Drawing the line between art and cocktails with Bombay Sapphire
A recent series of member events invited some of the world’s finest portrait artists to our Houses – all complemented with bespoke cocktails
Tuesday 9 May 2023 By Soho House
Artistry comes in many forms and it can be expressed in just as many ways – as revealed at our recent Portrait Series. Members across six UK and European Houses came together to enjoy music and cocktails at a live art event created in partnership with Bombay Sapphire, inspired by their ‘Saw This Made This’ platform.
Five celebrated portrait artists – including Sky Portrait Artist of the Year winners Morag Caister and Curtis Holder – were on hand at each event to immortalise members’ likenesses in a one-off art piece they could take home with them. As an added twist, the bar manager at each of the Houses showcased their own artistry to create a bespoke cocktail crafted especially for the event – each of which was inspired by something they see in the House every day.
At London’s Shoreditch House, this took the form of the Rosetta Sunset, for which Head Bartender Marco Giurato drew inspiration from the colour of the summer evening sky as seen through the building’s rustic window frames. He translated that into a summery, floral-infused spritz, featuring Bombay Sapphire, pink vermouth, citrus, and rose water.
Elsewhere, ideas for the cocktails were sparked by everything from the coastal air that fills the terrace at Soho House Copenhagen to the hibiscus flowers that are a familiar sight at Soho House Tel Aviv, Jaffa, and – in a lateral spin on the brief – Brighton Beach House’s enthusiasm for creating no-waste products (with a cordial crafted from Lady A, complementing the cocktail’s gin base). Proof that – just like artistry – sources of inspiration from what we see around us are truly limitless.
Watch the video to see how to make your own Rosetta Sunset at home