London. It’s one of the busiest cities in the world, constantly changing, growing, evolving. And at Christmas time, it’s one of the most magical places to be. Sparkling Christmas trees at every turn, twinkling lights cross-cross the streets, and a flurry of festivity in the air.
‘Tis the season for spending time with friends, family, and loved ones; lingering over festive feasts and delicious drinks through the longer evenings. And Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair, in the heart of the city, is the perfect place to ‘cheers’ the season.
Federico Pavan, Director of Mixology at the hotel’s innovative Donovan Bar, recommends his favourite cocktails to really get the festive party started.
Pavan, Federico
“At Christmas time, cocktails need to be remarkable"
“At Christmas time, cocktails need to be remarkable because they celebrate a moment that you share with your family and your friends. As it’s such a ‘sparkling’ time of year, I’d always suggest something with Champagne, or of course I'm Italian so maybe a Negroni!”
“Perhaps, because Christmas is a special time, you might choose something like the Sparkling Side of the Moon, a bold and surprising cocktail with whiskey, cognac, grand marnier, and rich berry flavours, topped with Champagne.”
“For something darker, I’d recommend the Gratitude cocktail from our Evoke menu. A coffee-driven short drink, rich, fruity and complex with a hint of smoke – perfect for winter evenings. It’s inspired by the feeling of togetherness, being surrounded by people you care about. The cocktail is garnished with a Polaroid picture taken in the moment, so you have a keepsake of that special occasion forever.
“Cocktails to me, particularly at this time of year, are about sharing a moment, meeting with friends, creating memories – it’s those times that bind us together.
“Especially for Christmas, we’re serving an amazing drink called White Grasshopper. It’s a creamy, nutty cocktail with double cream, aqua bianca, and white chocolate liquor so it’s a little bit of citrus with a hint of mint.”
“This rich drink’s sweet taste reminds me of Christmas, candy canes and chocolates because at this time of year, there’s a lot of sweetness. Well, there is for me! I’m from Verona, in northern Italy’s Veneto region. It’s where the pandoro originates from – a traditional sweet bread dusted with icing sugar, in the shape of an eight-pointed star. It’s very festive, very traditional and it wouldn’t be Christmas Day in my family’s house without it.”
Raise a toast to friends and family with an evening at Donovan Bar where Federico and the team look forward to welcoming you.
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