A London cocktail bar has set out to take some of the world’s most recognisable cocktails and “turn them on their head” with eight serves that look like the classics guests know and love but taste entirely different.
Pérola in Battersea is launching a menu that includes Not an Espresso Martini, a blend of Lost Explorer Tequila, Pineapple, Earl Grey and Coconut that trades coffee for tropical, tangy and silky notes, and Not a Piña Colada, crafted with Altos Silver Tequila, Ojo de Dios Mezcal, Fair Cucumber, Padrón Pepper, Green Gazpacho and Sea Buckthorn for a smoky, earthy and savoury take on the original.
The menu also includes Not a Dirty Martini, combining ABA Pisco with Pecan, Peach and Sage, while Not an Old Fashioned brings together No.3 Gin, Plum Sake, Ginger, Pear and Black Pepper for a crisp and peppery alternative to the classic.
Comment on the ‘Not As It Seems’ menu, bar manager Michela Castiglioni said the new menu keeps the visual layers of each classic cocktail intact while reimagining the flavour through unusual ingredients and modern techniques such as clarification.
Each drink is named after the classic it resembles, allowing guests to know exactly what will arrive in the glass, while the ingredients reveal that it will taste like something else altogether.
She explained: “We wanted to create a menu that entertains guests without relying on props or theatre. Clarification and modern techniques have already changed the way cocktails look, so we wanted to take that a step further and play with what people expect, so you might see an Espresso Martini but taste tequila, pineapple and Earl Grey.
“Every drink works just as well without the alcohol, and I can’t wait for guests to experience the moment their cocktail arrives.”
The menu has been curate by Castiglioni is a seasoned hospitality professional with over a decade of experience in London’s top cocktail venues. She has held key roles at Cocktail Embassy, Blind Spot, and Soho’s Disrepute – where she rose to general manager and led the bar to #12 in the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars 2022.
