Festive Cocktails: The Ultimate Guide
The Grill at the Dorchester - Lucia
All that Glistens is Gold at St Martins Lane hotel
There’s more than five gold rings in Covent Garden this festive season as St Martins Lane hotel has been transformed into a glitzy world of golden glamour in partnership with Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne. If it can be draped, painted, or decorated in gold, chances are it’ll be found behind the sophisticated doors of this boutique hotel.
The hotel’s elusive speakeasy, Blind Spot, has also received a golden makeover – with its iconic gold hand that marks the entrance leading the way. A selection of golden cocktails created with Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label oozes luxury, with Carol-themed offerings including Figgy Pudding (Grey Goose vodka, fig cordial, clarified lime juice and Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne) and Gold Rings (Maker Mark’s bourbon, green apple cordial and Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne, all topped with gold dust) – both £14.
Nostalgic for Narnia at The Blind Pig
Just in time for Christmas, Jason Atherton’s The Blind Pig has launched a Greatest Hits menu in dedication to the award-winning bar’s most celebrated cocktails. Having opened its ‘hidden’ door above Michelin-starred Social Eating House in 2013, the list comprises of eleven cocktails spanning the speakeasy’s last 7 years and includes favourites from the ‘Long and Short Tails’ menu inspired by the nation’s favourite children’s books.
Merry mixes include the festive Mr Tumnus’ Tumnus Tipple Delight (£10), Bombay Sapphire, Lanique rose, white chocolate, citrus, egg white, vanilla and ice shard served alongside a box of marshmallows, and – the only new entry to the menu – The Night Pear Before Christmas (£10), William ear liqueur, Allegrini Valpolicella, lemon, sugar and ‘snow’, presented in a frosted champagne flute.
https://www.socialeatinghouse.com/#bar
Jason Atherton’s The Pine Bar
The Biltmore Hotel afternoon tea cocktails Pine Bar
Jason Atherton’s The Pine Bar opened in The Biltmore Mayfair earlier this autumn, a sophisticated whisky and cocktail bar in the heart of London. The plush red velvet armchairs and flickering fire make it festive in its own right, not to mention the addition of cocktails such as the ‘Ghost of Christmas Past’, which tops a base of Vintage Cherry Manhattan (Michter’s Rye Whiskey, Cocchi Vermouth Di Torino, Angostura) with Amaretto, nutmeg cream and clove perfume. Signature cocktail The Major Oak tastes of a Christmas walk in the woods, a mix of Michter’s Rye and Bourbon blend, porcini, truffle, and wood.
https://thebettermentmayfair.com/pine-bar/
Swan Lake winter chalets at Bluebird Chelsea
This Christmas, Bluebird Chelsea and CÎROC Vodka are partnering to bring the magic of Tchaikovsky’s glorious ballet Swan Lake to the King’s Road landmark. The magical theme will be brought to life with charming wooden chalets in which guests can get warm and toasty with faux-fur blankets, while enjoying the bespoke winter menu and CÎROC vodka cocktails. The drinks menu includes a delicious White Spritz, made with CÎROC White Grape, Sauvignon Blanc and Chandon; Swandive, a combination of CÎROC vodka, amaretto liqueur, lemon juice, ginger bread syrup and egg white; as well as Spellbound, featuring CÎROC Vodka, homemade pine syrup, mint leaves, cranberry and lime. The festive cocktails will be available to those dining in the chalets as well as upstairs in the bar.
A cosy gingerbread wonderland pop up at German Gymnasium, King’s Cross
This winter, German Gymnasium’s outdoor terrace will be transformed into a magical, sugar-filled wonderland in the heart of King’s Cross. Available from December 1st until the end of January and in partnership with Maker’s Mark, guests will be welcomed to keep warm with a specially designed cocktail list while relaxing under a cluster of wooden huts that will be decorated with gingerbread style décor. Sticking with the magical theme, the cocktail menu features a Gingerbread Old Fashioned (Maker’s Mark bourbon and gingerbread syrup with toasted marshmallow) and Maker’s Milk (Maker’s Mark mixed with Kahlua, rum, vanilla, double cream and egg white served in a milk bottle), which is also available in a sharing size. To keep warm in the wintry weather, there will also be hot cocktails available including a Kentucky Mulled Cider (Maker’s Mark mixed with apples two ways) or Mulled Winter Pear (Maker’s Mark shaken with mulled winter pear, egg white, lemon and a dash of aromatic red wine).
Callooh Callay Chelsea & Little Bat’s creative Christmas cocktails
Revered cocktail bar Callooh Callay has recently expanded to both Islington and The Kings Road with Callooh Callay Chelsea and Little Bat. At both venues there will be an incredible Christmas cocktail menu including mixologists creations such as, Hive Mentality, a perfect balance of Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit and Rose Vodka, Liquor 43m Tangerine & Clementine shrub, lime, salt, Franklin & Sons grapefruit & bergamot tonic and honeycomb, and Bright Inspiration, a combination of Merlet Brothers Blend cognac, crème se cacao, Prosecco syrup, absinthe, lemon, egg white and Franklin & Sons ginger ale.
www.calloohcallaybar-chelsea.com/
The Grill at The Dorchester
The newly launched The Grill Bar at The Dorchester is headed-up by award winning Senior Bartender Lucia Montanelli. Lucia has created a fantastically festive Christmas cocktail perfect for a Christmas celebration. The Nutcracker is an elegant blend of Tia Maria, Crème De Cacao, Stolichnaya vodka, single cream, Grappa Di Poli and Amorosa Di Settembre. The Grill Bar at The Dorchester can be exclusively booked for specialty cocktail masterclasses and wine pairing experiences.
All Star Lanes
All Star Lanes is the ultimate Christmas party destination; whether you’re after a fun night out with friends, or a unique venue to host your corporate Christmas party. The expert mixologists have created three signature Christmas cocktails to get you in the festive spirit; the Chocolate Orange Martini combines Chocolate liqueur, Cointreau, orange syrup, milk, cream, egg white, chocolate bitters and aromatic bitters. Santa’s Iced Tea, is a perfect balance of Black tea, pumpkin syrup, lemon juice, cinnamon syrup and blood orange syrup. For those looking for something without alcohol can opt for the Black Forest Shake blends Cherry pie filling, almond syrup, chocolate ice cream, milk and Chantilly cream.