In case you’ve never given it a second thought, every day, somewhere it’s 5 o’clock. Sure, we know you’d rather be enjoying Happy Hour relaxing poolside with a cocktail in hand. Or maybe at a rooftop bar in New York City with friends. Sadly, we know that’s not possible yet. But there’s nothing stopping you from recreating fabulous cocktails at home. And when you do, invite your friends to your “Virtual” Happy Hour. The experience may be simulated, but the drinks will be real. Cheers to that!
The TravelSquire’s own Virtual Happy Hour Series nods to an assortment of select hotel bars around the world. We’ve rounded-up of some the finest wanderlust-inducing cocktails from these luxury properties to transport your taste buds to their far flung destinations – the fragrant gardens of a Parisian Palace, the glamorous 1920s in the Scottish Highlands, and the powder-soft sands of Mexico’s Caribbean coast.
With Virtual Happy Hour on apps such as FaceTime, Zoom and House Party trending more than ever, our suggested cocktails aim to keep friends entertained virtually while in self-isolation.
So, grab your shaker, pound some ice and get ready to have a little fun creating … then sipping!
Weekend Happy Hour Sips Away from London
THE DESTINATION: Cambridge, UK
Like with Harvard and MIT in the US, Cambridge University is the beating heart and soul of Cambridge, UK. Renowned for its passionate connection with education, it boasts a residency of an astounding 25,000 students. Not surprisingly, it was the locus of The Bloomsbury Set, an elite group of intellectuals that included Virginia Woolf and E.M. Forster (Howard’s End) among its ranks.
Their modern outlook with a focus on “personal relationships” spawned a radical cultural movement in the arts that is legendary even by today’s standards. Although they lived and worked near Bloomsbury, London, their reputation is signed, sealed and delivered in this lively college town. Less than an hour by train from London’s King Cross Station, fittingly, it sets the stage for a seductive weekend with close friends.
THE HOTEL: University Arms Cambridge
Parker’s Tavern at University Arms Cambridge acts as a social hub in the city and has been a meeting spot for over 100 years. The bar offers an extensive, botanical-focused cocktail menu. This menu comprises a variety of bespoke tipples, all of which celebrate Cambridge’s spirit of invention with mixology that reinvents classics and takes inspiration from the history, art and academia of Cambridge and University Arms itself.
THE COCKTAIL: The Bloomsbury Boozer
*Inspired by Cambridge University’s “Bloomsbury Set”
The Bloomsbury Boozer was named after The Bloomsbury Set, a group of writers, academics and intellectuals including Virginia Woolf, John Maynard Keynes and E. M. Forster, who met at Cambridge in their boozy student days.
THE RECIPE:
- 50 ml Cambridge Dry Gin
- 20 ml St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- 20 ml Fresh Lemon Juice
- 4 – 5 Raspberries
THE PREPARATION:
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass.
HOW: parkerstavern.com/the-drinks
When virtual happy hours are a thing of the past, consider a break from the frenzy of London and spend the weekend at University Arms Cambridge.
For Venturing Afar…
A dream destination for architectural buffs, Cambridge boasts one of the highest concentrations of preserved historic buildings in all of England. Much of this architectural splendor centers around Cambridge University’s 31 colleges. A highlight is King’s College Chapel, renowned for its 12-bay perpendicular style interior. Gardening enthusiasts will swoon over the Cambridge University Botanic Garden’s impressive collection of more than 8,000 species of plants from across the globe. When your explorations are done, you’ll no doubt want to return to Parker’s Tavern for another Bloomsbury Boozer.
THE DESTINATION: Somerset, UK
A proper weekend out of the urban sprawl of London doesn’t get any better than a few days in rural Somerset County. Spend a full day Saturday in the city of Bath, famous for its Georgian architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
THE HOTEL: The Newt
The Newt in Somerset is a vast working country estate newly opened in 2019, encompassing beautifully cultivated gardens, a parabola with 267 varieties of apples for each county, garden eateries and visitor attractions, Farm and House & Garden Shops and a 23-room Hotel and Spa. Celebrating all things Somerset – from freshly squeezed apple ciders made on-site, to honeys produced by wild Somerset bees – the beauty and simplicity of the outside world is brought indoors throughout the hotel and estate, and also the Bar.
The bar team shakes up inventive drinks guided by seasonal garden produce and the heritage of the Grade II listed building formerly known as Hadspen House. Highlights of a seasonal cocktail menu, inspired by what can be picked from the gardens, include The Parabola, an elderflower and apple delight featuring an enticing Apple Gin and medium bittersweet hard cider.
THE COCKTAIL: The Parabola
*Drawing inspiration from seasonal garden produce and with a botanical twist
THE RECIPE:
- 25 ml Neversink Spirits Apple Gin
- 25 ml St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- 5 ml Belvoir Elderflower Cordial
- 75 ml Blended Hard Apple Cider (bittersweet)
- Fresh Rosemary Sprig (for Garnish)
THE PREPARATION:
Fill a Collins glass generously with ice. Pour over the gin, liqueur and the cordial.
Top up with cider. Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig and a thin slice of apple
HOW: Purchase The Newt’s ciders online at www.thenewtinsomerset.com
When virtual happy hours are a thing of the past, consider a weekend stay at The Newt in Somerset County, UK.
For Venturing Afar…
You may never wish to leave The Newt as the estate’s gardens provide an ideal escape. But should you decide to venture afar, the prehistoric valley of Cheddar Gorge begs exploration. Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien honeymooned here and is said to have based the “Glittering Caves” behind Helm’s Deep on this prehistoric valley. On the spooky side, Britain’s oldest complete skeleton, the 9,000-year-old Cheddar Man, was also discovered in the labyrinth of caves. Relish in your discoveries upon your return to The Newt with a Parabola in hand. Cheers!