Tucked away in Templeton Garden is Sprout Bar London, the capital’s exciting new cocktail bar. Blending cutting-edge mixology with a warm, welcoming atmosphere, Sprout is a masterclass in mixology.
Where the Garden Grows Into the Glass
At the heart of Sprout is a philosophy as refreshing as its drinks: each cocktail is centred around a Keystone element – a colour, ingredient, herb, or garnish – setting the mood and feel. The signature “Keystone Cocktail” approach was crafted by the Bar Director, Will Meredith, alongside Ellie Camm, the dynamic duo at Daisy Age Drinks. Using herbs and elements from the hotel garden, as well as their creativity and daily inspiration, Will and Ellie craft cocktails that are rooted in nature, quality, and intuition. Delivering this goodness is Anna King, Emerging Bartender of the Year at the CLASS Bar Awards 2024.
This team really do deserve a Michelin star for mixology. The result is a dynamic menu with a balanced mixture of signature cocktails and an ever-changing selection of serves. This could mean a twist on a classic drink or an entirely new creation, capturing the essence of the ongoing season or the day’s weather.
A Menu of Seasonalities
The Sprout menu is nothing short of natural flavours mixed together in the most creative of ways. It is divided into two main sections: The Market Stall Menu and the Special Menu featuring seasonal and hyper favourites.
The Market Stall Menu is built of pantry-inspired flavours and its inventive use that explores how everyday ingredients can be transformed into something extraordinary. Onions, Marmite, tomatoes, and anchovies are but a few of the elements that, when mixed with the chef’s creativity, result in an explosion of flavours.
Tomato Collins – a standout drink that combines seasonal tomato consommé with aromatics, strawberry wine, and Courvoisier VSOP Cognac, served with tomato jelly. It creates a refreshing and complex drink and a taste that will leave you both wanting more and excited about what else you could try from the menu.
Crystal Mint Grasshopper – an inventive cocktail where Cornish peppermint-washed tequila melds with peach amazake and Vetiver for a botanic and aromatic drink. The final twist is the chocolate dusting finish that ties it all together.
Red Onion Manhattan – a twist on a classic Manhattan that takes the savoury turn with style and elegance. Red onion caramel washed in vermouth creates a deep umami base with hints of sweetness. Paired with Fielden Rye and Golden Lily milk oolong tea, it forges a balanced taste of savoury sweet.
Marmitini – a carefully crafted drink that brings together Boatyard vodka, dry vermouth, and Cornish Manuka tea; but the real twist is the infusion of Sprout’s own Marmite blend. Topped with a cracker, Marmite gel, and coriander, the drink results in bold, earthy tastes.
Anchovy Gimlet – an elegnart and transformative drink that stands out for its daring and surprising taste. Made with anchovies caramelised in brown butter, infused with a savoury gin base, and seasoned with vanilla, the Anchovy Gimlet results in a balanced creation.
The Special Menu is a dynamic menu that regularly rotates in accordance with the natural rhythms of the seasons. It celebrates freshness with ingredients such as summer berries or winter roots that capture the essence of nature’s course.
Gooseberry Bellini – blends gooseberries and maple purée, topped with Gusbourne sparkling wine, creating a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity with bright and vibrant flavours.
Asparagus – challenging the traditional notions of what should be in a cocktail, this drink features Frédéric’s Loire Valley asparagus and pine nut orgeat. Topped with rum, dry curaçao, bitters and a final touch of lime juice, the Asparagus cocktail results in a savoury surprise that shows how even a spring vegetable can find a spot to shine in an unconventional cocktail glass.
Rhubarb Ramos – we love a Ramos and this one is stunning. Black Cow vodka topped with a fluffy cream made from Yorkshire forced rhubarb and finished with soda water. Everything that a Ramos Fizz should be and created with a lot of love.
Turnip Old Fashioned – surprising and stunning, this cocktail defies expectations as it establishes a vegetable intensity and curious texture. Made of Woven Handmade Whisky, poached turnip, a demerara reduction, and compressed turnip, it results in one of the most original cocktails.
Together, the two menu sections create an exquisite narrative of culinary curiosity and organic delight. All elements are locally sourced, with many ingredients coming from their own garden or trusted nearby producers. At Sprout, the cocktail list doesn’t shy away from the curious and tangy. The cocktail list of ingredients sounds more like a complex dish than bar staples, embracing the bold, the unique, and the deeply savoury. Sprout Bar London pushes the boundaries of flavour.
The Snacks That Pair With the Cocktail List
As a combination to each drink, there is an equally creative dish. Sprout’s snack menu is a thoughtfully curated complement, yet each plate has its own creative twist. From the bold crunch of spiced shrimp toast to the elegant crispy chicken wings topped with caviar, each option has its own personality.
For those looking for a standout pairing, the Celeriac Milk Punch finds a match in the scotch egg with caper mayonnaise. The cocktail uses a milk-based clarification to balance the roasted celeriac, paprika, and mustard seed. Mixed with Tanqueray gin and cider brandy and topped with a spinach cracker, mustard gel, and a variety of herbs, this drink is a beauty. Paired with the scotch egg and caper mayonnaise, the combination becomes a texture and flavour experience. The delicious and very moreish caper mayo mirrors the tang of mustard seeds in the drink, while the runny yolk contrasts beautifully with the cocktail’s smoothness and botanical essence.
The menu, however, does not end there. Other dishes offer their own surprises. The sausage rolls with HP sauce are a beautiful mix of traditional British cuisine with a rich and unique touch of fresh herbs. The XL cheese straws and pork quavers are great bites to pick from in between sips – light and delicious, without outshining the intrinsic beverages.
Similarly to the drinks, each dish is rooted in British traditions and paired with playful creative additions that exceed expectations.
Sprout Bar London
A Design that Feels like a Deep Breath
Sprout’s interior mirrors their cocktail curation philosophy, as it creates an ambience of natural and quiet luxury. From summer evenings on the terrace or winters in the chic indoors, to the seamless connection between the bar’s design and the drinks’ creation, every detail has been handpicked to reflect a sense of purpose.
Sprout is an intimate bar – sophisticated yet approachable – that creates a space that feels both elegant and grounded. With natural wood, light and earthy tones, and touches of greenery, you will find the sweet spot where comfort meets curiosity.
A Bar Where Nature Pours In
Creating a truly organic and artistic spectacle, Sprout has been meticulously designed and decorated by mainly London-based craftspeople and British artists. Decorative artist Tess Newall hand-painted a unique mural along Sprout’s wall. With layered silhouettes of branches into a textured lime-coloured background and a whimsical incorporation of leaves and buds growing along selected branches, even the walls reflect the energy of the place. Inside Sprout, thoughtful design choices echo the drinks: every detail has purpose, but nothing feels overthought. It is a place for guests to pause, look around, and savour every moment – and sip.
The Souls Behind Sprout
Sprout Bar London creates an environment where the skill of bartending is celebrated – a place where the bartenders are not just making drinks; they are telling stories. Sprout is also very much a neighbourhood bar – the place to try a new drink, lay back and relax amongst nature, or chat the night away. It strikes the balance between progressive mixology, a welcoming atmosphere, and organic craftsmanship.
Final Sip
With a menu driven by nature and seasonality, design inspired by elegance and warmth, and a team of lively, creative souls, Sprout is one of those rare gems where the excitement never fades and you are always surprised.
For more information, visit Sprout Bar.
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All imagery courtesy of Sprout Bar London.