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Beefeater 24 at 69 Colebrooke Row
Beefeater 24 is Beefeater Gin’s new super premium expression infused with green tea. Tannins help to combine the flavours of anything with which they are mixed so they blend with the different botanicals already present in the the gin for an infinitely smoother and fresher flavour.
The brew launched with a stellar party for 400 VIP guests at the magnificent Syon House themed on the old Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens – a stone’s throw from the location of the Beefeater distillery today.
But even better, the brand has joined forces with maverick molecular mixologist, Tony Congliero of 69 Colebrooke Row whom it’s commissioned to create a series of cocktails utilizing the new expression.
And true to form, Congliero has come up trumps. He’s just launched his Beefeater 24 Martini. But of course there’s a twist. The Vermouth has been distilled with grape seeds – which to dry out the mouth so it produces more saliva making for for a super-enhanced taste sensation.
But even more creative turns are planned for the new year.
First up there’s the Japanese Serve. 24 infused with extra green tea (this all takes place in a still in the laboratory above Number 69), Tony’s special blend of green tea bitters and a squeeze of fresh lime. It will be served as per the Japanese Tea Ceremony on a black tray with slices of green tea infused bean curd on the side (please don’t eat these, they’re not very nice – sorry Tony). The glass itself is a conical-shaped tea cup which means the drinker has to lift it with both hands – giving the creation a real sense of occasion.
Next is the gin fizz – 24 distilled with lemon and served in a mixer style bottle opened at your table by bar staff. During a tasting session in his lab last week, Tony told me that for him, it’s not enough for a cocktail to look and taste great – it should engage – or confuse – as many of the senses as possible so when the bottle opens – without a fizz as it goes – this rocks the expectations of the
drinker. The fizz, you add yourself via a little file of soda powder served on the side. It’s like a DIY alcopop – so wrong yet so right!
Finally, the piece de resistance is Tony’s Silver Phantom – named after the classic Rolls Royce. In another twist on the martini theme, Tony has added a sprinkling of liquid silver. He is currently experimenting with a new metallic taste sensation (move over umami) which isn’t half bad (Robert Pattinson fans will dig its similarity to blood) and the drink actually sparkles with minute particles of the precious metal. Don’t worry it’s perfectly safe! Silver is actually a powerful antiseptic – hence the real meaning of the phrase ‘born with a silver spoon in your mouth’.
Lastly with another nod to the Phantom, the drink will be served on cardboard beer matts impregnated with the aroma of leather. This harks back to a time when the sales of Rollers were flagging so boffins put leather scented card under the seats in the automotive equivalent of baking cakes when you’re trying to sell a house.
Apparently this worked a treat and it’s rumoured that other manufacturers followed suit – especially where their seats were actually made of plastic.
Someone should tell Primark to do the same with their leather look handbags – it might make a killing. Actually it already is. Oh well.
