Thursday evening I found myself toddling up to the lift at Cloud 23 in Manchester's Hilton Hotel on Deansgate in my sky high stilettos. A rare occurrence for me. For those not so familiar with Manchester, Cloud 23 is housed in that gravity defying skyscraper nestling its bosom into those grey clouds that oft cover the Mancunian skyline. It looks like a skinny tall man with a slight pot belly overhanging at 20 stories. Albeit an elegant one that.I was whizzed up the 23 flights at what felt like rocket speed to Cloud 23. My ears popped, that’s how high it was. Having had a severe dislike of lifts ever since Dad took me on the Tower of Terror at 7 at Disneyland, I do avoid them at all costs (I will happily walk 10 flights to avoid them). I was hoping this momentary fright in a confined whizzing box would be worth it.
The doors opened the doors into a sumptuously decorated, decadent bar with dizzying views over the South end of Manchester. This is certainly a place worth donning your Sunday best for.
I was here to try the new Spring / Summer cocktail menu which is launching now and due to last until August, although the most popular ones will become main stayers on the menu. The menu is all about Manchester. Manchester has a fantastic industrial history and some of the most beautiful buildings of any city. I was keen to find out more about the stories that had shaped this city and how the barmen here had been able to combine Mancunian memories into its cocktail menu…..
To kick off I had the Queen’s Park Swizzle, named after the famous Queen’s Park Hotel – aka a mojito’s cousin. Blended with a much sweeter El Dorado 5 year, Demerara syrup, lime juice, mint, and Angostura bitters. This came strikingly presented like a traffic light. Much sweeter than your usual mojito, the El Dorado certainly gave it a more sophisticated, warmer punch. A perfect summer plonk to get you on your way.
Mr Tinker’s ‘Grape and Compass’ followed swiftly after – The aforementioned Mr Tinker was the owner of Manchester’s pleasure Gardens which were around in the early 19th century. These pleasure gardens were a sort of weekly festival for the local working class folk and others who would save their weekly wages, don their fineries and head down to Mr Tinker’s gardens to see and be seen on their only day off during the working week.
In remembrance of this romantic and far gone tradition, the Grape and Compass uses a blend of hers and ingredients, which would have been found in these gardens but also utilises exotic ingredients such as banana liqueur, Ketel One Vodka, Kamm and Sons British Aperitif, parsley and dill syrup and lemon juice. This little delight is topped with an elderflower foam which is made combining elderflower with pinot grigio. The sweet under layer is balanced by the perfect acidity of the foam.
Next up – the Georgia Mint Julep, which is apparently a nod to the ‘most influential bartender of the 19th century’, Mr Jerry Thomas. Made from Somerset cider brandy, peach liqueur, sugar, lemon and mint. This is a refreshing and sweet dance on the palette which is ideal to break up what are some of the sweeter cocktails on the menu.
For when you’re starting to feel a bit woozy, in need of some non-alcoholic refreshment, the Cloud 23 bar staff have a fabulous tipple for you. Bee On Time is a cocktail of real bee pollen, lemon sherbet, apple juice and sage. A nice little zing to perk you up if you’re fading after all that booze and the dizzying heights. The drink too, like the others has a really interesting story behind it. News to me as a Leeds lass that the bee is actually the sign of Manchester, I’m told if you take a look you will see them everywhere around the city, particularly on lamp posts. The origins stem from Manchester’s strong industrial history for which it was awarded a crest of seven busy bees which are a testament to the city’s hard working citizens.
For when you’re starting to feel a bit woozy, in need of some non-alcoholic refreshment, the Cloud 23 bar staff have a fabulous tipple for you. Bee On Time is a cocktail of real bee pollen, lemon sherbet, apple juice and sage. A nice little zing to perk you up if you’re fading after all that booze and the dizzying heights. The drink too, like the others has a really interesting story behind it. News to me as a Leeds lass that the bee is actually the sign of Manchester, I’m told if you take a look you will see them everywhere around the city, particularly on lamp posts. The origins stem from Manchester’s strong industrial history for which it was awarded a crest of seven busy bees which are a testament to the city’s hard working citizens.
To finish the piece de resistance – Up, Up and Away. This cocktail commemorates the coronation of King William the IV in 1831. 50,000 citizens congregated on the streets to witness the ascent of a golden and crimson balloon into the skies to celebrate the throning of this popular monarch. The drink which comes presented with a rising then exploding balloon (perhaps not one for the heavily hair lacquered women) is comprised of Tanqueray 10 shaken with apricot and raspberry liqueurs, rhubarb syrup and apple juice. This was my firm favourite and went down about as fast as the balloon rose and popped. For those of you going to Manchester’s cocktails in the city, which recently just had its event in Leeds, this cocktail will be showcased there – if you haven’t already got your tickets, I highly recommend you do so!
The drinks however are not inexpensive and will pinch the pockets. Albeit, the thought behind the menu and skills involved in execution are certainly worth it for a special occasion. I really enjoyed learning about Manchester’s history in little snippets too. What could have been somewhat gimmicky was actually a wonderful insight into the probably largely forgotten history of one of England’s greatest cities.
www.cloud23bar.com
Beetham Tower, 303 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4LQ
0161 870 1670
Piece by Erin Goodall, FoodGoblin Northern Correspondent
