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Firefighters tackle blaze in derelict building

Firefighters tackle blaze in derelict building

Yahoo18-05-2025

Two roads in Smethwick, in the West Midlands, are set to be closed for much of the day after a huge fire in a derelict building.
At its height, 12 fire crews tackled the blaze on Anderson Road, in Bearwood, after being deployed at about 01:15 BST.
No casualties have been reported and the response has since been scaled back. However West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) said Bearwood and Anderson Road would remain closed for most of Sunday.
West Midlands Police said it was working with fire crews to enforce road closures and help establish the cause of the blaze.
A drone will be deployed to monitor the structure and "complex nature" of the building, WMFS said, adding that "good progress" was being made in the investigation into the cause of the blaze.
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8 Classic Gin Drinks That Go Beyond Gin & Tonics
8 Classic Gin Drinks That Go Beyond Gin & Tonics

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8 Classic Gin Drinks That Go Beyond Gin & Tonics

Gin gimlets are an ideal cocktail for citrus-forward gins to shine. getty The nuances of a premium gin comes from the quality of its botanicals. Juniper may be gin's star ingredient, however, modern gins comprise a number of unique herbs, aromatics and seeds that contribute to the final flavor and texture of the spirit. The combinations can range from citrus-forward expressions, full of lemon, grapefruit or orange peel, to herbal-centric recipes, with rosemary, anise and coriander. There's also floral expressions, using the likes of lavender, rose and violet flowers. Gin's botanicals can most often be appreciated in the spirit's simplest drinks like a gin and tonic or a martini but sometimes the complexity of a gin isn't realized until you layer it in a cocktail with other spirits – for example a gin with more floral than herbal qualities can completely change the taste of a negroni. 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Ingredients: 1.5 oz gin, 1.5 oz dry vermouth Method: Add the gin and vermouth to a cocktail shaker with ice; shake until well-chilled. Strain into a pre-chilled martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist. Raw egg cocktails aren't for everyone (especially in an egg-flation economy) but if you can stomach it, the White Lady is an underrated, iconic gin cocktail that's more likely to be found on a British menu than it is stateside. The texture of the egg white topping the gin sour-like base makes for a rich mouthfeel. Ingredients: 1.5 oz gin, 0.75 oz orange liqueur (like Triple Sec), 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice, one egg white Method: Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain out the ice then add the ingredients back to the shaker for a vigorous dry shake to help build a rich foam. Strain again, this time into a coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist. 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