This weekend I had a few friends over, we sat back to watch a film and smoke a nice Cuban cigar, I wondered what in my drinks cabinet should I offer my guests?  usually we drink a Cuban rum to go with the cigar but I happened to have a brand new bottle of Kraken Rum the gorgeous looking jet black liquid just screamed drink me!

My friends had not heard of Kraken before but I can tell you when I poured the black liquid over ice into their glasses I could tell they were already impressed, this was no ordinary Rum this was something special.

Swirling the rum around a glass creates distinctive tentacle-like drips as the rich liquid seeps back to the depths.  The thick, caramel-like, taste lingers long after the last sip, it tastes devine, a cut above usual go to rum, my friends are sold I of course was already a covert.

The Kraken has an ABV of 40% and an RRP of £22.99 for a 70cl bottle.  It is available nationally in good off-licences, supermarkets and stores such as Sainsbury’s, Harvey Nichols, Majestic, Selfridges and, in Scotland, Peckham’s delicatessens.   It is also available on-line via thedrinkshop.co.uk.

 

Alternatively, you’ll find bottles in some of the UK’s finest bars, hotels and restaurants – as well as some far less reputable harbour-side taverns.

 

Sailors and Captains beware…the Kraken wakes…

 

The Heart and Soul of Cuba is a film by a man well known in the cigar world for his love of cigars especially Cuban cigars having previously written for Cigar Aficionado as their Cuban Cigar correspondent James Suckling has now branched out on his own and one of his first projects is this film on the Cuban cigar industry.

This is a beautifully shot film, focusing mainly on the stages of making the cigar from the fields where the tobacco is grown to the factories where they are love-lingly made, every step is shown in fantastic detail from start to finish.

 

This dvd would make a fantastic gift for any cigar lover, it really makes you appreciate what a special thing the hand made cigar is and work involved in making the finished article.

While the film is perfect on its own , if I could add anything I would have loved to see a few more interviews with the major players in the industry not just in Cuba but some of the vendors and experts from around the world have some amazing stories to tell and would have made a more rounded product in my eyes but to be fair the dvd gives you a great overview of how the Cuban cigar is made.

you can download or buy the dvd from www.heartandsoulofcuba.com

I was kindly sent a RazorSharp to test, as ‘m currently growing a beard I asked my good friend Dave to evaluate  the RazorSharp over the last month and here is what he had to say :

 

The razor-sharp is a convenient way to hold your Mach 3  razor and sharpen the blades. I’ve been using it for over a month now and I’m very pleased with it for extending the life of my Mach 3 razor blades. Usually I get 5-6  decent shaves out of the razor blade before I change it for a new one, one a day for work and maybe the weekend if I’m going out. At about £1.50 a blade they aren’t cheap to throw away however the razor sharp (£16.95) has extended the use to over 30 shaves so far and they claim up to 150 shaves from a single Mach 3 disposable blade. At the 30 day shave point the razor is holding steady at the 3-4 day sharpness point. The actual device is a razor holder that is coated in some kind of rubber over a solid plastic frame. It feel good in the hand being rubberised and some weight to it and feels well made unlike the cheap brittle plastic holders you usually get given. It’s simple to use just running the razor against the base of the holder 4 times after shaving. It does exactly what it says on the tin. The only downside that it has is that it doesn’t have a place to store spare razor blades but when one razor will last 150 shaves you really don’t need it too.  One of the best shaving products I’ve seen come onto the market in years

 

 

Available from www.razorsharpuk.co.uk for £16.95

The Gentry Grooming Co are launching their new  revolutionary 3D Shave. This genius 3-Dimensional Shave System is a Shave Cream, Shave Oil and a Moisturiser all in one that can be used without water and with an electric razor!

The 3D shave gel is part of Gentry Grooming Co’s Esstential range which we have talked about before,and is infused with the same  Black Pepper & Mint as their other products in the range.

The revolutionary formula helps to soothe, moisturise and condition the skin, preventing razor burn and in-growing hairs. Packed full of natural ingredients including Grape Seed Oil and Shea Nut Butter, the 3D system also contains a Ceramide to allow the skin cells to repair and regenerate.

 

The 100ml 3D Shave System meets airline carry on regulations, ideal for frequent flyers, businessmen and guys who want to groom on the go!

Also Gentry Grooming have created a great video demostrating the perfect shave

 

The 3d Shave can be purchased at the following locations :

House of Fraser Manchester & Glasgow / The Gentry Grooming Co Salons

Recently I was asked to the launch of the new Ford Focus, Im not much of a car man so intially I thought I wouldnt be that interested as well a Ford Focus is just a Focus isnt it? well it turns out no its not.

Ford have given the Focus a massive redesign both in and out, and there’s certainly no mistaking the new Ford Focus for the old one with its modern sleek looks its a lifetime away from the old S Reg Focus bought when I first past my test.

