Ten new cocktail menus from October
Autumn is well and truly in full swing, and as the seasons change, so do cocktail menus. Here are 10 of the best new ones.
Whether you’re in Bangkok or Toronto, these bars are finding fresh ways to capture flavour, place and season in the glass – and reasons to lure you out of staying comfy at home.
From sleek hotel bars to neighbourhood restaurants, these are the 10 new menus we’re excited about.
Kioku Sake Bar, London
Kioku claims to be the ‘world’s first’ bar to feature sake in every cocktail – but sticking to a theme doesn’t mean it’s not creative.
Bar manager Thanos Tzanetopoulos has created a whole new list of drinks that explores Japanese craftsmanship, while embracing a global approach to flavour and technique. Serves include the Yuzu Daisy, which blends Iichiko Saiten Shochu, Snowman Nigori Sake, Don Fulano Blanco and yuzu for a bright, textured twist on a citrus classic. Meanwhile, the Muscat Manhattan layers Suntory Hibiki Harmony, Hakurakusei Hikari Sake, Metaxa Private Reserve, and Muscat liqueur with Kioku red vermouth.
SaiTong Thai, New York
We love Thai food, and we love a savoury cocktail – so the new menu at SaiTong Thai is something of a dream come true. The restaurant may be better known for its food – pad thai with lobster, hello – but the beverage team are proving that its ethos of celebrating regional Thai flavours through a modern lens can apply just as successfully to its drinks.
We’ve got our eye on the Tomyum Sunrise, which features a herb-infused Tequila for an aromatic, soupy twist on a classic, and the Thai Mango Surprise, which turns a traditional dessert into an indulgent cocktail.
Bar Prince at The Balmoral, Edinburgh
We spend a fair bit of time in fancy hotel bars, but (sadly) less so in fancy hotels. Maybe our proximity to these cathedrals of luxury is what piques our interest – we’re fascinated by the idea of all the famous (and infamous) guests who have stayed in the hotels we visit. But it turns out that the team at Bar Prince at The Balmoral hotel agree, because they’ve created a whole menu based on the people, places, and timeless traditions that have shaped the hotel’s legacy.
One guest-inspired serve is The Proud Scotsman, a tribute to Sir Sean Connery. It’s made with Aberfeldy 16, Sweetdram Amaro, Drambuie, walnut bitters, and a touch of lemon oil – but we’re unsure if it’s shaken or stirred.
Bar Les Ambassadeurs, Paris
Is it too early for Christmas drinks? Maybe – but we’re not talking mulled wine and cream liqueurs here. Bar Les Ambassadeurs at Hôtel de Crillon in Paris kicked off the festivities at the end of September, with a menu that celebrates both autumn and winter – basically any season that demands you put on a woolly jumper and settle down with something strong and soothing.
The menu ranges from the fresh and autumnal – like Forest, which reflects a chilly walk through Glenfiddich 12-year-old, shiitake mushrooms, honey, peat, soya, pine and bitters – to the super Christmassy, like Gingerbread. The latter comes in alcoholic and non-alcoholic, in case you need to temper your consumption in the run-up to the holidays.
Library Bar at Fairmont Royal York, Toronto
If your autumn/winter mainly consists of staying at home and curling up with a book, then the Library Bar at the Fairmont Royal York hotel might have a compelling reason to get you to come out – for one night, at least. Its newest menu is inspired by In The Skin of a Lion, a novel by Canadian author Michael Ondaatje. Both the book and the menu pay tribute to Toronto’s diverse heritage, with the latter transforming the city’s stories, voices, and histories into artfully crafted cocktails.
Split Rock is inspired by the logging industry north of Toronto, which offers notes of wood and forest air. At its base is a housemade ‘forest spirit’, made with evergreen tea and smoky mezcal. Meanwhile, Missing Millionaire is named after Ambrose Small, one of Toronto’s wealthiest men in the early 1900s, who mysteriously disappeared in 1919. The drink combines The Macallan 12-year-old, Michter’s US No. 1 Small Batch Bourbon, Coconut Lot No. 40 Canadian Whisky, Bénédictine, and Cocchi Vermouth di Torino.
Anise, London
We’re always down for a menu created by Ryan Chetiyawardana, and Anise’s new drinks list is no exception. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that each cocktail is designed to pair perfectly with Indian bar bites crafted by chef Vivek Singh.
Drinks feature spices directly sourced from India alongside local foraged botanicals. How about the City of Colour, made with Tanqueray Rangpur Gin, pomegranate liqueur, Anardana-infused vermouth and Aperol, or the Anise Sour, a blend of coriander-infused Ketel One Vodka, berries, lime leaf and Three Families Ceylon Sour?
ViceVersa, Miami
I’ve had Sabrina Carpenter in my head since I heard about this menu, but it turns out ViceVersa is talking about a different kind of nonsense. The menu is inspired by the Italian futurists of the 1930s – which is reflected in its beautiful design as well as the drinks.
The menu is divided into five sections: aperitivos, dynamic cocktails, spicy cocktails, ‘Martini-ish’ cocktails, and digestifs. We’re particularly interested in the Puttanesca Martini, which combines Grey Goose vodka, olive oil, caper leaf, Noilly Prat and Castelvetrano brine.
Stella at the Capella hotel, Bangkok
Few cities pulse with as much energy as Bangkok – and Stella’s latest menu captures that spirit. Called Journey into the New Siam, the menu aims to balance both Royal Thai traditions and the energy of the modern-day city.
The list is divided into three chapters, with the main one exploring the capital’s neighbourhoods through 12 drinks. Transport yourself to Pom Prap Sattru Phai, the birthplace of Muay Thai, through a cocktail called My Thai, a slushy-like serve that combines Bumbu Rum with Havana Club three-year-old, Cha Thai tea, coconut milk and Disaronno.
Press Club, Washington DC
Champagne might be the first drink that comes to mind when you think about Oasis, but Press Club in Washington DC is proving the band can be an inspiration for a whole host of drinks. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Oasis’ album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, the bar has created a themed menu. Champagne Supernova, of course, gets a shout out, with a serve as ‘dreamy and ethereal’ as the song, made with rye whiskey, Averna, Cocchi Torino, pear brandy, fig and Champagne acid.
Leyton Calling, London
Tropical-inspired bar Leyton Calling is proving there’s plenty of life beyond Zone 2 – and its latest menu only strengthens that case. The new drinks list is inspired by postcards and takes drinkers from Sunrise to Midday and Sunset. From the Sunrise section, the Breakfast Martiki features East London vodka, banana honey porridge and passion fruit Earl Grey, garnished with a mini croissant and jam. Meanwhile, the Roasted Negroni is a riff on the classic made with coffee husk wine and roasted walnut.
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