Cocktail of the Week: Pride in Art by Bankside Hotel
Bankside Hotel will be painting the town red this weekend with its new Pride in Art cocktail. Here's how to recreate it at home
Pride is returning to London this weekend, with more than a million people expected to congregate in Trafalgar Square, Victoria Embankment and Soho for an extraordinary event, which will see music, cabaret and speeches take place across six stages in celebration of the capital’s LGBTQ+ community. And in true Pride spirit, many of London’s beloved venues will be cheering on from the sidelines with their own innovative tokens of support, from themed exhibitions to drag shows, and fun brunches to, of course, new cocktails.
There are plenty of the latter to choose from, but we’re willing to bet none have been as meticulously designed as the Pride in Art cocktail at the Bankside Hotel. Inspired by the vibrant spirit of New York’s Stonewall Inn where in 1969 bar patrons turned a police raid into a protest for gay rights that marked a turning point in LGBTQ+ history, this spicy serve is the brainchild of head bartender Apostolos Vasdekis. His aim? Create a bold drink – blending fiery ginger, refreshing cucumber and zesty citrus – to symbolise the strength, diversity, and unity of the LGBTQ+ community.
Head bartender Apostolos Vasdekis
Located on London’s dynamic South Bank, the five-star Bankside Hotel’s Art Yard Bar is the perfect spot to join in the Pride festivities, raising a glass to the courageous individuals who stood up for their rights at the Stonewall Inn before nipping across the river to Whitehall Place to join the parade. Vasdekis says: “To honour that legacy and celebrate Pride, we’ve drawn inspiration from Mel Albaladejo’s Off the Wall cocktail, a bartender at the Stonewall Inn today. The cocktail’s deep red undertones, provided by the pomegranate juice, pay homage to the iconic ruby hues found both on the bar’s sign and in the ambient lighting inside the Stonewall Inn. We hope every sip brings a sense of celebration and inspiration to all who enjoy it.” Can’t make it into town this weekend? Not to worry. Here’s how to create Vasdekis’s Pride-themed cocktail at home this month and beyond.
Recipe
Pride in Art
Ingredients
- Chase Vodka 35ml
- Ginger syrup 20ml
- Pomegranate juice 25ml
- Lime juice 15ml
- Crushed cucumber slice 1, whole
- Organic bitters 8 drops
- Mint leaves To garnish
Method
- Chill a coupe glass by placing it in the freezer.
- In a Boston cocktail shaker, add the cucumber slice, ginger syrup, and crush them together.
- In the shaker, add the Chase Vodka, ginger syrup, pomegranate juice, lime juice and eight drops of organic bitters.
- Shake vigorously with ice for about 15 seconds, then for an additional 10 seconds without ice.
- Double strain the mixture from the shaker into the glass.
- Garnish with a mint leaves and enjoy.
The Pride in Art cocktail is priced at £15, available at Bankside Hotel’s Art Yard Bar & Kitchen throughout June. Visit banksidehotel.com
Read more: Jalapeño and Ginger Martini cocktail recipe by Nobu Santorini
