The Sipsmith Gin Palace opened its doors recently at The Langham taking guests back to the glamorous era of the mid 1800’s where the very first Gin Palaces were at their most prolific, most probably wild sex and drug parties. Come on it was the mid 1800’s.
Times have now most definitely changed and The Sipsmith Gin Palace is set within Palm Court, the infamous afternoon tea venue which is transformed come 7pm into an enchanting room with low red lighting and live Jazz cavorting in the corner. The menu celebrates the history of gin through the different stages in the evolution of British class. From the birth of gin in 1690 to the very first G&T of 1793 through to the modern rise of the molecular mixology.
We sampled The Secret Method from 1770, a mixture of gin, vodka, cocchi, lemon juice, lime juice and sugar syrup and The Ginger Lilly from 1798 a mixture of gin, ginger and lilly cordial – no messing around in those days. Each cocktail comes with a recommended tasting dish, we’d strongly advise trying the tea smoked quail with cous cous and the Marble cheesecake served with a jammie dodger.
At £14 a pop for a cocktail and £7.50 for the tasting dish it’s not the kind of place you’ll go to get sloshed but worth the splurge. Take the parents they’ll be well impressed and they can pick up the bill. Double bonus!
Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 7pm until midnight.
Sipsmith Gin Palace The Langham, 1c Portland Place, Regent Street W1B
www.langhamhotels.co.uk