Somehow we've made it to the end of October. There's a palpable chill in the air - and a frisson of excitement. It's party season! The trifecta of Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas never fails to make me happy. I've equipped my flat with a little army of tealights and I'm just waiting for permission to break out the mulled wine. In the meantime, though, there's cocktails to be had. I recommend a trip across the river, where you'll find TwoRuba on the ground floor of the Hilton Tower Bridge. With a brand new autumn cocktail menu featuring a host of twists on classic drinks, TwoRuba is the ideal joint for a fall-themed tipple. This month I was thrilled to be invited to sample TwoRuba's drinks as well as experience a mixology masterclass here, in the company of my friendly fellow bloggers.
I stepped in from the drizzle and bluster of an October evening unfashionably late (curse you, corporate hours...) and had an Autumn Lady pressed into my hand. This gin sour is a twist on the classic White Lady - a smooth, citrusy concoction of Sipsmith gin, egg white and chopped ginger. Exactly the medicine I needed to shift a stubborn cold, warming me up immediately. Tasty and extremely drinkable.
When a man is tired of cocktails, he is tired of life. Isn't that how the old adage goes?
Puff pastry nibbles - the taste of party season! Exactly what was needed to line the stomach.
Hair of the dog for my second drink of the evening. The Scary Mary is a Bloody Mary with extra gin and garnished with rosemary - truly terrifying! This one was particularly apt for Halloween, looking as though it had been scooped straight out of a witch's bubbling cauldron.
Tottering slightly and inhibitions worn away, it was time for some lessons from the pros.
The talented men of TwoRuba treated us to a masterclass in creating the fantastical Rainbow Cocktail - a riot of colours and delicate flowers, I imagine this is what unicorns sip after a long day at the office. This was quite nostalgic for a few reasons: the layers of grenadine, OJ and blue curaçao reminded me of a Rowntree's Fruit Pastille ice lolly, while the curaçao element took me back to my teen years, when it was the cool drink of choice. Still a guilty pleasure!
Some of us tried our hands at bartending for the night - and I dare say managed to nail the layered aesthetic.
But back to the mulled wine for a second (I'm obsessed - literally, I've been debating making the stuff on Twitter since September). TwoRuba will be serving a taste of Christmas at their waterside pop-up, TwoRuba by the Pier, as well as at the Christmas By The River Christmas market. Glühwein with a view of Tower Bridge - really, what more could you want?
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I was a guest of TwoRuba on this occasion; however, as always, all opinions remain my own.
