MANCHESTER has a long history of boozing.
the Vim, potency and pared down charm of the Manchester Martini carried it through
In fact, in 1908 Manchester soft drink Vimto attempted to subdue the boozing. Vim without the gin, so to speak.
You see, the average mid-nineteenth century Manchester man, woman and child used to sink around twelve pints of ale a day. The water was putrid and full of human and industrial effluent, you see. Plus beer is better.
While Manchester polymath Anthony Burgess; author, poet, playwright, composer, linguist, translator, critic, boozehound, prolific smoker and general good egg, created the world's most potent cocktail in the 50s with 'Hangman's Blood': "Into a pint glass," Burgess instructed, "pour double measures of gin, whisky, rum, port, brandy. add a small bottle of stout, top with champagne - it tastes very smooth and induces a somewhat metaphysical elation."
Well, continuing in that tradition (not quite to Burgess' standard, mind), staff at Gusto have created a new Manchester cocktail 'inspired by the flavours of Vimto' to raise money for Forever Manchester - a local charity that funds and supports thousands of community projects across Greater Manchester.
Let's not tell 'em Vimto is a temperance drink, eh?
The Manchester Martini, a combination of Plymouth gin, Plymouth Sloe gin, Vimto, Chambord and fresh apple juice, served with grapes and shaken not stirred, naturally, is currently on sale in Gusto on Deansgate for £7.50 (£1 from each cocktail will go to Forever Manchester).
Delicious it is too, but then we have to say that, we picked it.
It was a close run thing, mind, the other cocktails; a take on Eccles cake, the Manchester Tart and Boddingtons (another Manchester drink) each had their merits, but the Vim, potency and pared down charm of the Manchester Martini carried it through.
Nick Massey, Chief Exec of Forever Manchester said:
“It’s great to have Gusto Manchester on board raising money for us in such a creative way. Our staff have tasted and enjoyed the cocktail on sale and we’re sure it’ll be a top seller, so we can reinvest the money raised back into the communities of Greater Manchester.”
