The inaugural Cocktail Experience comes to Leeds City Centre’s Aspire next week, where all the major players in the city’s thriving cocktail scene submit one signature cocktail to take part in a battle royal (or should that be battle Kir Royal?...No.) where there’s only one winner: people who like drinking cocktails. So, everybody then.
With thirteen bars taking place - including The Maven, Brotherhood, Hedonist Project and Malmaison - competition is tough, and trying to choose which cocktails to sample, priced at £5 each, is even tougher. We’ve had chance to try some of them in advance, though, and narrowed it down to five you have to try.
Don Gonzalez (Hedonist Project)
Changing its identity more than I did in sixth form (before I finally settled on being into My Chemical Romance 4 life), seasonally-themed bar Hedonist Project has done stints of innovative mixology focussing on whisky, gin, and rum, to name a few.
Their entry for The Cocktail Experience makes you wonder what they’d do when left to their own devices with tequila for three months. Here they’ve made a kind of long-Margarita, mixing Don Julio Blanco with Ginjo Yuzushu yuzu-infused sake, sweetened with agave syrup and muddled raspberries, and topped up with soda.
Ron’s Luau (Skylounge)
A casual rum punch might not be the first cocktail that springs to mind when you think of the chic and elegant Skylounge, but they’ve added a touch of class to their version with the addition of ginger & clove-spiced falernum, cinnamon syrup, angostura bitters, and bittersweet pink grapefruit to Ron Zacapa and Coco Lopez.
Fogwork Orange (Pintura)
If there’s two things you can expect from Pintura, it’s pure class and plenty fo gin. That’s probably why I like the place so much; similar. Their Fogwork Orange doesn’t disappoint, combining Deaths Door gin with basque flavours of fino sherry, lemon and blood orange juice, coffee, and Orgeat orange and almond syrup. A PX sherry float gives it an extra kick, offset by a grating of dark, bitter chocolate.
Ciroc Calippo (Oracle)
Speaking of class, Oracle’s entry - starring DJ Khaled’s favourite premium spirit Ciroc Pink Grapefruit alongside Passoa passion fruit liqueur and fruit juices, garnished with an entire Calippo - has absolutely none of it.
Not that you'll be able to resist it though. Come on - it's got a whole Calippo sticking out of it.
White Cosmo (The Alchemist)
Fairly reserved by their standards, The Alchemist’s White Cosmo gives the tacky hen-night classic a much needed makeover. Ketel One vodka is shaken with Cointreau and lime juice, while delicate, fragrant elderflower replaces cranberry juice - meaning you don’t have to worry too much about spilling it on your white stilettos.
Tickets are available here priced at £15, including two cocktails.
The Cocktail Experience, Friday 14 October 6:30pm - 12am. Aspire, 2 Infirmary Street, LS1 2JP.
