NEW COCKTAIL MENU ‘PASSPORT’ LAUNCHES IN LATE OCTOBER

The new menu is a collaborative effort from the team behind St James Bar and will take guests on an inspirational flavour journey across the globe

WEBSITE: www.wildhoneylondon.co.uk/wildhoneystjames/

Having recently undergone a full redesign, St James Bar at Sofitel London St James is set to make an impressive mark on London’s drink scene with an exciting new cocktail menu entitled ‘Passport’ launching in late October.

The new menu is a collaborative effort from the team behind St James Bar and will take guests on an inspirational flavour journey across the globe. New cocktail compositions will showcase unusual or indigenous spirits from the countries they represent and others will conjure nostalgic memories of unforgettable trips and life defining moments. The menu itself will resemble a real passport and each cocktail will have a stamp of the country it is inspired by, inviting guests to escape to exotic and far-flung corners of the world without having to leave the luxury of St James Bar.

Drawing inspiration from the famous blossom season of Japan, Shodu infuses delicate Japanese tea flavours of black cherry, green tea and apricot to make a sweet syrup which is then combined with Japanese Roku Gin, lemon and egg white. 5 to 7 is a nod to the sacred national concept of Aperitivo and mixes Campari-infused coffee, Amaro Montenegro, pink grapefruit and soda to make a refreshing Italian spritz.

1st Step remembers one of America’s greatest feats – man’s legendary first steps on the moon. Notes of grapefruit, strawberry and orange Curacao offset Maker’s Mark rich Lunar Bourbon and are finished with a twist of black pepper and a puff of edible dark spray. Similarly, Heaven Howler is a tribute to Iceland’s prohibition period which blends local Icelandic Himbrimi Old Tom Gin with a pale ale adding refreshing herbal flavours of rhubarb and thyme.

Other examples from the ‘Passport’ menu include:
La Bandera, Mexico | Calle 23 Tequila |Del Maguey Vida Mezcal | Avocado Liqueur | Ginger Beer Reduction Apothecary, France | Miclo EDV Pear | Bonal | Grape Leaf Cordial | Pine | Honey | Lime

Pioneering new ways to highlight the art of cocktail creation, the innovative new menu will feature QR bar codes alongside a description of the drink. Guests can use their phones to discover exactly how each cocktail is made through the use of a short video created by St James’ bartenders.

A classic menu will also be available alongside a designated Martini section – the bar’s signature cocktail is the Bleu de Galimard, a dry gin Martini where the glass is washed with Charles Legend Brut Rosé and Remy Martin VSOP Cognac – the drinks menu also features a prominent non-alcoholic section. As well as a selection of global whiskies, Champagnes and wines, sixty varieties of gin also adorn the menu, as well as an extensive roster of speciality spirits all beautifully displayed behind the lit-up bar.

The bar snacks pairing menu at St James Bar is created in collaboration with Anthony Demetre of Wild Honey St James. He has worked closely with the bar team to create a series of delicious small dishes which have been designed to complement the flavours of the countries represented in the drinks menu.

Situated on the corner of Pall Mall and Waterloo Place, next to the hotel’s newly opened Wild Honey St James restaurant, the bar has recently been transformed by interiors specialist and respected bar and restaurant architect, Jim Hamilton. Hamilton’s design of St James bar features curved plush velvet seating in opulent jewel shades, brass accents and a striking marble-topped bar with colourful rows of bottled handmade tinctures, bitters and liqueurs as its centre piece. The interior design also subtly combines French and English themes to match the hotel’s blend of French and local culture, the most obvious being the oil painting of a French cockerel wearing an English military uniform that dramatically covers the ceiling. This is also a nod to the hotel’s history as it was originally built as a military bank for Cox and King’s.

Opening Hours – Mon to Sat: 8am to 1am, Sun: 8am to 12am

ST JAMES BAR
SOFITEL LONDON ST JAMES
6 Waterloo Place
London
SW1Y 4AN

https://www.wildhoneylondon.co.uk/wildhoneystjames/