Hailing from Mali, West Africa, Amadou and Mariam are an epic group forging new ground in the genre of world music. The extraordinary blind, genre-hopping couple mix traditional Malian music with an eclectic array of ethnic influences (Syrian, Cuban and Colombian to mention a few) alongside contemporary western rock and electric sounds).

The couple won wide spread critical acclaim after partnering with Latin music super star Manu Chao for their 2004 album Dimanche a Bamako. After a series of international tours they have continued to garner more mainstream cross over success, recently partnering with Blur’s Damon Alban for their recent hit single Sabali. Notoriously fastidious music critics Pitchfork, named Sabali 15th on their top 100 best tracks of 2008. You can see pitchfork’s review of their album here.

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As you know this is the last of our feature Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar cocktails - what a superb one cocktail to finish on!

Through using a method known as “throwing” (link), which combines the ingredients together, chills them down and adds a touch of dilution, this cocktail incorporates Bombay Sapphire, Amontillado Sherry and peach bitters. The purpose of this method is meant to ensure that the spirit is not bruised and that all of the flavours are slotted together to give a full and exotic taste.

Created by Esther Medina (link) from Roast in Borough Market. the Thrown to Bombay Sapphire Paradise is created by using the following ingredients:

50ml Bombay Sapphire Gin, 25ml Amontillado Sherry, 3 dashes of Fee Brothers Peach Bitters and a Lemon Peel garnish.

Method: Add Bombay Sapphire, Amontillado Sherry and Bitters to a mixing glass and add ice, whilst also adding ice to another mixing glass. Using a hawthorne strainer (link), “throw” the liquid from one to the other, swapping the strainer, 4-5 times. Double strain into a clean and chilled Martini glass.

Sounds good and tastes even better. Enjoy!

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The last stop on our travels has brought us to Western Africa, where we will be delving into the culture and mystery of this vast and compelling region. With this intriguing area comes our final botanical Grains of Paradise, an exceptional addition to the Bombay Sapphire mix.

Sourced from West Africa, in the Middle Ages, this spice was termed grana paradise “Grains of Paradise” because of its high value equivalent at the time to gold.

They combine a peppery bite and a light lavender nose with chocolate for that touch of luxury and orange to highlight and accentuate the citrus. In short, they add a spicy, exotic quality to the spirit, making the Thrown to Bombay Paradise one you shouldn’t miss!

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As the sun is setting on the Bombay Sapphire Dusk bar’s time at Somerset House, we turn our attention to our final stop of discovery – West Africa.

West Africa, as the name suggests is the western most region in Africa and contains 16 countries across its 5 million square km. Despite the large number of countries across this region; cultures, cuisine, dress and music are very similar, however not extensively shared with groups out side the area. During our stop here we will look at some the facets of African life and showcase the beauty and diversity it delivers.

As always, with our last region brings our last Botanical and Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar cocktail – Grains of Paradise and Thrown to Bombay Paradise.

Although the Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar is drawing to an end, it’s not finished just yet. There are just under 2 weeks left, so if you haven’t already, stop by the bar and say hello.

Our final botanical – Grains of Paradise

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The Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar in conjunction with Urban Junkies are giving you the opportunity to win a unique Bombay Sapphire Blue iPod. This comes complete with 24 hours worth of Audio Sushi tracks, which was compiled specifically for the bar during London Fashion Week.

For the opportunity to win just answer the following question:

What was the name of the Bombay Sapphire Dusk cocktail served during London Fashion Week? (Here’s Clue: the answer is on bombaysapphiredusk.com!)

Submit entries using the following email address – events@bombaysapphire.com and provide your name, e-mail, address and answer.

