5 Cocktails You Need to Drink in London This WeekendBy Angelica Malin
Yes, the rumours are true – today is World Chicken Day. If, like us, you don’t care that much about white meat, we’ve discovered the best boozy numbers you should be trying in the capital this weekend. Cocktails over chicken any day of the week. Happy sipping, London:
1. For an Autumn Cocktail: BIRD x Baileys
The Drink: The Northern Exposure
The Blend: Dark Rum, Baileys Pumpkin Spice and chilled filter coffee
The Story: With pumpkin season upon us, BIRD is paying homage to its Canadian roots by teaming up with Baileys and their limited edition flavour Pumpkin Spice for a real taste of autumn this month. Packed with seasonal flavour, the Northern Exposure cocktail is an new take on a flat white martini, combining dark rum, coffee and Baileys Pumpkin Spice. Alongside the cocktail, BIRD have created the Baileys Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Doughnut, a glazed doughnut stuffed with a house-made cheesecake filling and topped with a classic biscuit crumb. Both will be available from BIRD restaurants throughout autumn.
Where: BIRD Shoreditch: 42/44 Kingsland Rd London E2 8DA, BIRD Islington: 81 Holloway Rd London N7 8LT and BIRD Camden: 21-22 Chalk Farm Road London NW1 8AG
2. For a Gin Cocktail: Blixen x The Botanist Gin
The Drink: The Vermillion Botanist
The Blend: The Botanist Gin, blackberry and lemon verbena syrup, and lemon juice
The Story: The Botanist Gin has partnered with Blixen bar to showcase a range of foraged cocktails; if you didn’t manage to sample the new tipples at London Cocktail Week, now’s your chance. Following an immersive foraging expedition with an expert forager and The Botanist’s Brand Ambassador, Abigail Clephane, Blixen’s bartenders were challenged to produce an innovative cocktail that would reflect their wild side. Each uncovered a range of ingredients on their doorsteps and infused these with The Botanist Gin in order to create foraged syrups, all using The Botanist Infuser (a handmade, state-of-the-art tool, being used for one of the first times in the realm of mixology in the UK).
Where: 65A Brushfield St, London E1 6AA
3. For an Asian-Inspired Cocktail: Tape London x CÉ LA VI
The Drink: The Elixir of Life
The Blend: D1 London Gin, beetroot juice, honey syrup, kalamansi lime juice and raw liquorice powder
The Story: Mixologist matchmaker D1 London Sprits has paired up nine of the UK’s top cocktail bars (Samarkand, Lanes of London and Tape London to name but a few), with bars in South East Asia to swap signature cocktails to celebrate the D1 International Cocktail Exchange. For the very first time, this means that locals will be able to experience an authentic taste of South East Asia in their home town. One of the bars CÉ LA VI (based in Hong Kong) has created a cocktail for Tape London as part of the exchange. This serve has been created by Bikram Shrestha of CÉ LA VI, an iconic roof top bar in Hong Kong, known for concocting magical spells – transforming surprising ingredients into unexpected treasures.
Where: 17 Hanover Square, London W1S 1HU
The Drink: The Raj Gin Fizz
The Blend: Saffron gin, triple sec, grapefruit sour, agave, double cream, egg white, bourbon vanilla soda and grapefruit
The Story: Behind This Wall on Hackney’s Mare Street, have created a new cocktail and oyster offering that brings together the world’s most autumnal flavours in one highly conceptual menu. Alex Harris is the co-founder, head bartender and chef at Behind This Wall and creator of the new seasonal concept. He has created the ultimate autumnal menu inspired by a fantasy place; a tropical island, influenced by the flavours of Indian trade roots and the iconic tastes of New England. This inspired new menu draws from the heat of the Indian summer with heady spices such as garam masala extract, cardamom tonic and naga chilli molasses.
Where: Behind This Wall, 411 Mare St, London E8 1HY
Photo Credit: Alex Zalewska
5. For Japanese Cocktails: ROKA Aldwych
The Drink: Yuzu and Blackberry Kakigoni
The Blend: Gin, Yuzu, and blackberry and green tea
The Story: Inspired by the world of intricate Japanese Kabuki Theatre, ROKA Aldwych have created an exquisite selection of dramatic cocktails, accompanied by classic theatre snacks with a far eastern twist (think sweet potato crackers and Japanese crisps). Serving slush-puppie style Kakigori drinks, the menu features an array of fresh and fruity cocktails. Try the Cherry Blossom and Almond Kakigoni, a light combination of Shochu, cherry, plum and almond or the Yuzu and Blackberry Kakigoni. More classic cocktails are available with a Japanese blend, such as the Smoked Old Fashioned made with Japanese whisky.
Where: 71 Aldwych, London WC2B 4HN
