Trollied

My mum arrived at my house this week to stay for the Easter break. On walking in the dining room she exclaimed “show off”!

Of course, being my mum, I couldn’t argue with her and it is perfectly true that I have followed the trend for “showing off” my colourful array of alcoholic beverages.

I’m not entirely sure when if first became fashionable to have a drinks cabinet or trolley.

Ironically, my parents did indeed have a trolley in the 1970’s, and I was reminded of this when I recently stumbled across it in their loft.

Similar in style to the one below (although not quite as glam) it was home to the go-to drinks of that era; Babycham, Advocat, and Cinzano Martini.

I suspect the trend for these fabulously showy items of furniture started long before my parents’ days. In my mind these images conjure up bygone days of the roaring 20’s and fabulous cruise liners.

A good friend of mine has actually inherited her parents’ cocktail books which date back to pre-war days.

I love this circular art deco style. The mirrored shelves add a reflective quality to the glitzy display.

Julian Chichester offers a more masculine style trolley. With its solid dark wood frame it looks like it means business.

Of course it’s not just these items of furniture that have once again become fashionable but the drinks that adorn them too.

Gin has made a serious come back and gin cocktails appear to have taken over from the much loved Aperol Spritz.

Many independent distilleries have appeared in recent times and offer a vast selection of colours and flavours.

Only recently I attended a gin tasting evening hosted by my favourite off licence in Burpham on the outskirts of the Surrey Hills. Here we sampled gins distilled by Simon Sherlock who has a small distillery in Ripley, Surrey.

Without doubt my favourite was the limited edition Valentine gin which changed colour from blue to pink once tonic was added.

Funnily enough my new found fondness for this botanical delight has lead to me trying a variety of tonic waters and as a consequence I often choose these over an alcoholic drink.

Presented in a gin glass, with the addition of fresh orange slices, juniper berries and ice cubes, Fever Trees’ pink aromatic tonic is currently my favourite guilt free tipple. It is sugar free, refreshing, and 100ml contains a mere 25 calories.

If my mum thinks my modest display of bottles and glasses is a little pretentious I’m not entirely sure what she would make of this Great Gatsby inspired bar at Turnell & Gigon.

Complete with ostrich feathers and the finest champagne I think it she might describe it as a little ostentatious.

In the same room-set at Turnell & Gigon this sleek trolley was prominently displayed in the showroom window.

I can’t help but think that the drinks’ trolley is merely a passing phase. A drinks cabinet might provide a more permanent place for one’s home bar.

I photographed the one above in a bar in Amsterdam. It has the air of a much more classy piece of furniture which could be adapted for use in a domestic situation.

Chin chin!