Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London has launched a new cocktail menu inspired by Gerald Scarfe and his 2003 art book and exhibition project, Heroes & Villains.
The menu reimagines the light and dark sides of ten iconic figures, each brought to life through two cocktails crafted by the bar team under the guidance of Director of Bars Andy Loudon. Each drink explores the notion that “a cocktail either dies a hero or lives long enough to see itself become the villain.”
Heroes & Villains mirrors Scarfe’s satirical spirit and holds a mirror to the modern drinks industry through a playful reflection on the longevity of trends. It contrasts cocktails that champion the heroes of modern mixology, such as clarification, distillation and carbonation, with their villainous counterparts; the longstanding classics bartenders famously love to hate.
British power couple David and Victoria Beckham are reimagined through Ninety 3rd, a refined Pornstar Martini celebrating David’s legendary 2001 World Cup goal, created with Hendrick’s Gin, passion fruit, clarified vanilla and champagne. Meanwhile, Diva interprets how the couple reinvented what it meant to be a celebrity through a lychee Cosmopolitan with Grey Goose Vodka, flavoured with lychee honey, orange flower, citrus and finished with a lollipop garnish.
Other libations have a scientific inspiration. Charles Darwin, for example, is interpreted through Natural Selection, a bright and refreshing whisky highball crafted with Glenturret Triple Wood whisky, and mixed with carbonated raspberries, evaporated carrot and fino sherry. Its counterpart, Evilution, delves into Darwin’s villainous side with Eagle Rare 10 whisky, velvety pistachio orgeat and sour pineapple.
The menu continues with legendary writers Oscar Wilde, Agatha Christie and William Shakespeare. Christie appears through 4.50 from Paddington, a considered twist on the gin and tonic with Fords gin, chinotto honey, Acqua di Cedro and zesty tonic. Her alter ego, Whodunnit, evokes the bold spirit of a mystery novel blending Rémy Martin 1738 cognac, stirred into wild sour blackberry and kumquat aperitif.
Finally, it closes by honouring two impactful characters, Richard Branson and Margaret Thatcher. The ex-Prime Minister inspires Iron Lady, a clarified cocktail combining Glenfiddich 12 whisky, chocolate wine, fig leaf and clarified citrus which is then finalised with a cracker garnish crafted from the milk discard generated during the clarification process.
