Hands down, cocktail hour is my favourite way to entertain. Small bites and elegant drinks blend casual whimsy with elevated style – mercifully doing away with the fuss of a formal dinner party. And in summer, when the weather is hot and the feet are bare, nothing can top a chic, Spanish-inspired aperitivo. Years ago, I was visiting Madrid, one of my favourite cities in the world for cosmopolitan polish, and tasteful, artistic living.