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Forum identifies London as cocktail ‘epicentre’
By Amy HopkinsLondon is the “epicentre of the world’s cocktail scene”, a recent bartender debate held during the Funkin Innovation Forum has concluded.
Bartenders unanimously agreed that London is the world’s cocktail “epicentre” during the Funkin Innovation ForumHeld in March for a third year running, the forum was attended by bartenders from across the UK, who unanimously agreed that the bar world “looks to London” for inspiration.
“London is an eclectic place. There are so many places hitting perfection,” said Rhys Wilson, of Happiness Forgets.
The event, held at The Cocktail Trading Co, also saw discussions on the elevation of classic cocktails, the cocktail and food pairing trend, and the influence of social media. In particular, bartenders noted that consumers are looking for “Instagramable” drinks.
Steven Edwards, 2014 MasterChef Professional winner who served food to match The Cocktail Trading Co’s Andy Mil’s cocktails on the day, said: “People want to have a selfie in front of something no one else has.”
Cocktail mixer, puree and juice brand Funkin said that its forum reflected trends identified by CGA data, such as the fact that 66% of cocktails are consumed by drinkers who stick to their favourites.
“It was great to witness the depth of knowledge, passion for bartending and camaraderie at this year’s Funkin Innovation Forum,” said Andrew King, managing director of Funkin.
“Having the culinary expertise of Steven Edwards gave us a very different perspective on flavour and technique and his enthusiasm to learn from the bartending community was palpable.
“The UK bar scene is now second to none and our forum is a celebration of that status. Our role is to listen to bartenders, interpret their ideas and deliver the tools they need in order to continue to innovate and create great drinks using the very best ingredients.”
Earlier this month Funkin released two new cocktail syrup flavours to cater for those who like spiced or smoky drinks – Funkin Jalapeño and Funkin Smoke.