The Churchill Bar and Terrace have transformed its outdoor space into a marine-inspired terrace, complete with a brand new list of uniquely sustainable signature cocktails and a paired seafood-focused menu. UNITY by Water brings cooling tones and is inspired by the tranquil beauty of ocean waves; guests will be transported to their very own coastal escape in the heart of London’s Marylebone.
A Testament to Sustainability and Creativity
The team has pushed the bounds of creativity with a ground-breaking approach to crafting an exclusive list of in-house tonics. To be served both outdoors and inside the bar, the menu is the latest chapter to the team’s signature cocktail journey and a testament to collaboration, with 12 carefully crafted cocktails.
Each team member infused their heritage into the cocktails they designed, making each an eye-opening celebration of culture and craft. To give just one example, the bold and distinctive Water cocktail draws inspiration from a Mexican ritual to attract love with a rich blend of corn liquor, Italian bitter amaro, prickly pear, and foam. The serve is sipped from a beautiful short tumbler-style glass adorned with multi-colour flecks of bubble-like paint. A bit like a Jackson Pollock painting on a glass, I very much enjoyed the savoury, earthy tones within. Additionally, the team creatively developed every masterpiece of a drink with a specific emphasis on sustainability, a particular passion of Bar Manager Gaston Fusco and his team.
From concept to creation to presentation, every element of the new cocktail list reflects the team’s commitment to ingenuity and sustainability. They have embarked on a shared journey to perfect cutting-edge waste-reducing techniques within the venue’s newly installed, on-site laboratory. Within their dedicated playground of experimentation, the team’s passion for chemistry and mixology has come to life, honing the use of carbonation, and making the most of the typically unpredictable British weather. Harvesting rainwater on the venue’s rooftop using a 9-stage Gravity Water Filter System, the team have created their own in-house tonics used throughout the new list of tipples.
The bar has also implemented a range of other innovative techniques, including its own style of maceration and infusion as well as making use of an ultrasonic homogenizer to repurpose patisserie, fruit, and coffee items from the hotel’s kitchen.
Evoking the fresh embrace of the sea, the new cocktail offering is a playful list of cleverly conceived drinks that showcase the artistry of their creators. The presentation is equally playful, creatively highlighting the marine themes with blue and crystalline hues, ropes, and even the occasional conch shell.
Cocktail Highlights
The sequel to last year’s successful UNITY cocktail menu, the list perfectly captures the essence of water, with a focus on influences from America, Asia, and Europe to pay homage to the team’s backgrounds, with particular highlights as follows:
• Deep Sapphire – Served in a gorgeous seashell, this earthy elegant cocktail is made with Whitley Neil Connoisseur’s Cut London Dry Gin with samphire, citrus and vinho verde and really embodies what the Unity by Water menu stands for.
• The Marino – with a name that means ‘of the sea’, this deliciously refreshing cocktail is made up of cognac, pear liquor, basil marine spray and in-house Mediterranean tonic water which adds a wonderfully light ‘je ne sais quoi’ to the end result.
• The Nagomi – named after the town in Japan where inhabitants are known to live in harmony with nature’s power and where ‘Shochu’ was born, a key ingredient along with shisho bitters and in-house Asian tonic water.
• The Oceanico – Made with Dalmore 12 years, banana rum, nori, woody bitters and arancia amara spray before being garnished with white nori chocolate. This cocktail was curated based on the extreme weather on Alness, the small Scottish town located next to Dalmore by the mouth of the River Averon
• The Destiny: named after Afonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese conqueror of Goa, who arrived with his fleet from Brazil at the port of Goa, India, carrying the world’s most famous Brazilian mangoes, this cocktail is made with Desi Daru mango vodka, mystical herbs reduction, labdanum cordial and seawater and garnished with sea grapes.
• The Mystique Drops: inspired by the breathtaking colour blend of Kyoto sunsets, the cocktail is made up of Mancino Sakura, punch essence, gin, sumac reduction, Italian amaro and petrichor essence, garnished with a sustainable champagne foam. The petrichor aromas really come through, connecting the water to the earth in a rather clever, and delicious fashion.
The Churchill Bar and Terrace Goes Nautical
In addition to the impressive cocktail menu, there will also be a new bar snacks menu that appropriately celebrates seafood along with speciality meats. Standout dishes include Colchester Oysters, Butter Prawns with tartare sauce, Croque Monsieur, BBQ Pork Skewers and Alfajores Argentinos.
The terrace will be an ideal location to escape the urban jungle and reconnect with the ocean so expect a harmonious blend of white and blue hues reminiscent of the vast expanse of the open sea. The deliberately cooling colour scheme has been tailored to evoke a sense of calm and tranquillity, transporting guests to a coastal paradise, far from the bustling streets of London. Vibrant cushions and textiles adorned with intricate patterns will add a pop of colour and vitality, creating a vibrant atmosphere that resonates with the energy of summer.
To find out more, visit thechurchillbar.co.uk
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All imagery from The Churchill Bar and Terrace.