London has a weird thing for the sweets aisle, so it's no wonder that that city's world-class mixologists have started letting their inner Rowntrees, Bassetts and Cadburys shine. All over your Instagram feed, making the big kid inside us do cartwheels and filling us with all sorts of sugar led nostalgia, here are 6 of our favourite sweet themed cocktails in London.
Old Mary Rose - Apple & Pears
The team at Apples and Pears remember the days of putting your hand in your pocket and discovering that one of your sherbert flying saucers has burst. Their carefully balanced Old Mary Rose cocktails - that takes its name from Henry VIII's prized ship - pays homage to Britain's naval history, combining Haymans Naval Strength gin with A&P violet lime sherbert and tangy ginger ale. Delicately balancing a few space saucers on the top, this zesty, vibrant drink bursts straight off your tongue while taking you back to the days of Tamagotchi's and cycling proficiency tests.
The Old Mary Rose is the pride and joy of the Apples and Pears' cocktail armada.
The Toronto - Nightjar
Just when we thought we couldn't fall more head-over-heels for Nightjar, the bartenders go and create The Toronto, a drink with more rugged charm than Ryan Reynolds with a beard. The cocktail uses Woodford Reserve bourbon as a base and infuses it with a roasted pecan and coffee maple syrup and bitter Fernet Branca liqueur. While the sweetness of the syrup balances out with the natural kick of the bourbon, the entire mix stands out thanks to the smoked candy floss that balances on its rim. It's one of those drinks that, no matter where you stand, you can feel undressing you with its ice-ball eye.
Smoky and sharp, this is the sort of cocktail we'd expect Clint Eastwood to drink - if he was going through a phase.
The Fab - Dirty Bones
The Dirty Bones brand is no stranger to using obscure and downright odd ingredients to give their drinks and dishes extra flair. The Fab fits perfectly into this bracket and can be found at the group's Carnaby, Shoreditch, Kensington and Soho sites. Made by blending Tanqueray Gin with Martini Rosso, lemon, gomme syrup and egg white, the tumbler glass it's served in has a Hundreds and Thousands spangled rim, giving each sip a sweet, E number-heavy crunch. It's refreshing, it's smooth, it's that cheeky kid giggling at the back of the classroom.
Using gin as its foundation, The Fab's playful use of Hundreds and Thousands helps it to stand out in the crowds.
Marsh & Mallow - Purl
A prohibition bar that's got a bit of a reputation with going over-the-top with its cocktail garnishings, Purl takes the idea of toasting marshmallows over a fire to the next level. The bar's Marsh and Mallow cocktail couples Wray & Nephew rum with kaffir-lime flavoured Bacardi Carta Blanca and finishes things off with Purl's special grenadine and Pama pomegranate. Always following the mantra that smore is better (sorry), the bartenders delicately hang a toasted marshmallow over a flaming lime.
Who needs a campfire when you have a flaming lime; this quirky creation fits perfect with Purl's brilliant character.
Lambs Floss - Firedog
Fear not, no cattle were harmed in the making of this cocktail. Firedog in Fitzrovia might be famous for its grilled dishes and impressive mezze options, but their cocktail menu shouldn't be overlooked. the Lambs Floss tipple sticks to the venue's love of Mediterranean flavours, combining hibiscus gin with pomegranate syrup, grapefruit juice and sour cherry compote, before topping it all with a huge handful of candy floss, a sprinkling of rose petals and a few crushed pieces of Turkish delight. You have to try it to really appreciate the explosion that each sip offers.
No, that's not a wig!The Lambs Floss cocktail mirrors the Mediterranean flavours of the Firedog's food menu.
Power Pop - Playground Bar
Treating every hour as if it's 3:15 PM on a Friday afternoon, Playground Bar in Croydon hasn't changed since... well, puberty. The mixologists here use a tuck shop of pick 'n' mix ingredients to create eye-catching drinks that, in the case of the Power Pop, literally jump out at you. This cocktail is served in a cutesy, mini milk bottle and combines Bacardi Carta Blanca rum with rhubarb liqueur, strawberry juice, kiwi and a bag of popping candy. After you've sunk a few of these, it's less 'snap, crackle and pop' and more 'snap, giggle uncontrollably and pass out'.
The teeth-tingling Power Pop cocktail is full of surprises and is certain to take you back a few years.
