Mojo’s. Just the word brings back memories that I think I’d rather forget and shadows of things I can’t quite remember.
Late nights and too much alcohol that you pay for the next morning.
If I’m honest, not the kind of place I’d immediately associate with a gin tasting, nor with crispy chicken wings and fried pickles. But the new Mojo Bar, refurbished and feeling a lot more, without wanting to sound disparaging, professional.
Recently it hosted a tasting for both Portobello Road and Langton’s gin and gin lover that I am, I had to head over and give them a try and learn about the brands. It also gave me the opportunity to see the refurbishment for myself. And I was rather impressed with all of them.
Portobello Road Gin I’ve known of for a while, having experienced it in cocktails all over Manchester, particularly memorable is the Garden of Violet at The Violet Hour in Didsbury. I’ve also sampled it in many a gin and tonic but oddly, not on it’s own until now. Made in the Ginstitute, a fantastic establishment, firmly on my to visit list (drops hint to Mr GFB) as you can pay to create your own gin.
However, back to Portobello Road and away from my fantasies. The gin is a good all rounder. Lots of luscious pepper notes, good bite of juniper, but not too heavy and a citrussy dryness that lingers on the palate. It’s easy to see you could play on all sorts of elements of this in cocktails, and the citrus just begs for a wedge of pink grapefruit.
Langton’s Gin is in a league all of it’s own. Take two local chaps from Lakeland. Add a borehole sunk in a one’s back garden to find incredibly pure water up to 1 million (yes, 1 million. And I might have said that in this manner) years old. Then add in a wine lovers palate and local botanicals. This gives you a gin that’s juniper is gentle, that’s soft and round and doesn’t need any tonic at all. Personally a nicely cut glass and little cube of ice and that’s all you need. An excellent sipping gin.
And Mojo’s? I was rather impressed. Not only with the tidied bar areas, but also the food. You can tell I was impressed as the photograph below depicts a solitary chicken wing. Keeley and I ate the rest along with the Louisiana hot sauce.
And the deep fried pickles? Yes, we ate all of these too. The spice mix sprinkled on top adds a gorgeous flavour that’s spicy without being hot.
I’m looking forward to a visit again soon – I’m sure I can coordinate a visit alongside the Tiki Fest and it’s hub at The Liars Club…
I think I can feel the hangover from here….
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