It has been some time since we have been on Cloud 9 (sorry 23) half way up the Hilton Tower at the bottom end of Deansgate so when an invite to sample the latest cocktail menu in Cloud 23 appeared in our inbox it was a temptation too good to miss.
Friday afternoon, the hottest day of the year so far, a heat haze envelopes the Cheshire plains, on a clear day you can see the coast from here.Sunlight reflecting off the cars making their way along the Chester Road.
Deansgate itself is shut, gearing up for the Manchester Games, a four lane running track deposited where cars taxis and buses jostle with pedestrians for right of way.
Meanwhile inside a couple gaze into each other’s eyes while admiring the panorama and a party women celebrating a birthday order drinks sitting at the white marble tables discuss the schools their children will be attending
This is the world of Cloud 23 and cocktail impresario and head bartender Head Bartender, Matthew Soares is leaving and wants to leave his mark on Manchester’s loftiest cocktail menu by using Manchester’s heritage as his muse, and drawing influence from the Ancient Romans invading Castlefield to Thomas Marsland, Europe’s largest hat producer, based in Stockport in the 1970s.
We start with the XXIII and back to the Roman origins which lie almost beneath us. The drink is all Italian, an aged grappa an unusual ingredient in a cocktail, aperol, sweet vermouth,and a home made grapefruit cordial using red grapefruit apples lemons and sweet basil with a nitrous oxide slate.
I have to report that the grappa certainly has a kick and gives a very different taste.
Then The last straw hat which comes with a hat for everyone that orders it in dedication to Thomas Marsland from Stockport, a tasty and fun cocktail with a base of pomegranate and rose, mixed with lemon, Creole and Bianco Vermouth, plus a kick of Irish Whisky.
For my own personal pallet, a little too perfumy but I am sure it will tickle some pallets.
For those unfamiliar with Marsland, he built Wellington Mill іn 1830 to house his cotton works.It is now the home of the hat museum.His wealth founded оn а major calico printing concern іn Stockport.His father had previously founded a dyeing mill and had been Mayor of the town.
The Airmail cocktail appears in the forgotten classics menu, it recipe found my Matthew in a vintage cocktail book, although its origins are unknown.a mix of Ron Zacapa 23, orange blossom honey, citrus and Champagne.it was my favourite and comes complete with its own edible airport tag.
In a homily to our altitude comes Summit, created by bartenders at a Cognac conference and using fresh ginger and cucumber mixed with cognac and lemonade, the cognac is left with the ginger and dumber for a few minutes to mingle the flavours.
Matthew Sores, says:
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Creating the cocktails is a lengthy process; we spend months making sure each one is just right for Cloud 23 and our guests. We look at everything from flavour combinations, unique garnishes to glassware and supporting props. There is even a disclaimer that you must wear a hat whilst drinking playful cocktail, The Last Straw (Hat). After all, who doesn’t enjoy wearing a hat!
Cloud 23 is open Monday and Thursday from 11am to 1am, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 2am and on Sunday 11am to 1am.
It’s the Beetham Tower. And nice cocktails by the way.