A very merry walk with Dickens and Courvoisier
Dickens is so Christmasy, don’t you think? This year, I’m planning an afternoon on the sofa with my 5-year-old which would include the Disney version of A Christmas carol, hot apple juice with cinnamon and reindeer shaped shortbreads.
Which is why I could not resist Courvoisier’s idea of a Dickens tour around Covent Garden. You will get glimpses of his world, learn about his childhood, what a genius at marketing he was, as well as discover settings featuring in his novels… I studied Oliver Twist at uni but this is definitely much more fun! I had no idea he had his offices so close to the apple market nor that he managed a successful literrary magazine and there are plenty more anecdotes to treasure…
What is the link with the famous brand? Well, when Dickens died, several cases of the French drink were found in his personnal belongings. Re-read his novels and you will actually find many mentions of fine punch cocktails too – quite a classic drink at the time. The tour includes two recipes to try for a very festive touch. First a cold version, one of the author’s favourite: apple juice, lemon, sugar, ginger ale and a dash of Courvoisier. Just the energy you need to step out in this cold weather! On your return, there will be another treat, a mug of Steaming Bishop: port, spiced red wine, grapefruit, Seville orange juice and Courvoisier. Bishop refers to the colour of the drink, between red and purple, very similar to the dress of the clergyman.The only missing thing would be a chimney fire…
A lovely tour to put you in a cheerful mood. After all, t’is the season to be merry!
Until Dec 19, 2010 – £8/person for the walk and two punch cocktails
Want to know more about Dickens and punch drinks? Read this amazing article.
6 Responses to “A very merry walk with Dickens and Courvoisier ”
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A ta santé, Chocoralie ! Je cours profiter de cette promenade à travers les habitudes dickensiennes ! Merci de nous l’avoir signalée.
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lydy says:
Je me suis notée le 17 et 18 décembre à 18h un théatre en plein air “more london”, the scoop : ils vont jouer une version moderne de scroodge !!!
et c’est .. GRATUIT !! -
Chocoralie says:
My Littl Discoveries: elle rechauffe le coeur et l’esprit…
Madame Thermomix: je redecouvre Dickens avec plus de gourmandise et d’humour, je te l’avoue.
Lydy: oui, les Pantaloons qui devraient etre excellents. Enjoy! Tu as vu que Jerry springer devrait jouer dans la panto Peter Pan en tant que capitaine Crochet a al place de David Hasseldorf?
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Voilà un beau coup marketing pour Courvoisier! Tant mieux! Les cognacs français ont bien du mal à rivaliser avec les whiskys. A Cognac, j’y étais cet été!
[...] Forgotten today, they were legions in the 17th century. The mix was imported from the Indian colonies to England at the time. Ever wondered what it is exactely? Not necessarily rum as I thought. The name derives from Hindu, Panchi meaning 5, the number of ingredients needed: alcohol, sugar, water, lemon, tea or spices. Sailors would bring it back in casks which would often have been used for sherry previously adding extra caramel and wooden notes. It was widely drunk till the 19th century, even Dickens had his favourite. [...]