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Top 10
Top 10 drinks pairing events in London
As the worlds of gastronomy and mixology continue to merge, a new wave of off-the-wall flavour experiences have cropped up – we select 10 of London’s most intriguing.
This is our selection of the top 10 drinks pairing events in London
From inventive ingredients in distillation to flavour influence in cocktails, there’s no denying the spirits industry is regularly inspired by innovations in the culinary world.
As many bars become similar in operation to kitchens, with bartenders spending hours prepping shrubs, infusing spirits, working with aroma and experimenting with garnishes, it’s no surprise that many establishments are choosing to offer hybrid events that comprise the best of both worlds.
Whether a whisky and doughnut pairing appeals to your palate or a cocktail afternoon tea takes your fancy, we’ve collated some of the most unique events London has to offer, including both one-off experiences and ongoing menus.
Click through the following pages to discover our top 10 drinks pairing events in London.
Asia de Cuba
This month Chino-Latino restaurant Asia de Cuba launched its Mojito and ceviche pairing menu created by Chef Louis Pous, who grew up and trained as a chef in Cuba. Working in collaboration with Havana Club, the bar team created a unique drinks list, based around the use of freshly-pressed sugarcane juice, to pair with the restaurant’s various ceviche options. Cocktails include the Tocororo Julep, a combination of Havana Club Selection de Maestros rum, fresh sugarcane juice, peach purée and peach liqueur; and the Guarapo, a mix of Havana Club 3 Year Old, fresh sugarcane juice and orange juice.
Price: £18
Date: Ongoing
Address: 45 St Martin’s Lane, London, WC2N 4HX
Gymkhana
Sipsmith’s Alexander Barley will lead guests on a tutored tasting of the brand’s portfolio, including their London Dry Gin, VJOP, Summer Cup, Sloe Gin and Sipping Vodka, in Gymkhana’s private dining vaults. The one-off evening event will include a five course Gymkhana menu, each course paired with bespoke Sipsmith collection cocktails and tastings.
Price: £150
Date: 3 May
Address: 42 Albemarle Street, London, W1S 4JH
Sake no Hana
Sake no Hana is set to celebrate the arrival of spring with the return of its sakura cherry blossom garden, which will see the bar transformed with intertwining cherry blossom branches, falling petals, a grass floor, and blossom entrances. The venue has crafted a limited edition menu featuring a bento box, dessert, macarons, and the star of the show – the Kaori Arpège cocktail. The drink is served with three atomisers: red cherry, black cherry and cinnamon; elderflower and jasmine; and violet, each of which completely alter the taste of the cocktail with every spray.
Price: £34
Date: 21 March to 18 June
Address: 23 St James’s Street, London, SW1A 1HA
Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings
One of the final instalments in the venue’s Last Libations events series – which sees cocktail aficionados run a masterclass based on what they would like their last drink on earth to be – ‘Foraging Origins’ explores the wild botanical flavours from the Wicklow landscape of Glendalough Gin’s origin. An expert will explain the history, techniques and flavours of the foraged ingredients in their spirits during a unique food-pairing session.
Price: £20
Date: 11 April
Address: 42 Northampton Road, London, EC1R 0HU
Shochu Lounge
Suntory Whisky is set to launch an immersive cherry blossom installation and Sakura-inspired cocktail menu at the Shochu Lounge bar. Throughout April, during the evening, guests will be able to experience ‘yozakura’ – viewing of flowers at night – while sipping on of three cocktails: Match a Rack, comprising matcha-infused Arrack, Hibiki Harmony, umami spirit and mango cordial; Suntory Blossom, containing Hibiki Harmony, ume sake, blood orange and Sakura tincture; and Happo Harmony, combining Hibiki Harmony, rhubarb and ginger syrup, soda water and a spritz of lemon flower essence. Hamish Brown, Roka group executive chef, has created a small plate of Hokkaido snow crab with tapioca crisp and nori to pair with the Match a Rack cocktail.
Date: 1-30 April
Address: 37 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 1RR
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Sweet-toothed whisky lovers rejoice! As part of the SMWS’s regular events schedule, the Society will be pairing five single malt, single cask whiskies with five doughnut flavours: raspberry jam, chocolate fondant, crispy caramel, strawberry preserve, and peanut butter. For those with something savoury in mind, there will also be a pretzel pairing in April, and steak pairing taking place in early May.
Price: £40
Date: 24 May
Address: 19 Greville Street, London, EC1N 8SQ
Old Bengal Bar
In February Old Bengal Bar created a cocktail menu based on fragrances by British perfume house Penhaligon’s to coincide with the release of its latest scent, Equinox Bloom. For the next three months the bar will offer five cocktails each designed to “recreate the experience of inhaling the fragrance” in addition to “providing a flavour evocative of its aroma”. Drinks include Levantium, which combines Hibiki Japanese Harmony, Absinthe, Peychaud, Angostura bitters and clove smoke to recreate the spicy warmth of the original scent.
Price: £10 per cocktail
Date: From 6 March for three months
Address: 16 New Street, London, EC2M 4TR
Grain Store
The restaurant’s a la carte menu offers specially selected dishes made to match with house cocktails – identifiable by a small Martini glass with a corresponding cocktail number positioned next to the dish. Cocktails include the Pea Shoots Sour, a blend of Beefeater gin, pea shoots syrup, lemon juice, egg white, dry vermouth and absinthe; and the Sesame Martini, comprising Beefeater gin and sesame vermouth.
Price: £8.50 per cocktail
Date: Ongoing
Address: Granary Square, King’s Cross, 1-3 Stable Street, London, N1C 4AB
Little Nan’s Tropical Den
Book in at Peckham-based kitsch Little Nan’s bar for high tea: a cocktail and afternoon tea-pairing featuring Little Nan’s vintage family recipes. The menu sees bespoke teapot cocktails served up with home-baked scones with Little Nan’s jam’n’cream, a selection of mini pastries and cakes, sandwiches, and Little Nan’s 105-year-old recipe hot mulled apple juice.
Price: £25
Date: 26 March, 30 April
Address: 16 Evelina Road, London, SE15 2DX
Shochu Lounge
In November Japanese restaurant Shochu Lounge launched an expertly crafted seven course tasting menu paired with cocktails, created as part of a collaboration between the venue’s bar and kitchen teams, with a focus on seasonality. Served around the ‘Shochu table’, the menu is inspired by the Japanese Kaiseki dining experience, and includes pairings such as a Camomile Martini with Black Cod Toban, pictured above.
Price: £95
Date: Ongoing
Address: 37 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 1RR