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THE NQ meets NY joint has just introduced a brand new cocktail menu, encouraging Manchester’s afterwork crowd to celebrate the longer summer evenings in style. Think classic cocktails infused with the added spirit of the Pen and Pencil personality.
Inspired by a classic Manhattan this hit us in four clear stages; strength, bitterness, ‘pop’ and smoke.
We went along to try out some of the new boozy brews and were struck by the range. The staff had just been through a tasting of the new cocktails, but when we asked each of them which their favourite was, they all came up with a different answer. Whether you prefer your drinks long and fruity, short and to the point, or like a classic snapshot in time transporting you to a more glamorous era, you’ll find it on the new menu.
Named in honour of the infamous bar on East 45th Street, New York, which was popular with newspaper journalists and ad men, Pen and Pencil is the speakeasy to head towards to unwind after a long day of being fabulous. As you’d expect from a joint named after writing equipment, the names of each cocktail flow like ink from the nib of a high-class fountain pen.
Cucumber and Sake Martini; Konik’s Tail Vodka, Shiraume Umeshu Plum Sake and a cucumber garnish were a chilled combination which resulted in pure liquid summertime. Delicate plum and cucumber flavours complemented each other well, gently infusing the vodka with undertones of floral organic matter, underlining the fact that cucumbers are actually a fruit, not a vegetable.
Cucumber and Sake Martini
A Manchester Minute; Del Maguey Vida mezcal, Cocchi Torino vermouth, maraschino liqueur, bubblegum syrup, and orange bitters made indeed for a strong and serious northern sixty seconds. We recommend this multi-layered concoction for real ‘booze nerds’ who consider hard liquor more of an art form. Inspired by a classic Manhattan this hit us in four clear stages; strength, bitterness, ‘pop’ and smoke, the latter being from the slightly medicinal taste of the Tequila. A few of these and you wouldn’t feel any pain.
A Manchester Minute
Alexander’s Best Friend; Warner Edwards gin, triple sec, blue curacao liqueur, lemon juice, sugar, egg whites. This bright, refreshing drink comes presented to you in glorious Technicolor, like a citrus based snapshot from a 1950s movie featuring Esther Williams in a glamorous OTT swimming hat, turning summersaults in a refreshingly cool turquoise pool. Honestly, we felt all that after a few sips.
Alexander’s Best Friend
Shades of Disco; Tapatio Repodaso tequila, mango juice, lemon juice, blueberry jam, egg white topped with Double Dutch pomegranate and basil soda. This goes down as the first time we’ve ever been served a drink garnished with a Pantone colour chart (we’ve got it down as Pantone 206 EC). Not overly sweet, this long pink drink will have you dancing over to the bar for more.
Shades of Disco
So that’s four tried from the new cocktail menu with ten more to go. All the best authors were notorious drunkards, so we definitely recommend popping down to the Pen and Pencil for some literary inspiration in the form of liquid libation.
The Pen and Pencil is on Hilton Street, NQ.
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