Canaïma Gin and Diplomático Rum have partnered with London’s highest hotel bar, GŎNG at Shangri-La The Shard, to bring the Amazon rainforest to London and raise awareness about saving the Amazon.
Until September 2022, GŎNG and the Sky Pool on Level 52 at Shangri-La The Shard will be transformed into a tropical oasis with a new sushi station and DJ. Lush foliage has been added to the décor, framing the London skyline like a rainforest hovering the city. The talented mixologists at GŎNG worked diligently to create unique cocktails that tell a story. Each cocktail purchased contributes to these Latin American spirit companies’ mission to protect and enrich the communities in the Amazon.
Canaïma Gin, produced fresh from the foot of the Andes Mountains, is a family-owned business made from 19 botanicals around the Amazon and Venezuela. The distillery stays true to their mission by running entirely on clean energy and contributing 10% of its sales to Saving the Amazon and Fundación Tierra Viva. Both of these organisations are dedicated to saving the Amazon and the indigenous people. Some of their aid goes to supporting artisans, farmers and sustainable employment such as planting trees and reforesting. The collaboration between Canaïma Gin and these organisations allows for the technology and community needed to save the Amazon to exist and the employment of the indigenous people to nurture the newly planted areas.
Diplomático Rum utilises another way of being sustainable within their supply chain, and that is an internal recycling program – used to recycle solid wastes like packaging, plastic, cardboard and glass. Their 100% recyclable packaging is treated and then used as an organic fertiliser for sugar cane and grass. The brand is true to their promise to respect and protect the environment within their own methods of production.
These two sustainable spirits are incorporated in the pop-up cocktail menu, curated by the talented team of GŎNG mixologists. The local knowledge of the Indigenous communities is incorporated throughout the flavours as well, combining the South American ingredients like banana and coconut with a complex Asian touch.
Cocktails include the Don Juancho, using Diplomático Rum, banana peel syrup, oloroso sherry, carpano antica formula, angostura and tonka beans producing a medium sweet yet bold flavour. If you are looking for a rum-based drink, The Amazonia is a bitter bubbly drink made with Canaïma Gin, Cocchi Barolo Chinato, aperitif, Illegal Joven Mezcal and pink grapefruit soda. Three other drinks: the Sueño de Coco (smooth coconut tones), Baya de Café (berry/coffee taste) and the Curagua (fruity and floral) are featured on the menu too.
New chef, Soe-san, adds another layer to the tropical evening with the traditional GŎNG Asian flair at his live sushi station. Guests can expect to interact more with the chef and learn about the sushi flavour pairings and tradition while listening to resident DJ, Dave Delgado, perform his trendy sets as well as a saxophone on Thursdays.
Aside from the Tropical Oasis, GŎNG offers a Liquid Afternoon Tea with food and miniature cocktail pairings, as well as a romantic Deluxe Window Experience for two with a bottle of Laurent Perrier Rosé and sharing platters of Asian dishes. There is also a rather special brunch every Sunday at the hotel’s Sky Lounge on Level 34 where you can upgrade the experience to include 90 minutes of bottomless Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne.
This Tropical Oasis in the clouds is only for a limited time, a great excuse to visit London’s iconic Shard located in the heart of London Bridge. Escape the city for the night and enjoy the unique experience to visit the rainforest with an Asian twist and support these wonderful, sustainable spirits of Latin America.
To discover more about GŎNG at Shangri-La The Shard, London, visit: gong-shangri-la.com
View this post on Instagram
All imagery courtesy of Shangri-La The Shard, London.