Barcelona treasures three of the 50 best cocktail bars in the world, and it's no wonder, as many of the proposals from its establishments are only suitable for demanding and adventurous palates looking to give a twist to the classic cocktail trends so deeply rooted in Western cocktail culture.
In the Catalan capital, the three stars of this reign are Paradiso, Two Schmucks, and Sips, challenging and uninhibited proposals that are, not in vain, international references on the famous The World's 50 Best Bars list of 2021, topped by London's Connaught Bar.
The cocktail bar behind a pastrami shop
In a not inconsiderable third global position on this distinguished list, the Paradiso cocktail bar in El Born asserts its clandestinity and surprise effect. Behind the door of a retro refrigerator at the back of a pastrami shop hides a wonderful universe of creativity led by its owner Giacomo Giannotti and his dedicated team.
Paradiso is an establishment of Grupo Confitería and among its proposals it has true gems, such as the Vulcano Negroni, inspired by volcanoes, with flavors reminiscent of sulfur and served alongside a mini dry ice volcano erupting over the glass. This cocktail contains rum infused with coconut, Campari macerated with pandan leaves, beet vermouth, and almonds.
Also noteworthy is the Kriptonita, a cocktail that lights up on contact with light thanks to the luminescent properties of vitamin B2, and with very strong and citrusy flavors, such as kaffir lime, shiso leaves, and lemongrass, as well as Supercool Martini, a Martini made with an instant water freezing technique. Also signature cocktails are The Cloud, Tornado, Big Bang, Brunch en la Luna, and Great Gatsby.
Behind the door of a retro refrigerator at the back of a pastrami shop hides a wonderful universe of creativity led by its owner Giacomo Giannotti and his dedicated teamAs a novelty, Giacomo and his team have been working for months on the creation of the new cocktail list, baptized asThe Evolution. This letter, which will be presented in autumn, will represent the advances of humanity as a collective. For this reason, Giacomo and his team wanted to be inspired by historical discoveries and inventions, from the discovery of fire to new technologies, passing through the invention of the wheel and writing and the discovery of electricity. All of this will materialize in a total of 15 cocktails, each one in honor of an element of evolution.As a preview, in this new drink list, glasses and special effects will be designed along with the recipe to create the perfect and original presentation for each individual drink. Experimentation takes place in the Paradiso Lab, where all the elements that will form the final cocktail are thought out, creating a complete sensory experience.
Two Schmucks
In the eleventh position of the renowned world list, and with a direct entry into the ranking in this position, the cocktail bar Two Schmucks located on the central Joaquim Costa street combines a relaxed party atmosphere with serious and professional service, all wrapped in a hipster atmosphere sponsored by the bizarre surroundings of El Raval. The place is a reflection of the eccentric personality of its owners, Moe Aljaff and AJ White, in addition to the third partner incorporated later, James Bligh, who move comfortably in an environment populated, for example, by somewhat battered Converse sneakers hanging over steel beams and signs with inappropriate words and phrases that aim to be irreverent, such as "Don't be a dick, be a schmuck."
Initially, Two Schmucks was a battleground, where the atmosphere of a bar and beer-loving friends reigned. However, as they explain, "after working 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 6 months straight," this cocktail bar was able to get its first facelift in early 2018. And a year after its initial renovation, Two Schmucks achieved its goal of financing the bar it had envisioned from day one, so it started from scratch: destroying the bar as it was, with hammers included in the course of a lively party, to rebuild it from nothing again. The dazzling and renovated Two Schmucks, improved and larger, reopened its doors on July 1, 2019.
The place is a reflection of the eccentric personality of its owners, Moe Aljaff and AJ White, who move comfortably in an environment populated by somewhat battered Converse sneakersIn early 2020, a wine bar and delicatessenat the back, which gave more space to the bar and the ability to serve a wider audience. And since August 2020, what they call "two new idiots" have joined the ship: Pom Modeste and Juliette Larrouy.
In their philosophy and that of their cocktails, the leitmotiv of being oneself is found. Thus, this same mood is reflected in their cocktail proposal: which ranges from mundane and street suggestions to satisfy the beer-drinking client with no further pretensions, to an elegant and sophisticated proposal with signature cocktails like Spaniard and Schmuck 50/50, which are served with cheese pairing.
Sips, a drinkery house
Sips is the last of the three Barcelona cocktail bars on the list of the best 50, with a place at number 38. This drinkery house is the work of industry heavyweights Simone Caporale and Marc Alvarez, an Italian-Spanish duo who created the brand in early 2021 (yes, in the middle of the pandemic) and since then its reputation has skyrocketed.
In the venue, its distribution creates an immersive atmosphere that is halfway between dark and moody decor. If customers are not distracted by the sophisticated rotovaps (which separate liquids) and the tossing of cocktails in the air, they will surely be carried away by elaborate glassware, which turns incredible cocktails into sensational ones.
Despite its recent opening, Sips' menu is gaining ground not only among local customers, but worldwide. One of the star performers of 2021 is the Sips Espresso Martini, which is quickly becoming a classic, partly due to its generous portion of freshly whipped cream that rises above each glass.
The Barcelona Cocktail Experience kicks off
These three stories of creativity and avant-garde are some of those that will star in the celebration of the first edition of the Barcelona Cocktail Experience this October. From September 30 to October 9, the city will project itself as the world capital of cocktails and will do so hand in hand with two prominent events for the sector, which it will host this 2022: the awards ceremony for The World's 50 Best Bars, and the national final of Spirit Essence.
From September 30 to October 9, the city will project itself as the world capital of cocktailsThe delivery of the world's most important award in the cocktail sector,The World's 50 Best Bars, will take place on October 4 in Las Arenas,traveling for the first time from London to another European capital since it began its journey in 2009. At this high-profile party, the forecast is that more than 1,000 internationally renowned guests, among whom are the most prominentbartendersand cocktail professionals, travel to Barcelona to witness the event.
But the Barcelona Cocktail Experience will also host the national final of the Spirit Essence competition, which will take place on October 3. This is the only national team cocktail championship and is organized by Comercial Escolà. It is a competition aimed at bartenders, sommeliers, and professionals in the hospitality sector, which has the collaboration of major brands in the sector.
The fifth capital of mixology
The Catalan capital is experiencing a period of expansion nationally and internationally thanks to the high level of creativity, technique, and imagination of the bartenders working in Barcelona, positioning itself as the fifth world capital of mixology. Therefore, overall, the Barcelona Cocktail Experience will be an event dedicated to the world of gastronomic leisure and mixology, and will take place in different hotels, cocktail bars, and restaurants in the Catalan capital.
Apart from the professional activities, for ten days the participating cocktail bars will offer a signature cocktail specially created for the event so that the public can live the complete experience and enjoy the imagination of Barcelona's bartenders through their creations. The public will also be able to enjoy a wide program of activities that includes tastings, pairings, presentations, workshops, and masterclasses by leading international figures in mixology.
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