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Gleneagles has relaunched the American Bar’s cocktail menu

01 April 2022 By Jessica Mason

Gleneagles has relaunched the cocktail menu at its American Bar to include a nod to the botanical berries found on the estate.

The Scottish countryside hotel and estate has revamped its American Bar menu so that each of the cocktails is made with ingredients sourced first and foremost from the Gleneagles ecosystem.

The new ‘Book of Berries’ menu, which has been created by head of mixology, Michele Mariotti and his talented beverage team, is a homage to the botanicals found on the surrounding Perthshire hills.

The new look menu, which has been inspired by “the decadence and grandeur of the bar’s 1920s-themed décor – reminiscent of the hotel’s beginnings in 1924” features 18 cocktails with each being dedicated to a sole botanical berry.

The “Book of Berries” menu has been designed to tell a story and be whimsical in style offering up detailed descriptions and illustrations.

In compiling the menu, the beverage team have developed three, brand new, Gleneagles-own gins in partnership with Edinburgh’s South Loch Distillery specifically for its martinis. Further menu highlights include ‘Blueberry’, a vodka-based cocktail created using Gleneagles’ Garden Café blueberry muffins; ‘Avocado’, which uses leftover avocado seeds to create an orgeat which then combines with white rum and Amaro to make a Mai Tai style cocktail; and ‘Banana’, using leftover peels which are slowly caramelised at high temperatures before being used to infuse Bourbon and create the ultimate twist on a classic Old Fashioned.

Mariotti and his beverage team also worked closely with British designer, Richard Brendon, on bespoke glassware for key beverages and have crafted four exclusive designs for ‘Blueberry’, ‘Pumpkin’, ‘Papaya’ and ‘Avocado’ respectively.

Mariotti said: “Over the last year or so, we have made real strides in developing innovative, ingredient-driven drinks menus. That is what the American Bar is all about – showcasing the amazing ingredients which are found on our doorstep and using them in new ways to create a unique drinking experience for our guests. Developing the new offering for the American Bar has very much been a team effort. Each member has crafted different drinks, mixes and combinations, with immense detail. We believe that even the most experienced of cocktail connoisseurs will find something interesting and unique when they visit the American Bar, whether that be an innovative new mix or a contemporary twist on a classic.”

This update to the American Bar menu follows a series of mixology-based activities where Gleneagles has focused on sustainability practices and ingredients. It also follows the relaunch of Gleneagles’ Century Bar menu, the launch of Gleneagles’ first single malt in partnership with The Glenturret Distillery, and the introduction of an outdoor dining and whisky ‘pod’ experience on the grounds of the estate, developed in collaboration with The Macallan, soon to launch later this spring.

The American Bar is open every Wednesday through to Sunday from 5.30pm until 1am.

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