Arguably London’s defining decade, the Swinging Sixties was a vibrant, technicolour time of hope, freedom and creativity. Ground-breaking movements were born and thrived. Icons emerged in the worlds of art, fashion, music and film. Mods revved Vespas, leggy models sauntered around Soho and exuberant house parties were held to the experimental sounds of a new kind of rock ‘n’ roll. There to immortalise the most significant faces and moments of the era was legendary photographer Terence Donovan, whose captivating portraits now grace the walls of our Donovan Bar.
Inspired by this wild, hedonistic period in London history, cocktail Maestro Salvatore Calabrese has created a new, innovative menu, aptly named Our Generation. “I wish I could have been present for the Swinging Sixties, but Our Generation is my way of stepping back in time and capturing the decade’s creative freedom”, says Calabrese. Comprising four themes—portrait, fashion, music and film—each drink tells a story or pays homage to a celebrated sixties icon through a blend of premium ingredients served with panache and flair.
For a taste of sultry romance, the ‘Je T’aime’, inspired by Jane Birkin’s controversial duet with Serge Gainsbourg, combines sweetness with heat. ‘Voodoo Chile’ evokes the unfettered psychedelic sounds of Jimmy Hendrix at his best through exotic, contrasting flavours, whilst ‘Paint it black’ combines rooibos and tequila to conjure the dark spirit of revelry that The Rolling Stones were famous for. ‘The Twiggy’ is fun and flirty, much like the muse and model herself, whilst a modern interpretation of Bond’s favourite beverage—named ‘Not Shaken, Not Stirred’—is guaranteed to thrill.
For more information, email thedonovanbar@roccofortehotels.com or call +44 20 7493 6020
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