29 September

Few aromas are quite as enticing as freshly ground and brewed coffee, and on 1 October, International Coffee Day gives us an excuse to celebrate the bean that is an essential start to the day for so many of us.

Coffee and alcohol pair beautifully, and the rich, roasted bitterness of coffee plays especially well with aged spirits, while coffee liqueurs add sweetness and depth. From the comforting warmth of an Irish Coffee to the frothy sophistication of an Espresso Martini, coffee has inspired some truly delicious cocktails.

So, however you usually take your coffee, today we suggest having yours shaken, stirred or spiked. We'll be marking the day with a Chocolate Orange Espresso Martini
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A day to remember Zsa Zsa

If Zsa Zsa Gabor didn't exist, you'd have to invent her. Creator of such peerless lines as "I never hated a man enough to give him his diamonds back" and "I am a marvellous housekeeper – every time I leave a man, I keep his house", the Hungarian–American icon was jailed this day in 1989.

A police officer had objected to her driving her Rolls without a licence but with an open flask of Jack Daniel's - Zsa Zsa slapped him, and history was made. Because they really don't make them like that anymore, we're toasting her magic with an Illusion.

World Heart Day

Heart disease and stroke kill more than 17 million people a year - and this number is set to rise. Some might see this as, basically, good news, meaning that diseases that used to kill us before we got old enough for heart disease or strokes are on the way out - but not the World Heart Federation. So, in the interest of public service, here are some ways to live heart-healthily.

Go to your doctor, and ask them to measure your blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, weight and BMI. Take 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week - that includes walking, dancing, housework and bartending - provided you don't drink. If you smoke, then stop. Eat healthily, including eating at least five portions of fruit or vegetables a day.

What to drink? Have a Heart perhaps, or there's almost five of your 'five a day' in a Love Unit, so do please join us in one.