Whether you are sticking to the dry January trend or not, you must check out the new cocktails menu at The Pine Bar in Biltmore Mayfair Hotel on Grosvenor Square.
The new cocktails menu Wanderlust at The Pine Bar was created by a team of mixologists including the Pine Bar manager Nerijus Zakarevicius, Assistant Bar Manager Giorgio Trimboli and Head Bartender Alessandro Vescovi.
Together they created the seductive Wanderlust menu personally inspired by travels around the world. Wanderlust cocktails feature a number of global luxury spirit houses from Amaro Montenegro., Zacapa XO and Mancino Vermouth to Tequila OCHO and Tanqueray No Ten, Seedlip to name a few.
So you are bound to find one that suits you. My personal favourite was a fruity “Exuberance” with homemade falernum, Disaronno Velvet and Appleton Estate Signature rum.
It also had pawpaw adding a Caribbean velvety smooth touch to it. Served mango yellow with a rainbow coloured edible parrot print on the glass, it was a tropical holidays in a glass.
The colourful Wanderlust menu book with illustrations of London’s landmarks and locations around the world deserves a special mention itself. Created by an illustrator Dan Collins, known for his bar art, it features twelve illustrations. It is quite a masterpiece and can be purchased to keep.
Those sticking to dry January trend will be pleased to hear that Wanderlust features 4 cocktails with low or no alcohol out of a total of sixteen cocktails.
The menu travels around the globe with each cocktail inspired by a different location. “Hidden Treasure” reminiscences the flavours of Turkey through Remy Martin 1738, hazelnut re-distilled Benedictine, raki, apricot and Scrappy’s chocolate bitters.
While “Symphony of the Forest” is made with Maker’s Mark bourbon, Savoia Americano, Maraschino, maple nectar, pecan and pine tincture is motivated by the native pine forests of Washington State.
My other favourate was the “Timeless”, which was on the stronger note, with Suntory Toki, Mancino Sakura Vermouth, okahijiki and pandan cordial, orange blossom and a slight sweetness from honey and fermented cherry.
It was served vermilion red in a beautiful coupe glass with contrasting white floral print.
For those fancying something on a classier note, there is the “Opulence’ a champagne cocktail with a decadent touch of gold inspired by Arabia, Ketal One vodka, Italicus Rosolio d Bergamotto, Mancino Secco Vermouth, turmeric-infused Galliano l’Autentico, fresh lemon.
Wanderlust cocktails menu certainly pushes the mixologist boundaries. ‘Opulence’ is finished with an original touch of homemade eucalyptus nectar and released cumin olive oil.
Just like the decor of Pine Bar, the cocktails are created with great attention to detail. “Fragrant Caress” with Michter’s US *l Rye, Cointreau Noir, H. Theoria Electric Velvet, Frangelico was not for faint-hearted.
It was strong with prominent notes of whiskey and just a slight sweet tone of salted caramel. It was served oak brown in a classy whiskey glass. A tint of blue at the glass bottom illuminated the perfectly square ice cube with luminous navy making it a cocktail to admire.
The bar is elegant and classy from top to bottom, set in the prestigious Biltmore Mayfair Hotel on Grosvenor Square. If you just came back from holidays but already craving a new one or to travel soo, The Pine Bar is a good stop over for a pre-dinner aperitif, date night, nightcap or just a cocktail.
The Pine Bar, 44 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 2HP