15 Απριλιου

Art brings people together, divides opinion, and allows creative imaginations to run free. World Art Day celebrates what is an integral part of every culture all over the world and shows appreciation for the greats of the art world whilst hoping to inspire the inner artist in everyone.

April 15th was chosen to mark World Art Day to honour Leonardo da Vinci's birthday and was declared in 2012 at the General Assembly of the International Association of Art which is also supported by UNESCO.

Art is a sort of universal language that can be viewed and enjoyed by anyone regardless of where they come from, therefore it brings people together, even when a piece might cause some controversy. Available in a huge number of different forms such as painting, sculpture, architecture, fashion, literature, music, dance, theatre, cinema, and photography to name but a few, finding a creative outlet that you enjoy can open and relax your mind.

The making of cocktails is very much an art form in its own right, from selecting the right ingredients that work harmoniously together, to the presentation of the drink including the glass and garnish choices. Creative art in a drinkable form, what more could you want!

To celebrate we'll be toasting The Artist's Muse which is not just aptly named for today's celebration but also contains a gentian liqueur which was originally Suze, a brand known by artists and featured in a painting by Pablo Picasso.

The band played on...

Early this day in 1912, the RMS Titanic passenger liner sank beneath the sub-zero waters of the Atlantic and spiralled almost 4,000 metres (12,500 feet) down to the silty, pitch-black sea floor.

More than 1500 people would die, either sinking with the ship or freezing to death in the icy waters around her. Of all the tales of heroism from that night - John Jacob Astor, who sent his pregnant young wife to the lifeboats but stayed behind himself, to the Captain who went down with his ship, to John Edward Hart, who went down into the depths of the ship to rescue Third Class passengers, it's the band that stands out. To prevent panic among the hundreds facing certain death, and a potentially lethal storming of the lifeboats, they stood on the deck and played calming, jaunty tunes. Their bravery and composure, despite knowing they would go down with the ship, most likely saved hundreds of lives.

We are raising a glass to the band and other brave folk, and remembering the "unsinkable ship" with a Sinking Cocktail. We are also remembering the iceberg that caused the disaster with an Iced Sake Martini, which includes icewine made from frozen grapes.

Leonardo Da Vinci's Birthday

Today we raise our glass to Leonardo di ser Piero Da Vinci, arguably the single most talented person ever to have lived. Artist, architect, scientist, mathematician, writer, inventor and mapmaker, Leonardo was the illegitimate son of a peasant woman, born in Vinci, Tuscany, on this day in 1452.

Many centuries before such things were achievable, Leonardo had the idea for a helicopter, a tank, a form of solar power and a submarine. He pioneered anatomy, researched physics and was one of the most talented painters and sculptors of his era.

He was also not only left-handed but a vegetarian, and almost certainly gay into the bargain. So, wherever you are today, think of this extraordinary man and drink to him with a Da Vinci Code.