This is a sponsored article on behalf of Cognac Show.
Once upon a time, Cognac was a staple spirit of any self-respecting cocktail bar.
This beautifully complex brandy makes many appearances in Jerry Thomas' 1862 Bon Vivant's Companion — widely regarded as the world's first cocktail recipe book — and helped shape London's fledgling cocktail scene in the late 19th and early 20th century, as a key ingredient on the menus of the capital's new "American bars", which popularised mixed drinks on this side of the Atlantic.
Fast forward to 2022, and Cognac cocktails are experiencing something of a renaissance, which you can discover for yourself at the capital's award-winning Cognac Show this April.
Presented by The Whisky Exchange, Cognac Show takes place Friday 22-Saturday 23 April at London Bridge's Glaziers Hall. It's your chance to try over 150 Cognacs from renowned houses and hidden gems alike.
Expect incredible masterclasses, food pairings, experiential rooms, and cocktails all the way from Cognac itself, as the team from the French town's trendy Bar Luciole mix up classic cocktails with a modern twist.
One such cocktail on the menu is The Dandy, a riff on legendary bartender Harry Craddock's drink of the same name. The original Dandy is one of 750 cocktails featured in Craddock's hugely influential Savoy Cocktail Book — a wildly successful mixologists' bible published in 1930 when Craddock headed up The Savoy's storied American Bar, London's oldest surviving cocktail joint.
Bar Luciole's version is a potent yet elegant elixir, feat. Remy Martin VSOP, vermouth infused with homemade hemp, smoked wood and tobacco tincture, blackcurrant-based bitter Amerisse, and maraschino liqueur. Don't mind if we do.
Prefer something more refreshing? Plump for the Cognac Fig Collins, a twist on the Tom Collins that's mixed with Braastad VS. This light Cognac is combined with Audemus fig leaf liqueur, lemon, sugar, and soda water into a tall, summery, and dangerously moreish cocktail.
That's just a taste of what's on Bar Luciole's menu, and you can try both drinks at no extra cost because your Cognac Show tickets get you two complimentary cocktails. Also included in the ticket price? A Dream Pour token, which gives you the chance to try one of the world's rarest and most sought-after Cognacs with an RRP ranging from £250 to £499 (best not spill any, then!)
Tickets to Cognac Show start at £50 and include more than 150 Cognacs to sample and your own tasting glass, alongside the aforementioned complimentary cocktails and Dream Pour token. Bundle ticket packages including bottles of Cognac, mixers, and glassware are also available via The Whisky Exchange, and there will also be the chance to purchase more at Cognac Show's onsite shop.
In short, this show is heaven for Cognac connoisseurs and curious novices alike. Don't miss out — grab your tickets today. À votre santé!
Cognac Show. 5.30pm – 9.30pm on Friday 22 April and noon-6pm on Saturday 23 April at Glaziers Hall, London Bridge.
