GŌNG Bar unveils its new cocktail menu – A Miscellany of Inventions

22 Sep GŌNG Bar unveils its new cocktail menu – A Miscellany of Inventions

Inventions are the most important products of scientific knowledge. Without such discoveries, science would merely be curiosity for the sake of curiosity. Honouring the most transformative inventions of human history, GŌNG Bar at Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London, the highest hotel bar in Western Europe, has launched a new cocktail menu entitled ‘A Miscellany of Inventions’. It explores the ingenious inventions and incredible innovations that have impacted society and transformed the world we live in today. Inspired by the creativity of the greatest inventors of our past and developed through out of the box techniques and by combining unusual ingredients, each drink is its own unique creation in a wondrously shaped receptacle. An idea served inside an idea.

Head Bartender Christian Maspes and his talented team were inspired by inventions that have brought about dramatic changes in transportation, business, entertainment, medical care and everyday life. From a compass and its clever magnetic technology that has guided explorers for over a thousand years, to the creation of penicillin that advanced the field of medicine on a global scale, the cocktail menu explores the best of the human mind, celebrating entrepreneurship, creativity and above all genius.

A total of 15 cocktails inclusive of three mocktails span five themed categories, all of which are original creations. Following the same engineering process an inventor would, the team concocted, trialled and tested different ingredients to create a unique flavour for each drink. For example, the Cooperman is made by separating the Ginjo Sake from the Taru barrel and infusing it with Mastiha crystals and leaving to marinate for a period of 24 hours. The ingredients, including a homemade melon juice, are then combined, only to go through a slow filtration process to achieve pure clarification. Meanwhile, the Director’s Cut cocktail, a nod to the success of GŌNG Bar’s 2017 menu, has been put through its paces with a fat wash. Popcorn cooked with butter and salt is soaked in a bath of Don Julio Blanco Tequila in the fittingly named fat wash. The flavourful liquor is then extracted and mixed with elderflower and fresh lime to form a unique taste and an utterly delicious cocktail.

Christian Maspes, Head Bartender, GŌNG Bar said: “The cocktails bring to life inventions that have been real breakthroughs. It is hard to imagine the world we know today without screw drivers and computers, and movies and guitars. Creating a new invention is like taking a leap of faith and being open to the possibilities, and the same goes for the creation of a new cocktail. We really enjoyed bringing our ideas to life and we look forward to entertaining our guests with our unique creations.”

Working with ingredients such as Barley Shōchū, a traditional Japanese liquor made of rice, barley and sweet potato, to Nochino, a sticky dark brown liqueur from the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy, the signature cocktails are as daring as they are surprising.

Menu prices

* Alcoholic cocktails in the ‘Miscellany of Inventions’ menu are priced from £17.00 for alcoholic cocktails

* Non-alcoholic cocktails in the ‘Miscellany of Inventions’ menu are priced at £11.00 per cocktail