Good luck!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. This competition is only open to UK residents aged 18 or over, excluding employees of the Promoter, their families, agents or anyone professionally involved with the promotion.
2. No postal entries will be accepted.
3. Only 1 entry per person.
3. The closing date for the competition is Wednesday 7th October at 5pm. Any entries received after this date will not be included in the competition draw.
4. The winner will be selected at random by an independent source. The winner of the competition will be notified in writing via e-mail no later than Friday 9th October.
5. The winners name may be disclosed to anyone who writes within 1 month after the published closing date to: Bombay Sapphire blue ipod competition, Bacardi Martini Limited, Bacardi Brown Forman House, Church Green Close, Kings Worthy, Winchester, SO23 7TW.
6. The winner will receive in the post 1 blue ipod nano 8GB complete with sleeve (worth £115) which has 24 hours worth of dance music tracks compiled by Audio Sushi.
7. The competition is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash in whole or in part.
8. The Promoter reserves the right to amend, alter or withdraw the competition as necessary due to exceptional circumstances outside its reasonable control.
9. The Promoter’s decision is final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into.
10. By taking part in this promotion you agree that the Promoter may use your information in accordance with the terms of the Privacy Policy which can be viewed at www.bombaysapphire.co.uk.
The Promoter is Bombay Sapphire, Bacardi Brown Forman House, Kings Worthy, Winchester S023 7TW.

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Bombay Sapphire’s Gintelligentsia, entertaining master classes in the art of gin led by brand ambassador and expert Mixologist Sam Carter, are coming to an end on Wednesday 14th October. The Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar itself is closing on Sunday 18th October so make sure that you head down to the bar for an alfresco cocktail or two before winter weather well and truly sets in!

If you would like to register your details for further information on future Gintelligentsia sessions in other venues in and around London please e-mail events@bombaysapphire.com with your name, phone number and e-mail address.

We hope to see you around soon.

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Browsing further through Wong Kar Wai’s works I was delighted to come across this amateur mash-up of The Whitest Boy Alive’s track, Island, set against selected cuts to Wai’s feature classic Happy Together (1997). Wong juxtaposes black and white film stock against colour footage to great dramatic effect.

Happy Together tells the story of a rocky affair of a gay couple living as expatriates in Buenos Aires. Wong uses an electic array of music to punctuate the story including tango by Argentinian maestro Astor Piazolla, Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso and instrumentals by Frank Zappa.

Happy Together gave Wong his first international recognition winning the award for Best Director at Cannes in 1997.

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Thinking of China I’m often mindful of its great and expansive history. However, in this double post on film director Wong Kar Wai, I’m going to depart from this to explore one of China’s most contemporary and progressive artists.

Considered one of China’s finest auteurs, Wong Kar Wai is both a national and international Cinematic treasure. Despite coming from a screenwriting background, Wong is notorious for being a Director who avidly experiments and improvises with his actors; often departing from the script of fixed screenplays. Beyond his cavalier attitude to deadlines and budgets (the cast in-joke in his recent film 2046 was that the film wouldn’t be finished until 2046) Wong’s work is often noted for its rich, expressionist colour palette creating a stylised canon of film.

Wong made his directing debut in 1988 with As Tears Go By a crime melodrama borrowing heavily from from Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets. In addition to a raft of critically acclaimed feature films (Days of Being Wild, Chunking Express, Happy Together) Wong has also directed various short films and music videos, including DJ Shadow’s 6 Days.

I was surprised to learn that in 2006, he became the first Chinese director to preside on the jury at the Cannes Film Festival. Further more he’s also been listed third on the respected Sight & Sound Top Ten Directors list of modern times. Browsing YouTube I came across this great short film The Follow, which you can see here in its entirety.

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As it’s the London Design Festival this week, Bombay Sapphire thought it would give you the opportunity to get to know world renowned designer and creator of the Dusk Bar, Tom Dixon.

See Tom talk through what his inspiration is behind the design of the Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar and his famous Sapphire Tomtini cocktail in a unique martini glass, designed by the man himself!

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Bombay Sapphire brings you another gorgeous cocktail, this time from Soho Hotel’s very own Chris Amey.

To make this delightfully fruity, fresh cocktail Muddle half a plum & 3 blackberries in a highball glass. Add 50ml Bombay Sapphire, 10ml liquorice liqueur (we recommend Keglevich liquorice liqueur) & 10ml fresh lemon juice. Stir, add ice and top with ginger beer, stirring again. Garnish with half a fanned plum.

Enjoy!

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