European cocktail scene catches up

European bars have caught up with the UK in terms of cocktail-making innovation, according to Alex Turner, head of training at Bacardi Brown Forman.

Turner, who trains the UK’s leading bartenders to expand and perfect their cocktail-making repertoire, told the drinks business that European nations have caught up thanks to their drive to produce vintage cocktails with a modern twist.

“On the whole the UK was out in front until around a year to 18 months ago,” Turner told db. “We have been caught up now by other European cities such as Berlin, Paris, Lyon, Vienna and Barcelona which all have a very distinct style, as well as the US.

“There is some really interesting stuff happening in Europe, all along the same lines of producing vintage cocktails with a modern twist.”

Turner stressed that this didn’t simply mean the addition of a new ingredient to a classic cocktail.

“Anyone can make a Manhattan, stick some Chambord in it and call it a twisted classic,” he said. “ But if you look at some of these European bars they tend to make a very cool style of drink in cool vintage glassware.

“They also make them in the kind of basement bars which make you feel as though you are in an environment totally focussed on producing great drinks.

“There is a really modern, scientific application of modern mixology meeting the drinks of the 1830’s.”

For more on cocktails and the white spirits market, see the November edition of the drinks business.