I received an incredibly ingenious invite to a cocktail event in Peruke & Periwig. I wrote a piece about the extremely clever marketing surrounding it, which you can find Here.
The Invite
They were launching their new Around the World in 80 Cocktails menu and selected some lucky people to trial some of the creations over a few different evenings. 80 cocktails might sound like a large menu, it Is, however they have taken 40 ‘known’ cocktails and put their own unique twist on them, essentially doubling the menu. So for example you could have The Grapes of Wrath which is a twist on the Vesper Martini or you can have just as is.
Now unless you are involved in the service industry, it’s likely you probably don’t realise how much work, time and effort goes into creating the liquid fantasy that fills your glass. The behind the scenes work is not all just sitting around mixing alochol with fruit juice, although there is a little bit of that, for research purposes of course! There are late nights making syrups and juices and trial and error and tasting and retasting and all kinds of innovation including ingredients like smoke and digestive biscuits. They even infuse their own vodkas (including marshmallow infused) and create their own chilli sugar.
The menu itself also includes a quote to accompany each cocktail. I’ve added them to the pictures below. The attention to details is second to none.
Cocktail Menu
On the night of the event myself and my friend Carolann were treated to the ultimate in intimate cocktail evenings. There were four of us at the table being treated to a journey of cocktails across the globe. Our tour guide for the night was cocktail maker extraordinaire Rob. I’ll give you a run down of what was on offer. As my pictures were just not up to scratch and don’t at all show you how elegant each cocktail looked when served I have also put in some proper photographs beside mine. Believe me when I tell you, they were all served perfectly.
Key Lime Pie – “I don’t mind making jokes, but I don’t want to look like one”
A twist on the Gimlet, the Key Lime Pie is dessert in a glass. Absolut Citron, Absolut Vanilla, lemon, tarte citron, sicilian lemondae, meringue foam and a biscuit rim. Every sip let you enjoy the taste of the meringue foam and I kept twisting my glass to make sure every bit of biscuit was licked off the glass. For me out of 5, this was a 4.5, only losing a half mark because it wasn’t served in a large bucket. It was that good.
Key Lime Pie – My Photo
Next stop was the aptly named Hoptimus Prime. A variation on a Screwdriver. Hop infused Absolut Vodka, mango shrub (P&P made), honey, guava and pineapple. You can really taste the hops in it so the beer drinkers will certainly like it. For me it was 4 out of 5 but the presentation was top notch. Thats a slice of dehydrated pineapple on top which was sweet and chewy.
Hoptimus Prime – “I learned a long time ago that reality was much weirder than anyone’s imagination”
Hoptimus Prime – My Photo
A French inspired delicacy was next. The Nom de Plume. Similar to a Clover Club. A mix of Beefeater 24, elderflower, rose water (which I’m told is very expensive), pomegranate, lemon and sugar whites. It’s topped with edible rose buds. A classy looking cocktail with a refreshing taste. I’m giving it a 4.5 out of 5.
Nom de Plume – “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”
Nom de Plume – My Photo
Peruke have a brunch menu now, and guess whats on it? The Walking Dead cocktail. A variation on a Zombie. Being on a brunch menu essentially makes it a breakfast food. It’s made with Havana Especial, Oakheart (rum with flavours and spices), Kraken (more rum), Maraschino, Falernum (rum with lime juice), Apricot Brandy, orange, pineapple, lime and sugar. Now thats a long list of ingredients and a lot of rum and I suspect after about five of them you would be the walking dead but I also suspect it will cure a hangover too. Taste, superb. Thats my 5 out of 5.
The Walking Dead – “You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else”
Off to Wonderland we went next with The Mad Hatter. A take on the Collins. Served in a teapot for two, or as I like to call it, a teapot full just for me.
The Mad Hatter – “If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn’t. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn’t be. And what it wouldn’t be, it would. You see?”
Chamomile, grapefruit, lemon, pepper, cucumber and mint infused Beefeater gin, tonic bitters, boston bittahs and dry ice. Yes dry ice. If you look at the picture below you will actaully see the dry ice coming off it. It’s a spectacular cocktail to have arrive on your table. It’s pure theatre. While tasty, for me it was 4 out of 5 but thats a personal preference.
Mad Hatter Cup – My Photo
Yes that is actual dry ice coming off the teapot and you can watch the video of it here
Mad Hatter Teapot – My Photo
The Corner of Bow St. & St. James’ Gate, which was served with a plate of Guinness fudge. Jameson Irish Whiskey, Guinness, aromatic bitters and sugar. Served on rocks like it’s counter part the Old Fashioned. Classic, simple, STRONG!!! 3 out of 5 for me but I’m not a fan of Whiskey or Guinness.
The Corner of Bow St. & St. James’ Gate – “I have the simplest tastes. I am always satsified with the best” – My Photo
Below we have the Harry Houdini. Based on a Sazerac. Woodford Reserve, Hennessy Fine de Cognac, Peychaud’s bitters, honey, smoke and an absinthe rinse. If it will play for you, check out the Video of it all being put together. That is actually smoke filling the glass and it’s quite impressive. 4 out 5.
Harry Houdini – “What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes” – My Photo
To finish off on a sweet note I had The Ministry of Silly Drinks. An explosion of sweetness. Absolut Peach, Kwai Feh Leychee, Creme de Cassis, P&P mango shrub, orange bitters, cranberry bitters, lemon, whites and popping candy. It’s like being smacked in the face with a bag of skittles but oh so delicious. In saying that I would only manage one of these due to sweetness overload. 3.5 out of 5.
The Ministry of Silly Drinks – “Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction” – My Photo
The last creation in my run down is the South of the Border or French Martini as some know it. Olmeca Reposado, Creme de Cassis, P&P blackberry shrub, pineapple and sugar served with frensh blackberries. Alas I didn’t get to taste this but it looked great and Carolann says she would ‘inhale’ it.
South of the Border – “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro” – My Photo
This is a glowing review of Peruke & Periwig and it’s deserved. It was an extra special night and we were treated to impeccable service, tantalising drinks and Rob our cocktail maker, not only took us on a liquid journey, he took us on a literary one too. He knew the quotes. He knew who quoted them. For every drink there was a story to go with it, and with the story there was a piece of history and with that a nugget of information we took away with us. I left Peruke & Periwig that night enlightened or light headed, or maybe it was both.
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