Hints and tips:
...Looking at my larger holdings, speculation surfaces from time to time in both Aviva and M&G....
...Made from a blend of fruit juices, botanicals, and no added sugar, G Spot comes in three varieties....
...My personal favourite is the Jakarta, which comes with ginger, glass noodles, Cajun-spiced tempeh and a habanero lime dressing....
...Many summers ago, in the carefree time before the environment weighed on the collective mind so heavily, the end of July would have found me at the Harvey Nichols sale, rummaging around for a D&G cardigan...
...I’m about two years old, teasing the neighbour’s ginger cat. It gets annoyed and scratches my arm, drawing blood. I don’t remember the pain or crying. And I still love cats today....
...The asparagus velouté is hot, frothy goodness in a dainty espresso cup, followed by citrus-cured Cornish monkfish with ginger, shallots, samphire and fennel – bright and herby, like a G&T with hints of pickled...
...Drinks include the Cheeky Collins, a mix of Hendrick’s gin, lychee liqueur, rose and green tea cordial, and the whisky-forward Where’s the Monkey, a concoction featuring apple juice, rosemary and ginger...
...A typical marinade is made with soy sauce, oyster sauce, ginger, brown sugar and spices such as star anise, fennel seeds, Chinese cinnamon and cloves....
...The new bitters layer up the original notes of gentian, clove and cardamom with warming ginger, liquorice, honey and a hint of bergamot....
...Some companies which halted dividends have now restarted, albeit at lower levels including Aviva, Air Partner and Nichols....
...A bar full of rum and Barritt’s ginger beer for sundown Dark ’n’ Stormys....
...Use it in place of lemon peel to garnish a Martini or a G&T (Linden Leaf Cocktail Elements Yuzu, £22 for 20ml). Yuzu is also the key note in an increasing number of gins....
...I waved goodbye to Aviva and topped up my holding in L&G. However, the wooden spoon has to go soft-drink maker Nichols for its unexpected decision not to pay a dividend....
...And finally, a harbinger of better times — Vimto-maker Nichols has resumed paying a dividend....
...However, I will definitely retain my longstanding Nichols holding, which shows a very substantial profit....
...Both Concurrent Technologies and Nichols are up 10 per cent; and my largest holding Treatt has increased by 8 per cent despite a challenging year of falling citrus prices....
...Even after Monday’s falls, the shares, at more than 30 times earnings per share, are as expensive as its spiced orange ginger ale mixer....
...Its US sales — driven more by ginger ale than tonic — are set to rise 34 per cent this year, beating analysts’ most optimistic expectations, and approaching 20 per cent of the group total....
...It almost admitted as much — referring to a “well-established G&T trend” and pinning its hopes on “spritz serve”. Good luck telling middle England where Aperol comes from....
...In Knightsbridge, the Hershesons Blow Dry Bar at Harvey Nichols is a close contender....
...We began with a selection of starters, from mild okra with a ginger sauce via jellyfish marinated in vinegar to the spiciest of them all, ox tongue mixed with tripe....
...The Ginger Pig, 8-10 Moxon St (thegingerpig.co.uk). La Fromagerie, 2-6 Moxon St (lafromagerie.co.uk). Trunk, 8 Chiltern High St (020-7486 2357)....
...I like the fruity ones, but the apple and the ginger is different, isn't it? I like the pepper one. I like it a bit spicy, the peppery ones....
...Mid-cap UK soft drinks company Nichols is better at 27 per cent while US group Dr Pepper Snapple Group, which owns Schweppes, has a 26 per cent margin....
...Irn Bru maker A.G....
International Edition