, from lazy brunches to summer parties... go on.... you know you want to...

For details of where to buy London's King of Cocktails' book
GOOD THINGS TO DRINK with Mr Lyan & friends published by Francis Lincoln.
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