Event: Trust Your Senses at The Botanist Birmingham

The Botanist Birmingham is well known for food and cocktails in the city, and is a top tip for food and drinks with friends and family for anyone in the area.

I was recently invited to try something a little different at The Botanist; an evening called #TrustYour Senses. Intrigued, I made my way down to The Plant Rooms below the main bar and restaurant to find out more.

A twist on the traditional cocktail masterclass, instead of simply making cocktails, we were first asked to blind taste test a number of cocktails from the new menu.

We had The Plant Rooms to ourselves, and this underground space is usually used for events and private hire, with separate rooms available for large groups.

Huddling around the downstairs bar, we watched as our bartender expertly mixed, shook and poured a number of cocktails that showed off just how innovative The Botanist's cocktail menu really is.

Pear and Kiwi Cup

Once the cocktails were ready, complete with smoke to boot, we set onto the cocktails with our straws and tried to guess the ingredients in each.

I'd like to say that after years of expertly sipping numerous cocktails across the country and beyond that we had this down to a t, but sadly this wasn't the case and the task was surprising difficult!

Raspberry Disaronno Sour 

We taste tested the Raspberry Disaronno Sour, Velvet Green Martini, Cinnamon Oregano Old Fashioned, Rhubarb and Gin Old Fashioned, Pear and Kiwi Cup and Grapefruit and Rum Punch.

Rhubarb and Gin Old Fashioned

Now, it was time for us to try our hand at making our cocktails, with the help of the experts of course. Everyone took it in turns to come up with their very own cocktail, and I created a Peary-Good which included muddled pear and hints of cherry.

I enjoyed my drink so much, it was gone in a flash! But thankfully I managed to take a picture first. We also voted for our favourites and mine won! If only I could remember exactly what I put in it, I'd make it again but alas, I forget.

By now it was home time and full of botanical cocktails, we said our goodbyes. Bespoke cocktail making and blind tasting turned out to be a whole heap of fun, and I'd recommend a cocktail masterclass for anyone looking for an alternative way to celebrate a birthday or event.

*A big thank you to The Botanist for inviting us and for our complimentary cocktails.

Event: Botanist Birmingham Cocktail Masterclass

The Botanist Birmingham opened it's doors in April this year, following a £1.2m refurbishment of its Temple Street location.

Well known to anyone in the Leeds, Manchester or Newcastle areas, we Brummies had to wait a little while to get The Botanist experience. 

With an interior that brings the outdoors in thanks to wrought iron features, a potting shed feel and plenty of wooden features and a botanical inspired cocktail menu, the venue has been a popular choice for food and drinks since opening its doors. 

I was lucky enough to attend a cocktail masterclass and went behind the bar for the first time ever!

Taking a pew at the end of the bar, we were greeted with a welcome cocktail (a passionfruit mojito for me!) before settling in on our stools.

Jacob introduced himself as our teacher for the evening and we paired up for the cocktail challenge. Emma from BrummyMummyof2 and her friend Rachel, Helen from Positive Fridays and Ed made another and myself and Ahmed from DineBirmingham completed the teams!

Jacob demonstrated the correct way to make each cocktail first before each team took it in turns to make three cocktails, an English Mojito, Rose Mai Tai and Cherry Blossom, with Jacob declaring the winner out of each team as we went along (pretty sure it was a tie between myself and Ahmed!) Along the way we got to learn a little about the techniques we were using such as the gin pour and drop pour.

My favourites were the English Mojito, which tasted like a traditional mojito and a gin and tonic and the stunning Rose Mai Tai, a very sweet and photogenic rose flavoured drink.

Jacob also made a final drink for us to try, the signature Botanist cocktail made of vodka, rum, elderflower liqueur, red amaranth, jasmine syrup, lime juice ane lemonade.

I can safely speak for us all when I say that the whole experience was heaps of fun! Working in teams, competing to win the crown for best cocktail and of course trying out our creations and comparing cocktails all made for a fun evening that would be great for friends, workmates or even for hen-dos! Cocktail Masterclasses are available from £25 per person, for more information click here.

*I was invited to this event as a guest of The Botanist in exchange for an honest review