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FT editor Roula Khalaf selects her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
1990s alcopop is making a comeback, or so claim the creators of Reef, the tropical vodka and juice brand that recently returned to the market after a 20-year hiatus. I drank alcopops the first time, so I’m not celebrating, especially when there are better bottled cocktails I could drink.
Those at London’s Tayēr + Elementary remain best in class: their new Yuzu Gimlet is made with Japanese Roku gin, Fino sherry, yuzu and Muyu Chinotto Nero sweet and sour liqueur (£35 for 30cl). I like it better with ice.
Tayēr + Primary Yuzu Gimlet, £35 for 30cl
Scares Banana Gimlet, £35 for 30cl or £90 for three, store.rosewoodhotels.com
Gimlets are also a focus for Bar Scarves at the Rosewood Hotel in London. The Banana Gimlet is made with gin, spicy sherry and “electric banana cordial”, capturing the sweet and spicy intensity of a banana so ripe it’s about to spill over. Other cocktails in the range include a Peach Flower Martini and a Smoked Maple Manhattan with black cardamom. Each label also has a small colorful caricature by satirical cartoonist Gerald Scare.
Cravana bar in Paris’ Saint-Germain-des-Prés makes bottled cocktails smart enough to give as gifts or take to a dinner party. Each recipe is based on the spirit of Moët Hennessy: Archi mixes Glenmorangie with pear cordial; Mina marries Volcán blanco tequila with quince; and there is also an ultra-luxurious Boulevardier in two versions, which combines Hennessy XO or Very Special with Campari-type bitters (from €35 for 50 cl). Another spectacular spectacle for a special event would be the crystalline Mirror Margarita from Axe bar in east London – launching a spicy new incarnation this month, with hints of orange, lemon and lime (£26 for 50cl).
One of the advantages of pre-mixed cocktails is that they save you from having to buy large quantities of ingredients, which is especially useful when it comes to a complicated drink like a Bloody Mary. The Pickle House’s new Bloody Mary is excellent, flavored with pickle juice, cucumbers, spices, horseradish and vegan Worcester sauce. An alcohol-free version is also available.
The Pickle House Bloody Mary, £3.99 for 20cl, delli.mercado
Lock liquor and company Forest Spicy, £25 for 50cl
The idea of people spending money on non-alcoholic bottled cocktails would have seemed crazy not long ago, but the 0% abv sector of the ready-to-drink market is experiencing steady growth. In the US, snack company Phony Negroni by Brooklyn Saint Agrestis it is a success. Packaged with a nod to the Campari soda bottle, the 0% abv family of aperitifs includes a non-alcoholic Negroni plus espresso and “mezcal” Negroni twists ($5 for 20cl). boisson.co).
In the UK, Lockdown Liquor & Co has also followed the temperance path. I like their Forest Picante, a sweet and sour Margarita-style drink made with Everleaf Forest, lime, orange blossom water, coriander and a touch of habanero (£25 for 50cl). Store it in the refrigerator to drink at home or on the go.