PRESS RELEASES
SCARFES BAR AT ROSEWOOD LONDON NEW COCKTAIL MENU ‘LONG DRAWN OUT SIP’ IS AN INVITATION TO DISCOVER GERALD SCARFE’S IMAGINATION
April 02, 2025
Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London has unveiled its latest cocktail menu, ‘Long Drawn Out Sip’, launched to the public on Wednesday 2nd April. The new menu is a celebration of caricaturist Gerald Scarfe and is inspired by his book ‘Long Drawn Out Trip: A Memoir’, exploring his work through the medium of dreams which are both whimsical and nightmarish. The 24 original creations, including 2 non-alcoholic adaptations, will serve as liquid doorways for guests to experience Gerald Scarfe’s surreal and creative outlook on the world.
The menu from the talented team at Scarfes Bar is the first under Andy Loudon, who was appointed Director of Bars at Rosewood London in 2024 and will build on the bar’s legacy of the last ten years. Crafted to embark on a discovery through Gerald Scarfe’s imagination, each cocktail embodies a different facet of his unique subconscious, where every element of his work collides, from caricatures of cultural icons, design for stage and film, to political satire. Created to take guests on a journey, the new serves are split into four chapters: Fears, Desires, Revelations, and Transformations. The cocktails, crafted from carefully selected ingredients and innovative techniques, showcase boundless creativity, creating a world where mixology and artistry collide.
‘Long Drawn Out Sip’ has been curated from universal dreams reimagined with Scarfes Bar’s unique artistic flair and its mixologists’ innovative techniques, with six cocktails in each of the four themes. The discovery begins with Fears: Toothless Grin, inspired by the unsettling fear of teeth falling out, offers a unique twist on the Sazerac, presented on a bespoke, handcrafted board repurposed from damaged hotel charcuterie boards, the drink is created with Rémy Martin 1738, medjool dates, evaporated beetroot, and citra hops, accompanied by a spoonful of goat’s cheese, lemon curd, and absinthe. Naked Italian encapsulates the anxieties of exposure, with a playful nod to the infamous image of Silvio Berlusconi, a twist on the whisky sour with Macallan 12, cantaloupe melon, fortified mandarin, and verjus and garnished with a sweet poached cantaloupe melon ball. Free Falling is an umami forward serve, a rich blend of Glen Grant 12, chocolate wine, porcini sherry, and Grand Marnier LA, garnished with a delicious chocolate mushroom. Lost & Abandoned highlights the famed film ‘Hercules’, which Gerald Scarfe illustrated; a combination of Renais Gin with Bottega Cinzano 1757 Rosso, raspberry, and iris amaro. For a non-alcoholic alternative, Lost & Found 0% blends juniper hydrosol and Martini Vibrante with raspberry and iris cordial. The Great Chase is influenced by the Kentucky Derby and served in a classic Julep Cup, with Glenfiddich 12, paired with Martini Ambrato, dried fig, and dried pine, topped with parsley.
In the Desires section: The Court Jester is a twist on the Paloma, with Espolón Blanco, coconut, bergamot, and sparkling sake and curated to embody Scarfe’s self-portrait as a Jester and served on one of his very own playing cards. Retail Therapy takes inspiration from the French 75, served within a bespoke engraved glass, with Bombay Premier Cru, basil, yuzu, clarified almond, and champagne. King for a Day reimagines the Pornstar Martini with passion fruit infused Brugal 1888, clarified plum, and black cardamom, crowned by a cocoa butter imprint on the glass. Rockstar encapsulates Scarfe’s famed portraits of celebrities, including Elton John, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, through a bold take on the Spicy Margarita, blending Patrón Silver, watermelon, scotch bonnet, and Ancho Reyes with a garnished rim of contrasting black salt. Finally, from his involvement within costume designs and theatrical sets, Nutcracker blends Campari, peach aperitif, Sauternes, and acorn soda, garnished with a Wakamomo baby peach, whilst No-Cracker 0% is its non-alcoholic counterpart, crafted with Amarico, Martini Vibrante, and acorn soda.
For those seeking to unveil Revelations: Portrait of Fame delivers a citrusy burst, combining The Lost Explorer Espadín, evaporated Buddha’s hand, rhubarb, and Aperol—perfectly embodying the idea that some celebrities only truly make it once they've been immortalised in his caricatures. Moment of Clarity is a harmonious blend of Diplomático Planas, Granny Smith apple, Muyu Vetiver, and fig leaf soda, crowned with a sweet petit pomme. Dark Secrets uncovers the complexity of a character’s flaws, featuring Eagle Rare 10, Noilly Prat, pear, and toasted black walnut. Hidden Self offers a lighter, lower-ABV experience with Hendrick's Gin, sudachi, lavender, and clarified cherry yoghurt. For those craving indulgence, Holy Grail pays homage to the iconic Monty Python sketch, with Highland Park 12, apricot Amontillado, pistachio, and café Maderas. Lastly, Prophecies is the perfect summer sip, featuring GlenDronach 12, discarded banana, popcorn, and hazelnut cream—a refreshing twist on the classic Piña Colada.
Finally, in Transformations: The Truth at Last, a savoury gin and tonic, with The Botanist, London Essence Tonic, MUJEN, toasted sesame, acacia, and cucumber and served with a playful Scarfes touch of a fortune cookie. Heroes & Villains presents a delightful exploration of innocence versus guilt, reflected in Scarfes Bar’s inventive take on the martini. Made with Ford’s Gin, the serve is available in two twists, with fortified calamansi and a garnish of freeze-dried mandarin, or a more savoury finish with a garnish of a chalkidiki olive, offering a fresh twist on the classic.
Shadow Dancer combines the bold flavours of Michter’s Rye, maple, pineapple, and St. Germain, finished with a delicate sweet biscuit garnish, making for a smooth, intriguing drink, whilst Curtain Call is the ideal nightcap, blending Appleton 12 with liquorice root, ginger, and citrus for a refreshing and complex finish, perfect for winding down at the end of the evening. Superhero is this year’s cocktail with The Lakes, butterscotch sherry, muscat and London Essence Soda imprinted with an ‘S’ in the ice. For those looking for something sweet to finish the evening, Scarfeland is a delicious blend of Grey Goose, baked bread, White Verjus and fortified blueberries, topped with a delicious blueberry muffin sponge.
Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London is an award-winning bar inspired by the atmosphere of a drawing room, with live jazz music playing each day from a host of talented performers evoking a convivial and sophisticated yet intimate atmosphere and located a short distance from London’s Covent Garden. The bar is named after the renowned British artist and caricaturist Gerald Scarfe, whose artwork adorns the walls of the bar and is encompassed within the cocktail menus.