I think whats most impressive to me though is the tech Ford have installed into the Focus, it makes me think how far away can we be from a car that drives us home from the pub? … yeah ok I wish

Heres a break down :

Active Park Assist:

This is probably one of the coolest features of the new Ford Focus. It’s called ‘Active Park Assist’ and as the name suggest the car can literally park itself. The clever technology checks the space around the car first to measure the space around it (essential for narrow/busy roads) and then measures the space of the chosen car park space to ensure a perfect fit before automatically steering itself in

Parking Assist Video

Blind Spot Information System:

Using radar sensors, the Blind Spot Information System has been designed to see things that might be hidden in the drivers blind spot, such as other vehicles. This is essential when driving down a busy main road and you wish to over take or switch lanes. With the Blind Spot Information System the sensors detect whether there is a car in the drivers blind spot and it will then alert him/her with a orange warning light in their door mirror to let them know there may be something in their blind spot:

Blind Spot Information Video

Low Speed Safety System:

Low Speed Safety System has been designed to support drivers in slow moving traffic (speeds under 20mph). The Low Speed Safety system sensors sense the distance of the traffic ahead, and will apply the brakes should the vehicle in front unexpectedly stop.

Low Speed Safety System Video

Eco Boost engine:

The new Ford Focus has also got a lighter more compact Eco Boost engine which works more efficiently to inject fuel into each cylinder. This technology helps to use less fuel and produces lower CO2 emissions, whilst delivering the performance of an larger engine:

Eco Boost Engline Video

So there we have it an impressive little car, the feature that wows me the most though is the Active parking assit which totally amazes me watching that video.

If you would like more information about the new Ford Focus please visit: http://www.ford.co.uk/Cars/Focus/Overview or take a look at the Ford Focus Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/fordfocus

Yes, it’s true there is this efficient, Ninja-quick, Japanese method for folding a t-shirt that reduces all the motions to just a few economical ones. Anyone who’s ever worked in retail and had to spend countless hours refolding and re-stacking shirts and sweaters will appreciate this folding technique. And it’s great to use for your home laundry too.

Whether you have six or six hundred t-shirts to fold, why not fold them the fastest and easiest way you can?

 

 

Last month Mr Black discussed the Four in Hand knot.  Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s a mighty fine knot but if I may be so bold, I’d say it’s more of a beginners knot.  It’s what you might use while attending high school but once you’ve grown up, you’ll want a grown up knot to accompany you and that’s where the Half Windsor comes into it’s own.  Matched with a crisp shirt you’ll have what is known as sartorial elegance.

So, if you don’t want to be left in the collar-fashion wilderness, follow the advice of Charles Tyrwhitt of Jermyn Street who have produced a nifty step-by-step video guide on how to tie the knot.

Prepare yourself First, turn your collar up and pass the tie around your neck before folding the collar back down. Make sure the wide blade of the tie is around 10 to 12 inches longer than the narrow tail.

Get stuck in Next, pass the wider section over the tail once, then back underneath before bringing it through the loop to create the knot. Fold the blade over the knot, back through the loop once again and tuck it inside the knot. Then gently pull the blade down before pinching the knot to create a neat triangle.

Tidy up You can then tighten by pulling the narrow tail while pushing the knot towards the top of the shirt. Before it reaches the collar, fasten the button and adjust to comfort. The result is a larger knot than the four-in-hand, but extremely smart all the same.

How to wear it The Half Windsor tends to suit a larger and more rounded face and is ideal if you have a beard as it draws ones attention to your neck. When choosing your neck wear bear in mind that a diagonal striped tie goes well with a crisp white or blue shirt while a versatile solid neck-tie suits check and striped shirts.

If there is one thing Mr Fotheringham hates, it’s cleaning and if there’s one thing I hate more than cleaning it’s cleaning brass, chrome and silverware!

Let’s face it, it’s a dirty job but someone’s got to do it and assuming you are like me and you don’t have a man-servant called Jeeves to do it for you, you’ll want to polish those candlesticks that belonged to Great Aunt Ethel quickly and easily before your date comes over for some microwaved lasagne and a bottle (or two) of Lambrini.  That’s where the Miracle All Purpose Polish Cloth comes in handy.

To say I was sceptical of it’s claims is an understatement.  If the site and the packaging are to be believed this cloth can clean just about anything and what’s more they claim that it will clean it effort free.  I decided to put it to the test with a chrome shaving mirror that has a few water marks from lack of proper cleaning after a shower and shave in teh bathroom.  If I didn’t detest cleaning so much it wouldn’t be in the state it’s in but then again, if I was an efficient cleaner I would have no need for the Miracle Cloth! In just a few minutes I managed to shift those water stains that had been doggedly refusing to budge with umpteen cleaning products for at least 3 years, seeing how easy that was I decided on a tougher challenge, the brass letterbox!

Since installing the letterbox over 6 years ago I have never given it more than an occasional wipe with a damp cloth and we’re talking very occasional here.  Would the Miracle Cloth live up to it’s name? 15 minutes later I was amazed to see it shine like the day I bought it.

