A Measure of Britain is a spirited, cross‑country tour through the quirks, contradictions and quiet brilliance of modern Britain – told through the cocktails we love a little too much.
From the glamourous jolt of the Espresso Martini to the sun‑chasing escapism of the Margarita, drinks expert Robertson Buckhaven uncovers what our favourite cocktails reveal about us as a nation. Each chapter pairs an iconic serve with a British city, using the country’s pubs, bars and bartenders as a lens on who we are: tired, adaptable, guilty‑pleasure‑seeking, occasionally sophisticated, frequently procrastinating and always, always up for one more round.
Drawing on conversations with the bartenders, distillers and industry legends shaping Britain’s bar culture, Buckhaven blends history, humour and cultural insight with the warmth of someone who has spent a great deal of time on the right side of the bar. Along the way, he celebrates the unsung heroes of hospitality, the rituals that bind us, and the very British ability to turn any situation – good, bad or mildly embarrassing – into an excuse for a drink.
Witty, affectionate and fizzing with personality, A Measure of Britain is part travelogue, part cultural study, part love letter to the people who keep our glasses full. And at the end of each chapter, Buckhaven shares his perfect recipe for the cocktail in question – because research should always be practical.
From the glamourous jolt of the Espresso Martini to the sun‑chasing escapism of the Margarita, drinks expert Robertson Buckhaven uncovers what our favourite cocktails reveal about us as a nation. Each chapter pairs an iconic serve with a British city, using the country’s pubs, bars and bartenders as a lens on who we are: tired, adaptable, guilty‑pleasure‑seeking, occasionally sophisticated, frequently procrastinating and always, always up for one more round.
Drawing on conversations with the bartenders, distillers and industry legends shaping Britain’s bar culture, Buckhaven blends history, humour and cultural insight with the warmth of someone who has spent a great deal of time on the right side of the bar. Along the way, he celebrates the unsung heroes of hospitality, the rituals that bind us, and the very British ability to turn any situation – good, bad or mildly embarrassing – into an excuse for a drink.
Witty, affectionate and fizzing with personality, A Measure of Britain is part travelogue, part cultural study, part love letter to the people who keep our glasses full. And at the end of each chapter, Buckhaven shares his perfect recipe for the cocktail in question – because research should always be practical.