Cocktail Tasting Masterclass at The Botanist
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
To give you a glimpse behind the Creative Tourist curtain, our team recently enjoyed a cocktail tasting masterclass at The Botanist on Deansgate. As a specialist cocktail bar that takes its name from the delicious properties of plants, we were expecting a herbally infused evening of creative boozing. Safe to say, The Botanist did not disappoint.
We all piled in around the bar, where we were given the chance to try a pour test (how bartenders in free pouring bars do measurements). After this we were guided through the stages of making three signature drinks. Between the examples being made for us and our own enthusiastic (but not always quite as successful) attempts, we ended up with a bar packed with fruity, herbal and fancy drinks. My personal highlight was a cocktail called The Botanist. This used the bar’s signature jasmine syrup, which was a flavour I never suspected to be so utterly moreish. There was also a savoury edge to this drink provided by fresh herbs, which perfectly offset the sweetness of the syrup.
We were in the hands of experienced and passionate mixologist Jake. You could tell from the way he spoke about each of the particular bottles and their origins that a good amount of creativity and love also went into the mixer alongside the booze and ice.
The atmosphere of the masterclasses are a well honed balance of relaxed fun and actual learning. Unlike other tastings, you’re all encouraged to get hands on with the mixing. This crescendoed into a timed cocktail making competition which was deservedly won by our Managing Editor Johnny James.
Whether the occasion is a birthday, works party or you just fancy having a different kind of night out with friends, this delicious evening of cocktail tasting fun is a great way to shake things up.
