COCKTAILS IN THE CITY

We managed to do a whistle-stop tour of the most exciting cocktail collaborations this side of Spring - make sure to head down to your local Cocktails In The City bar to try them out. With participants from all corners of London you can be assured to find something to tickle your fancy...

Coq d'Argent and Johnny Walker created The Golden Square, named after the new uk headquarters with ingredient harking back to the former profession of tea importers. They did a lot of business in Asia, hence the inclusion of ingredients like fragrant yuzu fruit peel, edible orchid garnish and sparkling sake. Sweetness added from earl grey syrup, a nod to the tea heritage. A smooth way to enjoy a great whisky.

A drink with a story from Dishoom and Hayman's London Dry Gin with Edwina's Affair. This represents the love triangle between the wife of India's last Viceroy and its first Prime Minister. Each ingredient represents someone, with delicately balanced rose flavours from the Lanique Rose Vodka and home made Rose Cardamom syrup, offset with a satisfyingly sharp lime juice and mint finish.

Bringing a seat for life with a Tom Collins style offering was Sovereign Loss and Whitely Neil Dry Gin. Interestingly, it's distilled with a botanical from the Baobab fruit, from the tree illustrated on the front of the bottle - the tree of life. Their cocktail, 'Winter's End', was a slightly effervescent (thanks to the home made red apple sherbert made from local Brixton Market fruit. Sharp and citrusy, it was certainly a palate cleanser.

The Powder Keg Diplomacy and Plymouth Gin went for the healthy option - a double carrot cordial made from purple and donkey variations, with a dash of horseradish and some lemon juice - very unusual but rather tasty, and one of your five a day.

High up the OXO Tower, Patron has created a love affair with a difference - pairing the unusual Yuzu fruit with a choya liqueur, strawberry infused vermouth and a dash of rose syrup to make a fresh and fragrant cocktail called Love Buzz. Inspired by fashion trends, the way we saw it, Patron is the little black dress, and the Yuzu is the accent piece.

The Chase Distillery with The Running Horse and The Whip decided on a totally different approach, creating a Radler style drink with some bite. Using delicious Gooseberry laced Wild Beer (Wild Goose Chase), lemon, bitters and of course Chase vodka for a refreshing cocktail - named for the cyclists in Germany that wanted more of a shandy than a heavy drink.

Old favourite The Reverend J W Simpson and Sauvelle Vodka created Paradise & Pandemonium, a deliciously potent punch of macerated citrus fruits and peach with nutty almond syrup, finished with an unusual herbal liqueur. The result was a rather wild and beautiful blend, much like the vodka itself.

Maker's Mark and Looking Glass Cocktail Club offered up a sweet selection inspired by Italian staple Panettone, with quite a few home made additions including tasty and spicy cinebitters (which was cinnamon notes with a gingery, spicy finish) and their own lavender and winter wheat cider reduction accenting the smooth whiskey.