We don’t really ‘do’ politics here at Luxuriate but with it being an election year, I came across one of many quotes by iconic British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill who reportedly said that the four essentials in life were “hot baths, cold champagne, new peas and old brandy.” Interestingly, all four of those essentials are available at The Churchill Bar and Terrace.

Even a hot bath, I hear you cry? Okay, so I have to confess this is not wholly accurate as you would have to make a booking at the elegant Hyatt Regency hotel, where the bar is located. The remaining three essential ingredients can however be found as part of a new cocktail menu inspired by Sir Winston Churchill’s life and includes classic British food pairings.

The Shades of Winston Churchill is The Churchill Bar and Terrace’s autumn and winter cocktail menu, which explores Churchill though various facets of his life. Ten new cocktails have been created by Head Bartender Giacomo Guarnera and his team also have savoury and sweet food pairings with a classic dish  using ingredients and infusions from the cocktails. Discover the lesser known shades of through a cocktail journey celebrating the great man’s passions, achievements, ancestry and joie de vivre.

‘The Prime Minister’ – Let us begin with the cocktail named after Churchill’s historic role in leading the country and is inspired by the iconic British combination of egg and cress. The cocktail delivers quite a punch and uses his favourite whisky brand, Johnny Walker. The cocktail consists of Muyu jasmine liqueur, watercress cordial, vermouth and tonic spritz with a dash of Absinthe and of course, Johnny Walker Black Label. This is paired with baked egg and chive puffs, filled with watercress and cold press olive oil emulsion.

‘The Traveller’ offers a unique twist on a food pairing that is much loved by us Brits although not quite understood by others – jacket potato and baked beans! The cocktail consists of baked potato infused Ketel One vodka, Pinto bean syrup, Muyu Chinotto Nero liqueur, acid pandan leaf soda and dill tincture. The drink is elegantly garnished with a dry mashed potato shard and a single baked bean. To eat, jacket potatoes and beans with a twist with spiced beans, bean foam and crispy bacon on mini jacket potatoes.

‘The Artist’ reinterpret another love of the nation, the good old cuppa. Before you put the kettle on in the attempt to recreate this innovative take on the classic English breakfast tea, ‘The Artist’ is based on a much sweeter and thicker punch-style cocktail and contains blending notes of traditional milky tea with spicy accents of rum and warming cinnamon, evoking the outdoors in winter. A fine recommendation for the terrace at this time of year. The cocktail is made with Zacapa 23 y/o rum, cherry liqueur, maple syrup, pineapple juice, lemon juice, almond milk, winter spices and of course English breakfast tea. The sweet food pairing is a vanilla bean panna cotta with English breakfast tea, jelly and milk froth.

‘The Cigar Smoker’ – No cocktail menu inspired by Churchill could ever be considered complete without his most defining feature: his love of smoking cigars. This libation is theatrical in presentation with an impressive aromatic ‘smoke bubble’ just waiting to pop! The cocktail is made with roasted green pepper infused tequila, Noilly Prat, tomato shrub, grapefruit syrup and salted cacao husk tea. The drink is paired with a moreish fried halloumi bites with a balsamic vinegar glaze.

The launch of Shades of Winston Churchill coincides with a new artist collaboration by Zoom Rockman, who is renowned for his satirical cartoons. Zoom’s eight new commissions are showcased at the bar’s outdoor terrace, where cosy rugs and blankets are provided for those looking for a luxury winter hideout from the bustle of Oxford Street nearby.

We enjoyed learning about aspects of Churchill that were not widely known, both through the cocktails as well as the library décor. Do also take a look at the framed letters written between the young Churchill and his beloved wife Clementine that hang in the library for an intimate and charming portrayal of the lovers, which is incidentally another cocktail (below) which I will try on my next visit.

To discover more about the lesser known shades of Sir Winston Churchill, visit The Churchill Bar and Terrace at www.thechurchillbar.co.uk