Here are the cocktail reviews.
I have a few places to review going
back over the year so I’m going to make my way backwards over the next few
weeks. Obviously the more recent reviews
will be more detailed, mostly because I have a terrible memory but I will do my
best.
Hopefully these reviews will help
you decide which place to visit next time you’re in London.
1. SATAN’S WHISKERS, BETHNAL GREEN.
I really liked the atmosphere in
this place, it wasn’t pretentious or unwelcoming like some small cocktail
establishments and even though there were reserved tables we were welcomed to
sit where we liked.
The décor is eccentric, bones and
taxidermy, as is the latest fashion it seems. I liked the touch of the vintage
drink posters on the wall. The Dubonnet posters taking me back to my studies in
Graphic Design. The ice counter with
brightly coloured fruits is a particularly nice touch.
I had an East 8 Hold Up, which contained Vodka, Aperol, Pineapple and
Lime. It was deliciously refreshing, one
of the best cocktails I’d had for a long time and at £7.50 ever so slightly
cheaper than London prices. I did not
want it to end.
2. THE ALCHEMIST, ALDGATE
This bar is slightly bigger than we
are used to. It is beautifully decorated
with a friendly and warm atmosphere.
There is somewhere to eat upstairs; I didn’t get a chance to look at the
food though. There is an extensive list
of cocktails. A lot of places claim to
have a long list and you realize that a lot of them are very similar but this
list is impressive. They have classic favorites
for those who are less adventurous and some very experimental ones designed by
the bar staff, these ones have the drama.
I had a White Chocolate Raspberry Martini, it was heavenly. A berry cocktail with raspberry vodka, raspberry
liqueur, cranberry juice and a white chocolate foam on top sprinkled with an
explosion of berry powder. At first taste, a bit like you’re drinking liquid
jam but once the ingredients start to mix a little it is truly delicious and I
have to confess to licking the white chocolate foam cream from the inside of
the glass.
My friend had a Bubble Bath, which is gin based with
Chambord, apple juice, sugar and what they call Alchemist magic. The magic is truly impressive, they use dry
ice to create a magnitude of bubbles that sit on your glass, and they keep
multiplying!
The buys behind the bar are
enthusiastic about their cocktails and make them with such spectacle. If you can, try and watch a while till you
see them warming a cocktail on a Bunsen burner and you’ll see sparkles coming
from them sprinkling something into the flames, followed by a warm cinnamon
smell, a wonderful experience!
3. LOUNGE BOHEMIA, SHOREDITCH
You should always book here. We didn’t, although it seemed quiet, we did
get told off by the waitress. Plus it’s
hard to find, we walked past it because it is just an open door with a
staircase leading down. It is a
mid-century modern masterpiece in a basement. The first smell that hits you is
the popcorn and the first sight is the magnitude of different flavor vodkas above
the bar.
It is low ceilinged and cozy, the
cocktail menus are stuck inside old books with graphic covers. The list is quite long and interesting. I have been to a lot of cocktail bars in my
time but there were things on this list that I’d never heard of. Drinks infused with leather, a cocktail
called into the woods with literally
every woody ingredient you could think of.
I went for a d&b float, which
contained Vanilla Vodka, Ice cream, and dandelion and bergamot. It was lovely
but I know how some people find it hard to drink spirits and ice cream
together. It came with a metal straw that was also a spoon and a piece of ice
cream cone. It was a lovely relaxing
atmosphere with music quiet enough to talk above, free popcorn, beautifully
designed plastic jugs and comfortable seats and sofas.
