The Galvin Cup Blog

Luke Blackall of The Londonpaper joins us for the second year running. 

'I thought I knew cocktails, that is until I joined the judging team at last year's Galvin Cup. I sauntered in there thinking I knew what was what. But I quickly realised that, compared to my fellow judges, I was a casual observer. 

A slip of a lad next to men with over thirty years front line experience at some of the best bars and restaurants in Europe.   I felt humbled.  

So I've upped my game this year and got into full training. I've eschewed the vodka tonics in favour of more cocktails. Lunch meetings are swapped in favour of early evening drinks.

I'm starting to learn more about the science of the cocktail. And I'm even toying with the idea of buying Cocktail (Tom Cruise's 1988 film) on DVD.  

Well maybe that last one is going a bit far.

But rest assured I'll have put the hours in.  

I've never enjoyed training so much in my life...'