I’m still on a quest for the VERY best cocktails in Birmingham and at some point over the next few months will bring you a list of my absolute favorite individual cocktails. But for now, if you’re looking for quality all in one place head to The Edgbaston. A boutique hotel and cocktail bar in the suburbs of Edgbaston, just on the edge of Birmingham City Centre. We stayed there recently for Lee’s birthday and really made the most of sampling some of the fine cocktails they had on offer.
The menu really has something for everyone covering a wide range of spirits, twists on classics and originals as well as virgin combinations for those teetotallers and drivers amongst us.
We started with one up in our room as we were getting ready (Yes, there’s a menu in your room which they deliver from too!)
I chose a Sandee Westgate – Moet & Chandon, Sweet Passion Fruit & Vanilla Foam and Champagne Jelly. This was so delicate and a perfect girly combination to drink for donning your glad rags and doing your make up. Lee’s first drink of choice was an Abercrombie Zombie – White Aged & Overproofed Rum, Fresh Citrus, Caramelised Passion Fruit & Caribbean Spices. This was another hit – I tried a sip (or 2!) and it was probably one of my favourites of the evening too.
Sandee Westgate
Abercrombie Zombie
Moving downstairs into one of the three cocktail lounges we tried a few more cocktails before dinner. I tried the Santa Muerte – Jose Cuevero Tequila, Fresh Citrus, Pineapple, Passion Fruit and Agave Honey and then the Dashboard Hula Girl – Belvedere Vodka, Lychee Liquer, Golden Grapefruit, Pressed Pineapple and Hibiscus. The Sante Muerte I loved, tequila often brings back bad memories of drunken shots at University for some people but I have always loved the flavor and this is one gorgeous drink. The Dashboard Hula Girl was a little floral for me, very drinkable but not one I would choose again due to personal flavor preferences.
Santa Muerte
Dashboard Hula Girl
Lee’s two pre dinner cocktails were, firstly, a recommendation from the bar – The Clover Club 3000, coming complete with a little stick of rhubarb candy floss. His other was a choice that again I was mad keen on the sound of, The Crumble – Spiced Bacardi Black Rum, Fresh Lime, Bramley Apple and Pear, Crumble Syrup. He loved both, but the Crumble took center stage, simple presentation but glorious in taste.
Clover Club 3000
Crumble
We then went on to have The Edgbaston’s 6 course tasting menu with paired cocktails, more about this in another post soon, but we treated ourselves to one more drink before bed, a digestif we tried to tell ourselves! I was keen on the Milk & Cookies – Bacardi 8 Year Rum, Madeira, Chocolate Chip Cookes, light cream and Vanilla but unfortunately they had run out of a couple of key ingredients. Instead they offered to go off menu and provided me with Bourbon Chocolate Milkshake – I’m not sure of the exact ingredients but you could probably hazard a guess! Delicious. Lee had the Smoke and Mirrors – something he had had his eye on from the start – Glenfarcles 105 Single Malt, Smoked PX Sherry, Cherry Liquer and Chocolate Bitters. A perfect way to finish the meal! Apologies for photo quality in the last few, it was dark by then and my hand wasn’t quite as steady (see cocktails already drunk….)
Smoke & Mirrors and Bourbon Milkshake
Have you been for cocktails at The Edgbaston or somewhere similar? Let me know about your favourites in the comments!
Disclosure: We paid in full for our drinks