Some days it takes a certain willpower to last until the sun has gone over the yard arm for Locktail Hour to begin. 

I’ve become a dab hand at mixing a Quarantini, in which I experiment with whatever I find lurking in the drinks cupboard, and shake it over ice: the booze equivalent of Ready, Steady, Cook. But I am glad to say that there are those in the Walpole community who maintain proper luxury standards, and for whom refinement, sophistication and connoisseurship are still words to live by. So today’s selection of Weekend Kickstarter Cocktails comes to you from Walpole member, the urbane Richard Brendon, showcasing his barware and Chapel Down’s wines and spirits.

Richard has mixed for us a perfectly suave Martini (the secret is in the stirring), his upgrade on a classic Spritz (I am with Richard on Campari making a better Spritz – it is less like posh Tizer), and the ultimate Gin & Tonic (surprising what a difference a bit of rigour makes).

For the recipes and all the savoir-faire one could ask for, watch Richard make a Classic Martini here and follow us on Instagram where we will share his take on a Spritz and the ultimate G&T…

Watching Richard’s cocktail making skills has brought home to me what a difference some really elegant barware makes. Richard used…

Martini:
Diamond mixing glass £160
Fluted mini decanter £205
Fluted small coupe £90

Campari spritz:
Jancis Robinson set of 2 wine glasses £70

Gin and Tonic:
Diamond Double Old Fashioned £75

And since Locktail Hour is here to stay, I’m determined to invest in better stuff, so I was pleased to see from the Richard Brendon website that, despite current circumstances, delivery is slick as it was pre-lockdown – and what’s more, Walpole members are able to shop with 20% off using the code WALPOLE20 at checkout – have a look at the selection here.

Speaking of staying in being the new going out, Chapel Down also has some excellent offers on the website, and free delivery too – visit www.chapeldown.com for more.