16 January

We do like a bit of spice! Thai, Mexican, Chinese and Indian cuisines all boast delicious dishes that induce sweat and tears whilst igniting the taste buds. Today is the day to eat, drink and celebrate hot spice.

Eating a Vindaloo may be torturous but the discomfort or even pain experienced is strangely pleasurable. Such dishes cause your pituitary gland to release endorphins, the human pleasure chemical.

Chili peppers are not only capable of inducing pleasure but contain chemicals that aid blood circulation, reduce cholesterol and lower
the risk of heart attack by dilating blood vessels and so reducing blood pressure.

Happily, there is plenty of delicious hot chili-spiced cocktails with which to celebrate this spicy day such as Soho House's Picante de la Casa, Mexico's traditional Verdita or the bittersweet Benny Blanco.

It's also Kate Moss' birthday

Since first appearing on the cover of British Vogue in 1993, Kate Moss has been on it over 30 times since, as well as having campaigns with Gucci, Versace, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Dior and Burberry - just to mention a few.

It's no secret that the supermodel has never shied away from a good night out, so we were wondering what we'd serve her if she brought her birthday celebrations to our bar tonight. We did some research just in case, and found out that her drink of choice is a vodka and tonic. To make it a bit more special, we've taken those ingredients and decided that a Reversed Vesper & Tonic might make it a more memorable drink, so practice mixing one tonight - just in case!

Anniversary of Ivan The Terrible's investiture

Ivan IV 'The Terrible' crowned himself 1st Tzar of Moscow this very day back in 1547. He is said to have started life mad and got madder and madder as the years went on, though it's not surprising, as he was imprisoned in a dungeon by his mother for most of his early life.

He was an insatiable reader whose favourite pastimes included rapine, throwing pets out of the upper windows of the Kremlin and weddings - he had eight wives. On the other hand he was a devout Christian and a champion of the poor and the oppressed.

The first Czar of all the Russian people, Ivan IV transformed his country from a small medieval state into a wealthy empire. Because some of his behaviour was rather dubious, today we're drinking a Nutty Russian.