Anyone who’s met me for more than like five minutes or read practically anything I’ve ever written knows that I bloody love Tio Pepe. I’m actually quite evangelical about it, even to the extent that some of my friends have stopped returning my calls for fear that I’ll just bang on about how Tio Pepe really should be the most popular drink in the world and how I’m determined to make it happen.

Anyway, the point is that you can imagine my delight when a press release arrives detailing something called the Tio Pepe Tapas Trail. For one week (12th-18th July 2010) some of London’s finest Spanish restaurants and bars are participating in the idea – basically you print out a wee map, potter along to some of the restaurants involved and for every tapa you order you get a free glass of Tio Pepe. Oh and the chance to win a trip to Jerez, the sacred home of dearest sherry. Awesome right?

As an intrepid sort of reporter – the kind to really get their hands dirty on the front line – I thought I’d better give it a go. And I’m pleased to report that it’s brilliant. We kick things off at Barrica on Goodge Street – a cool but laid-back bar/restaurant with a bit of street seating and a nice bar to perch at. A glass or two of crisp, chilled Tio Pepe is the perfect accompaniment to meltingly delicious jamón ibérico bellota, pan con tomate, and a daily special comprising muscles and chorizo in a tomato sauce.

From here it’s a short walk to Fino, a chicly discreet sort of place just off Charlotte Street. Sitting again at the bar, we have a glass of Tio Pepe Fino en Rama (a limited edition unfiltered sherry) and a selection of truly wonderful tapas. Ham croquettes are fried balls of creamy heart-warming goodness; pimientos de Padrón salty, oily and lightly spicy; and clams – served in an appropriate sherry and ham sauce – are rich and juicy. The highlights are a corgette flower, stuffed with ricotta, with delicate tempura and a drizzle of honey, and then rolls of squid, wrapped in pancetta and served with buttery black squid ink.

By this stage we’re a totally full, but our loyal commitment to the greatness of sherry takes us to Pinchito, a friendly, bustling, vibrant little tapas bar, full of young Spanish types enjoying the football. A nice little Oloroso is a terrible match for churros and hot chocolate, but who’s judging? Perhaps the fact that I spill chocolate all over my trousers is some kind of punishment from the sherry gods. I’ll make it up to them next week when I drag my long-suffering friends round every tapas bar in London. I can hardly wait.

The Tio Pepe Tapas Trail takes place between 12th-18th July 2010.
Participating restaurants are: Barrafina, Pinchito, Fino, Barrica, Iberica, Camino, Bar Pepito, Moro
http://www.tiopepe.co.uk/tapas_trail.html