Fifth-generation, family-owned, luxury Cognac brand Camus is partnering with opulent Gothic Bar, housed in the iconic Midland Grand Hotel in King’s Cross, for a three-month event. The partnership sees the bar presenting an innovative menu using the cognac, alongside a programme of activities to capture the hearts and palates of cocktail lovers this autumn.
This is a merging of two worlds of luxury, designed to create an unforgettable experience for discerning connoisseurs. Camus, renowned for its craftsmanship and rich heritage in the world of Cognac, finds a perfect partner in Gothic Bar, a venue celebrated for its unique decor and sophisticated ambiance, aligning it seamlessly with the Camus brand. Its lavish interior provides an immersive backdrop for this activation, offering consumers not just a drink, but an experience.
Starting on Monday 9th September, visitors to Gothic Bar will have the opportunity to discover striking Cognac drinks developed by talented Bar Manager Jack Porter. Porter has developed a menu of three cocktails inspired by Jules Verne's Voyages Extraordinaires’ book collection. These famed novels were published 160 years ago, at the same time that the Camus family began their journey in the world of Cognac so there is truly no better place to celebrate the ‘entente cordiale’ than King’s Cross, with its transport links to Paris so close by.
Jack took inspiration from the French author’s stories and married them with three cognacs: Camus VSOP, Camus VSOP Borderies, and Camus Ile de Ré to present a flavourful story highlighting the aromatic house style of Camus. Each cocktail will take the drinker on a visual and delicious tasting journey showing what makes each Camus cognac so unique, paying homage to both French literature and Camus’ quality and history.
The menu will include:
FIVE WEEKS IN A BALLOON (£17) – Showcasing ingredients found in parts of Africa, the continent explored in the namesake book. The drink includes a scented smoke ballon, that sits on top of the drink, which when popped spreads a ginger aroma across the drink and table alluding to the book’s titular balloon. The striking cocktail sees peanut enriched Camus VSOP paired with Ginger Liqueur, Banana Eau de Vie, and Oloroso Sherry'.
JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH (£17) – Drawing inspiration from terra firma, this cocktail displays earthy, mineral, herbaceous, and bitter flavours. An eye-catching tall ice cube includes drilled-in red syrup, which is frozen into the ice, reminding us of the lava channels explored in the book. Here the aromatic Camus Borderies VSOP is paired with Lutèce Aperitif, Roots & Spice Liqueur, Citrus Mix, and London Essence Tonic Water.
20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (£17) – A marriage of both the nautical novel and the maritime heritage of Camus Ile de Ré. The cognac created on the island of Ile de Ré, home to France’s westernmost vineyards, which displays a iodine-rich profile. The cocktail has flavours of Kombu seaweed, oyster, and fresh salinity. Oyster shells from the restaurant are sterilised then frozen, before being filled with layered ice and micro plants to give the perception of an aquatic scene. The cocktail includes Camus Île de Ré, Falernum, Pickled Dulse, Oyster Tincture, and Cucumber.
Camus Cognac Voyages Extraordinaires Cocktail Menu will be available at Gothic Bar, St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Euston Rd., London, NW1 2AR. The menu will run at the bar for the entire three months, 9th September until 30th November 2024. Additionally the team will take part in London Cocktail Week with Camus, with a cocktail from the menu and cognac masterclasses.
Bookings can be made on the website and walk-ins are welcomed: www.gothicbar.london
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Deputy Editor, Chatting Food London: Amanda David
Amanda David is a freelance food writer specialising in London’s restaurants, bars, exhibitions and events. She is the Events Editor and a contributing writer for London Cheapo, a regular contributor to Palate Magazine and a Member of the Guild of Food Writers.
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