Historic Belfast Hotel, The Merchant has unveiled its new sustainable cocktail list that aims to capture the zeitgeist of the cocktail scene.
- Paper Plane
- Mai Tai
A pared-back selection of 20 cocktails. the new menu showcases timeless favourites, Merchant signatures and innovative Merchant originals.
Building on the hotel’s overarching ethos of farm-to-table, the menu brings sustainability and waste reduction to the forefront.
“When considering the selection, we wanted to create a list that was approachable and encourages conversation with our bartenders, allowing them to share their knowledge and passion for crafting world-class cocktails with our guests,” said Merchant Cocktail Bar Manager, Aaron Dugan.
- Jimmie Roosevelt
- Armillita
Regulars will be relieved to know that the Merchant classic The Sicilian, a refreshing mix ofBeefeater Gin, Campari, Cointreau, orange sherbet, fresh grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and orange bitters, originally perfected by The Dead Rabbit’s Jack McGarry during his time in The Merchant, remain on the list. Additionally, favourites like the refined Boatyard Gin Martini and the Redbreast Lustau Tipperary, also have a place.
The Merchant’s classic Champagne Negroni – a refined take on the much fabled ‘Negroni Sbagliato’, which gained popularity thanks to House of Dragons star, Emma D’Arcy last year – also features. The Merchant has also further evolved the Scottish classic Presbyterian, which was updated by Sam Ross (Attaboy, Milk & Honey) in 2008, with the use of Irish whiskey (Dunville’s Peated Irish Whiskey) rather than scotch.
The sustainability focus of the curated list results in each element of the drinks having a purpose, with nothing wasted. Garnishes, if present, are edible or a by-product of another drink and are always designed to enhance the piquancy of the cocktail. For example, bartenders handcraft their own orgeat syrup for use in several cocktails, and leftover almonds are used by the chefs to make biscuits.
“We are passionate about making our menu as sustainable as possible, and this carries through, not just in the drinks but in the menu itself, which is made from recycled paper. The menu will evolve and update twice a year to ensure we can source ingredients that are in season.”
The new cocktail menu is now available in The Cocktail Bar at The Merchant Hotel, Belfast. To find out more, go to themerchanthotel.com