Hotel launches ‘steak-infused’ cocktail

 A “steak-infused” cocktail has been launched by a hotel in Manchester in the latest twist on the trend for savoury cocktails.

The four-star Macdonald Manchester Hotel & Spa has marked the re-launch of its Scottish Steak Club restaurant with the Whisky Steak cocktail – a blend of Monkey Shoulder Scotch whisky and rosemary syrup served with a slice of 21-day aged Scotch beef sirloin steak for “soaking or dipping in the drink”.

While the hotel’s second offering, the Rosemary Gin Steaktini, a playful twist on the Martini cocktail, combines Tanqueray Gin with dry vermouth and homemade rosemary syrup and is designed to cleanse the palate before a diner’s first bite of steak.

Paul Bayliss MBE and general manager at the Macdonald Manchester Hotel & Spa, said: “Savoury cocktails have grown in popularity in recent years as mixologists across the world have experimented to add a savoury flavour to spirits.

“The Whisky Steak and Rosemary Gin Steaktini offer guests something completely unique to other cocktails in the city and combines amazing flavours. We’ve mixed the richness of salty steak with the sweet, subtleness of malt whisky or dryness of gin. The warm, well-balanced nip of the whisky or delicate flavours of vermouth always shines through. Our bar team describes them as ‘dignified drinks’ and definitely something different.

“We are immensely proud of our reputation for serving guests only the highest quality food and for having one of Manchester’s very best restaurants in our hotel. We don’t compromise on service and work to offer the very best restaurant experience for our guests. The Steaktini is a bit of fun as part of our re-launch, but it is serious in pushing forward fantastic produce in a great environment”

It’s not the first time a restaurant has chosen to experiment with the unusual combination of spirits and meat.

Earlier this year a Canadian restaurant launched the “Checkmate Caesar” – a monstrosity of a ‘cocktail’ topped with a burger, hot dog and roast chicken priced at CA$60, perhaps taking the trend for savoury cocktails a step too far?