Six of the Best: Cocktails to lift the spirits

January 5, 2014

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Cocktails to lift the spirits this January

Whilst many are no doubt detoxing this January, others are getting back into action and enjoying food and drinks. To lift your spirits, we’ve selected half a dozen of the best cocktails currently on offer in some of our favourite London bars.

Opulent motoring

At the Bar Américain at Brasserie Zédel, owned by recently honoured restaurateurs Chris Corbin OBE and Jeremy King OBE, manager Michael Johnston has created a cocktail named The Chrysler. Made with cognac, port, Chambord, Campari, Orange Curaçao and three dashes of orange bitters, here, indeed is a drink that’ll set you motoring.

All hail the Green Fairy

Oscar Wilde once stated: “After the first glass of absinthe you see things as you wish they were. After the second you see them as they are not”. At the Brompton Bar & Grill, owner François O’Neill celebrates this drink with an Absinthe Daquiri that combines dark rum, Campari, a dash of Absinthe Butterfly Boston, a squeeze of fresh lime and a dash of sugar syrup. How very bohemian.

Oysters and champagne

La Brasserie’s Oyster Martini combines Belvedere vodka, elderflower cordial, lime juice, a twist of grapefruit and is topped off by Chateâu de Bligny champagne. A fresh oyster is served on the side. The creation of Alejandro Flores and served at this Brompton Cross institution’s iconic bar, what could be better to cheer oneself up on a cold winter’s day?

An aristocratic sling

Cadogan Place has variously been the home of William Wilberforce and Hans Rausing. At its head sits the Jumeriah Carlton Tower with its superb The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant. Manager Michele Caggianese, inspired by Cadogan Place Gardens, suggests the Cadogan Sling as his drink of choice this month. It consists of gin, Morella cherry liqueur, Orange Curaçao, Bénédictine liqueur, lime juice, a dash of grenadine and three drops of Angostura bitters. Shaken and strained into a long sling glass, enjoy this fine drink whilst listening to The Rib Room’s live music on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s during January.

A Russian revolution

Antóin Commane and Diego Bivero-Volpe’s Ruski’s Tavern is a place where “Tsarist Russia meets Soviet socialist kitsch”. Served in a copper mug, this haunt of Prince Harry suggests Oprah Winfrey’s favourite drink – a Moscow Mule – as the perfect drink this January. Invented in 1941 in Manhattan and combining vodka, ginger beer and lime, this drink will certainly get you back into the party spirit.

A Belgravian beauty

Marcus Schelbert, a cocktail maestro and bar manager of the Belgraves – A Thompson Hotel, was thinking ahead to sunnier times when he asked one of his bar team, Pavel, to create a cocktail they named the English Summer Rain. A mix of Hendrick’s gin, apple juice, lemon juice, sugar syrup, egg white and St. Germain, this is one ladies will love. On tasting, one of our female readers commented: “It’s simply delicious”.