A trip down under Barton Arcade opened up a world of vodka last night and About Manchester was there
It was the first time that I have ate a meal in the depths of the Barton Arcade.A short descent in an antiquated service lift propelled you into a candlelit cavern.
Two long wooden tables set as if waiting for a Bacchanalian feast, ears of dried wheat decorating the table and hanging from the rafters along with twigs of pine while positioned at the far end a copper still.
This was the making of the BrewDog backed craft distiller, LoneWolf, who were hosting an immersive supper club, complete with a gin and vodka-infused menu.
The basement, said our hosts, predates the Barton Arcade by 400 years, though if you look at a plan of Manchester, from before 1700,that seems unlikely, nevertheless the idea of sharing the space with the ghosts of seventeenth century Mancs was quite appealing
With a nod to the acid house 90’s a tab of rice paper to be soaked is served with a cocktail, Lonewolf in the sky with Diamonds complete with psychedelic flashing ice cube.
Dip the tab in the liquid in the centre of the table and let it dissolve on your tongue while you sip the cocktail-
This was served up with a black pudding, vegetarian in my case served with wild garlic caramelised apple with a watercress salad and a vodka vinegar were
Get the theme?
Two more course follow meat and potato pie served with garlic mash with barrel aged vodka and rosemary reduction while Eccles cake came with a gin soaked fruit with Saddleworth cheese
There was even a poem “This is how it feels, threading in the popular lyrics of Mancunian culture
“I could go out tonight, but I haven’t got a stitch to wear”
But the big question of the night, was the still going to work? Talking to the guy who was going to try earlier in the had brought with him an assortment of tools in case something failed although he main concern was connecting to the water supply.
As the main course plates were cleared, he was nowhere to be seen, the copper still illuminated by a single bulb at the end of the two tables, before he reappeared, crouched anxiously turning taps like some sixteenth century alchemist before rushing off with his phone clasped to his ear with the sound of the Mock Turtles echoing around the basement returning carrying a copper barrel
The last cocktail arrived with a nod to Kelloggss coming in a mini Frosties packet to accompany the Eccles cake
Then the still began its work, making a Brickworks gin with the diners deciding on the botanicals, the whole process took around 40 minutes-Italian Juniper, Scottish pine, Angelica root, coriander,citrus, pepper not too much I hoped,
Sadly time was running out and I was not able to stay to see the results, but have been promised a taste today.
Lonewolf are running another session tonight Details HERE
