This fall, The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar revealed a new menu that delves into the fabled history, dark drama and timeless romance embedded in the mysterious world of magic.
Having launched this October, Interpreted Magic is a three-part menu that explores secrets, tales and tricks as it subtly journeys through the history and performance of magic through the ages.
Led by the bar’s passionate Head Bartender, Elon Soddu, the creation of the new menu has been very much a collaborative effort, with every member of the dynamic Beaufort Bar team inventing their very own cocktail.
Following on from the distinctive structure of the bar’s previous menu, Interpreted Magic is separated into three sections, inspired by the ‘three pillars’ of magic, each of which is a vital stage in a traditional magic performance.
Coloured white on the menu, ‘The Pledge’ section refers to the first, and important part of a trick, when a performer builds anticipation in the audience.
Featuring light mixed drinks, wines and Champagnes, this part of the menu evokes the excited and expectant mood felt at the start of an evening.
The experts at the Beaufort Bar have built on their impressive Champagne selection, emphasising style rather than vintage and offering an unmatched selection of grower Champagnes and English sparkling wines.
The mixed drinks in this section also reflect the white, anticipatory theme, with light spirits, delicate flavours and elegant effervescence.
The next section, ‘The Turn’, is represented by red, and fittingly, refers to the part of a performance that’s about creating intrigue.
Not all is what it seems with these imaginative drinks as they invite guests to expect the unexpected, combining unusual techniques and clandestine flavours with agave spirits, gin, tonics and fortified wines.
Finally, ‘The Prestige’, is shaded with black and represents the end of the evening or, in this case, the finale.
This stage in the show is the pay off, where the audience experiences a satisfaction in wonder and the drinks here reflect this.
The Beaufort Bar’s enhanced whisky selection focuses on rare, valuable bottles, world whiskies and in-depth collections, while its mixed drinks are a satiating blend of dark spirits, full aromas and rich flavours that last, like the audience’s curiosity, right through the night.
The cocktails themselves take inspiration from all kinds of magical figures, from characters in Greek myths, fairy-tales and English folklore, to radical inventors, modern day scientists and some of the world’s most famous magicians.
The Frozen Petal takes its inspiration from Hades, God of the underworld, tricking his beloved Persephone into staying half the year underground by offering her a pomegranate, while The Allure explores the link between the forbidden fruit and magic used in the temptation of the female, referring to the stories of Aphrodite, Eve and Snow White.
Other magical females are represented in Girl Power, which explores telekinesis and how it can be used for good and evil, while Sea & Land, which is inspired by Macbeth’s famous cauldron incantation, explores the magic of prophesy.
Inventors and scientists have all created their own magic to change the world, and cocktails pay tribute to visionaries like Thomas Edison, Charles Darwin and Tim Berners-Lee, while world renowned magicians like Houdini and Derren Brown are all celebrated through drinks that explore their unique magical styles.
Examples of the cocktails include:
• Merlin’s Madness – 25
GREY GOOSE VODKA, CYNAR AMARO, RINQUINQUIN APERITIF PEACH WINE, STRAWBERRY ROOIBOS TEA,
LEMON
• Bright Spark – 25
STAR OF BOMBAY GIN, ITALICUS BERGAMOT ROSOLIO, LEMON VERBENA & SHERRY CORDIAL, LEMON, LOUIS ROEDERER CHAMPAGNE
• Twice Shy – 21
BACARDI 4YO RUM, CHAZALETTES VERMOUTH BIANCO, SALTED PISTACHIO YOGHURT, EARL GREY TEA, VANILLA, LIME, FRAMBOISE EAU DE VIE, MILK
• Soothsayer – 25
CRAIGELLACHIE 13YR WHISKY, GAVI DI GAVI WINE, BAREKSTEN AQUAVIT, SALINE SOLUTION, SUGAR
• The Mentalist – 22
PATRON SILVER TEQUILA, GRAPEFRUIT, LETTUCE CORDIAL, ORANGE BITTERS
Interpreted Magic lets the drinks and the products speak for themselves and features elegant, minimal and classic serves.
Each section also features non-alcoholic options that are as complex and sophisticated as the other drinks on the menu.
The Savoy’s Executive Chef, Fabrice Lasnon has created a food menu that perfectly complements the separate conceptual sections of the drinks menu.
The result is a beautifully balanced bar dining menu that features oysters, caviar and ceviche in ‘The Pledge’, savoury and juicy pork belly, beef ribs and sliders in ‘The Turn’ and satisfying sharing plates in ‘The Prestige’ drawing the night to a close with the likes of lobster tempura, miso black cod tacos and truffle pizza.
The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar is located at the Strand, London WC2R 0EZ
To make a reservation call 020 7836 4343 or visit thesavoylondon.com