I’ve no idea what is impregnated in the cloth but it seems that it’s a formula that’s has been around since 1922 and I can tell you, it works, just don’t ask me how.  Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to pop some lasagne in the microwave and buff up Ethel’s candlesticks before my date arrives in 20 minutes!

One of the things that the modern man no longer seems to make time for is a traditional wet shave.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of you reading own an electric razor and it’s probably safe to say that those of you who do wet shave use foam from a can and razor with multi-blades that cost as much as large gin & tonic!

Over the next few weeks I’ll be introducing both the tools and techniques to help you discover the art of a traditional wet shave. Don’t worry, you won’t have to switch to a Sweeney Todd style cut-throat razor in order to get that smooth as a baby’s bottom feeling but you will need to sacrifice a little time.  Like all good things in life, a good shave cannot and should not be rushed.  Ideally you should allow around 20 minutes but that said, with a little practise you can shave that down to a mere ten minutes, please don’t tell me your face is not worth ten minutes in the morning!  So, the first thing to consider is the shaving brush.

Traditional Badger Shaving Brushes

Badger Hair has been used for more than two centuries to make the best shaving brushes; in the past it was the preserve of the wealthy, now it is available to all. Badger hair is quality graded according to the appearance and softness of the hairs; the ascending classifications are Best, Super and Silver-tip. The price of a brush will depend on the quality of the hair and the amount of it used in the brush.  You can expect to pay anything from £15 to £100 for a quality brush that should last a minimum of 10-15 years – it is an expensive resource and the highest standards of quality control are used when the hair is sourced. The hair is cleansed and sterilised to ensure that it is not only clean but performs to meet user expectations.

Why Use Badger Hair?

Badger hair is different to many types of fur – like human hair it absorbs water and it is this characteristic that makes it perfect for shaving brushes. The lathering process whips hot water, soap and air into a warm foam that cleanses the skin and lubricates the path of the razor. Water is the key element in a good shave and the more a brush can hold, the better the lather and shave will be. The fine tips of the hairs help to make a smooth and creamy lather and the exceptional softness of badger-hair cleanses the face gently, giving a comfortable and reliable shave.  As mentioned, there are three main types of Badger Hair, let’s have a closer look at them:

Best Badger Shaving Brush – this is an excellent quality of pure badger hair. It is normally regarded as the benchmark standard. The hair is harvested from the majority of the pelt, including the belly. It is generally darker in colour although the colours of individual hairs vary from grey and brown to black. This quality helps creates a lather far superior to that resulting from a synthetic bristle brush.

Super Badger Shaving Brush – this is the finer hair from the back of the badger, it is longer and softer than ‘best’ badger and because it is finer, requires more hairs to fill a brush. This high quality grade of badger hair is reserved for hand filled brushes. Visually, Super badger displays a distinctive black band capped with pure white tips and is presented in a natural fan shape, using the natural hair ends to create the shape and softness.

Silver Tip Badger Shaving Brush – this is the highest quality of all. The finely graded and sorted pure badger hair is the softest, rarest and most expensive badger hair; with natural untrimmed silver tips, it is the highest quality available worldwide. The pure colouring of this hair is enhanced by careful hand grading and filling. Using long hair from the neck of the animal, it is ultra soft, flexible and will provide years of luxurious shaving.

Looking after your shaving brush

A badger hair brush is a natural product that, with loving care, should last ten to fifteen years. When you get a new brush it is quite natural for a few loose hairs to come away from the brush in the first few weeks; these are shorter hairs that did not quite reach to the glue in the base and this should not be a cause for concern.

Wet your brush thoroughly before each use, dip the tip of the brush into the shaving cream or soap and lather gently using a light circular or up and down motion; when applying the shaving cream or soap do not apply too much pressure, causing the badger hair to splay.  The longevity of a quality badger hair shaving brush is directly related to the care and respect it is given. The lifespan of the hair may also be affected by using some of the commercial branded shaving products of which many contain alcohol and shaving oils.

After shaving, rinse the brush gently but thoroughly in clean water, flick the excess water away and place the brush in a stand with the hair pointing down. If you do not have a stand, leave the brush pointing up rather than horizontal, so that air can get to all the hairs and dry the brush naturally.

Natural hair that is left wet can develop mildew; try to avoid enclosing a wet brush in too small an enclosed space. If you keep it in the bathroom cabinet ensure that it has sufficient space to dry. If you shave away from home and keep your shaving brush in a travel tube or kit bag, give it an opportunity to dry as soon as you can.

No matter how carefully you look after your shaving brush it may, from time to time, require more thorough cleaning.  For this you will need to purchase some household Borax Powder from an ironmongers or chemist.

• Mix some Borax in a small container with enough water to make a thick paste
• Rub the paste into the hair of the brush gently and work it down to the base of the hairs. Leave it overnight
• Rinse thoroughly with warm water