St James Bar launches new menu

London-based St James Bar has revealed its new cocktail menu called Once In A Lifetime, which is set to launch in September.

The new cocktail menu of St James Bar, based at the Sofitel London hotel in St James, London, is inspired by bucket list experiences.

Led by head bartender Angelo Sparvoli, the drinks aim to represent the ‘most thrilling adventures’ and ‘spectacular locations around the world’.

Each of the sixteen cocktails on the list are a ‘unique take’ on a classic serve, presented in refined glassware.

The team has utilised fermentation, clarification and fat-washing techniques, as well as sous-vide, nitro-infusion and carbonation methods in the curation of the Once In a Lifetime menu.

The experiences depicted with the drinks include driving a Formula One car, climbing Mount Everest, riding a hot air balloon or travelling on the Orient Express.

Ingredients are intended to evoke an experience through sight, taste and smell. One cocktail, named Green Lights, is intended to depict watching the Northern Lights in liquid-form.

The serve draws on Nordic aquavit, pine needles and crisp clean lemon to ‘recreate the experience of lying on snow’ while watching the lit-up sky.

Meanwhile, Javari comprises Canaïma gin, made with Amazonian botanicals and a red amaranth garnish, as well as cocoa, yerba mate, soapbark and timur pepper, which combine to create the native humid aromas that the drinker can imagine inhaling ‘when exploring the Amazon rainforest’.

The Spirits Business recently sat down for an exclusive chat with Sparvoli to discuss the new menu, plus his experience bartending around the world, and current and future industry trends.