To celebrate the launch of 1800 Tequila’s Essential Artist Series, a series of six specially designed bottles by architect, Enoc Perez, six bartenders from across the UK created a unique cocktail for imagined inhabitants of an iconic building in a competition that tested their conceptual skills.
Focusing on the synergy between architecture and alcohol, 1800 Tequila explained the evolution of our drinking habits since the Bronze Age and how where we drink affects our experience.
From the birth of the modern cocktail during the Prohibition era within dilapidated or secret buildings to the creation of classics such as the Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore.
Following this theme, these six bartenders chose the following iconic buildings to inspire their cocktail:
Tom Hayes from Scarfes Bar, London: The Seed
Inspired by Seed Cathedral in Shanghai, China
Alex Walker from Beaufort Bar, Savoy, London: Impresario
Inspired by The Savoy Hotel, London
Adam Day, Mr Cooper’s House & Garden, Manchester: Passion & Glory
Inspired by La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
James Maddison, The Cocktail Bar, The Merchant Hotel, Belfast: The Dignam
Inspired by British Film Institute, London
Ciaran Russell, The Tippling House, Aberdeen
Inspired by Taj Mahal, India
Abbie Nelson, Chiquito, Ipswich: The Offering
Inspired by the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlán, Mexico
Each bartender’s cocktail considered the journey or experience the inhabitants of their chosen building would have when drinking the cocktail: the romance of Taj Mahal, the brutalism of the BFI or, the sweet nectar of the offerings given to Mexican gods.
On the judging panel award-winning drinks writers and comedy performers Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham from The Thinking Drinkers; Jane Ryan from Barlife UK; and Proximo Spirit’s Tequila Specialist, Oliver Pergl. The cocktails were judged on: Presentation, Balance, Taste, Creativity and how well the drink represented the brief.
Winning cocktail came from Alex Walker from the Beaufort Bar whose inspiration came from the very building he works within:
“Since 1889 The Savoy has been the home of high standards, history, luxury, indulgence, extravagance and innovation. Hosting royalty, celebrities and more so making every single guest that enters the hotel feel like a King or Queen.
I wanted to focus on something that The Savoy is well known for, indulgence. As soon as they enter the hotel the guests senses are heightened as they are met with the smell of crisp newspapers in the lobby from the concierge desk, fresh coffee in the Thames Foyer, deep leather and oak aromas as well as gold to highlight the exquisite décor, finishing with and decadent aroma of sweet fruit from the hotel rooms.â€Â
Impresario Recipe
Peau d’Espange (a perfume made of flower and spice oils)
40ml Antica
30ml 1800 Anejo
10ml Campari
5ml Italicus
10ml Crème de banana
Banana paint
‘Lobby Essence’
Method:
The first four of the above ingredients are pre combined and cooked with cinnamon and vanilla to create Peau d’ Espange.
Peau d’ Espange is strained, filtered, cooled and added to mixing glass with the crème de banana along with ice then stirred and strained in to glass with banana paint on it and then sprayed with’Lobby Essence’.