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The day after Easter is the day I rushed to the supermarket for the cut price Easter eggs. Alas, it was not to be. Other wily individuals had the same idea, so my post Easter week was not filled with cocoa ovoids. Thankfully, I’d already started munching on Easter eggs from February (Lent what?) and Easter Weekend was a chance for me to relax, and stay away from year old sweet treats.

With days off, I tend to make ambitious plans in my mind, which always fail to come to fruition because I like catching up on my sleep. However I did make the effort to go see the Monkey Shoulder Chocolate Trail, an Easter egg hunt for grown ups. Invited (and created by my super talented friend Katie Antoniou), the rather planty Monkey Shoulder Chocolate Trail popped up on 63 Broadwick St with custom cocktails by the London Cocktail Club and hand crafted artisanal chocolates by chocolatier Niko B, specially created to pair with the drinks.

But the best part, is that it was all FREE, and everybody was welcome (unless you were a small child or under the legal drinking age). All you had to do was (wait for it) find an egg, in the indoor wilderness. I missed the press night so I popped by on Easter Monday to get my Monkey fix.

I got lucky, and found an egg straight away, after picking up a couple of carrots and trying to fob them off, but others were not so, and seemed a bit reluctant to dig around in the soil. Note – you are washable. Soil will not kill you.

I was tempted to flirt with the rather foxy bartender, but I realised I was wearing a bowtie and that he would not take me seriously. In all honesty, nobody takes me seriously even when I’m NOT wearing a bowtie. I am just that kind of unfortunate comedic person.

Artist Bobby Peterson‘s Musical Chairs. If they’re all sat on, you hear all the parts of the music. By changing how many people are sitting, you can change how you hear the music. Pretty nifty eh?

Anna Garforth created the window installation exclusively for Monkey Shoulder

Since I am so rubbish and blogged right after it was finished, I have procured the London Cocktail Club‘s specially created recipes, as they were also serving the flavour pairings at all three LCC venues… until the 15th April (D’OH).

Banana & Sherry Fix with Coffee & Cardamom truffle
50ml Monkey Shoulder
15ml Pedro Ximénez Sherry
15ml Banana Liqueur
25ml Freshly squeezed Lemon Juice
25ml Pineapple Juice
25ml Freshly squeezed orange juice
Dash of Angostura bitters

Mix in a shaker, fill with ice and shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
This will be paired with – Coffee & Cardamom truffle (a blend of dark and milk chocolate ganache
truffle with cardamom infused cream, coffee and vanilla).

Rhubarb & Rose Julep with Lemon , Ginger and Cayenne Pepper truffle
50ml Monkey Shoulder
15ml Sugar syrup
15ml Rose Liqueur
Dash of Rhubarb bitters
Pinch of Mint

Build in a julep tin with crushed ice.
This will be paired with – Lemon , Ginger and Cayenne Pepper truffle ( a dark chocolate ganache
truffle with fresh ginger infused cream, lemons and cayenne pepper)

Monkey Jam Sour with Masala Chai truffle
Heaped tea spoon of apricot jam
50ml Monkey Shoulder
25ml Freshly squeezed Lemon juice
15ml Drambuie
15ml Sugar syrup
1 egg white
Dash of Angostura bitters

Mix in a shaker, fill with ice and shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass, add twist of orange zest
for added aroma.
This will be paired with – Masala Chai truffle (a milk chocolate ganache truffle with star anise
infused cream, black tea and chai spices)

You can check out all upcoming Monkey Shoulder news and events on their site, and on Facebook.

Be warned, their site screeches at you.