The Cocktail Trading Co. (Bethnal Green)

• Olly Brading are the dream team bringing their combined experience from the likes of London Cocktail Club
• You'll soon find yourself stuffing your face with monkey nuts whilst trying to read from their adorable little cocktail booklets in very low
• The booklet eases you in gently with Clover Clubs
• A Tommy's Margarita twist with smoked marshmallow syrup in place of agave
• Presented in a noodle soup box topped with chopstick straws and edible noodle crisps
• The fun continues with more boozy creations appearing in wellies
• Nutty presentation normally comes with a hefty price tag
• Many of the house drinks are a little on the sweet side for me though
• Isn't a problem at all when there are top bartenders queuing up to try something else
• Highlights included The Last Call (a twist on The Last Word with smoky mezcal replacing the gin)
• A sublime Negroni made with Martin Miller's Westbourne Gin and the new Belthazar Red Vermouth which seems to be hugely popular with the trade
• Many more sessions were just starting
• I'm glad I squeezed in a quick shot with the wonderful Wilkes on the way out cheers
• It seems London's been having a love affair with anything that's not at street level from the likes of The Shard
• Whilst this is nothing new
• I think a few places are stepping up their game
• We stepped inside on a Wednesday night with an hour to kill before a dinner reservation (that's another story)
• Most of the tables were already busy save for a spare couple that were booked out but the friendly waiter said we were free to perch until their real owners arrived and happily for us
• I went for the Urn aged Corpse Reviver No 2 which came served on a grassy tray complete with grabbing zombie hands and a thirst for more
• Lemon juice and absinthe this was a dream not too fruity
• Not too sour but with enough depth
• A Chinese takeaway box is filled to the brim with Jim Beam
• Yuzu juice and matcha tea then topped with crunchy noodle bites and edible flowers
• We would gladly have stayed for more (especially as the drinks are an unbelievable £
• I love a good bit of theatricality with a round of cocktails on a night out
• This week my haunt of choice was the Cocktail Trading Company
• Once inside I knew it was worth the frosted nose
• The vibe of the place was a mix of couple on dates
• The night began with the first &lsquo
• The clover club was mix of raspberry
• The cucumber martini was a classic gin base
• Fresh cucumber and served with an edible garnish
• The final drink (which I shall not write it again for fear of spelling mistakes) was a vodka based tipple
• Served in a mug with an extravagant candy floss garnish
• Naturally they were all rather delicious
• As yet the best had yet to come&hellip
• 欢迎到肯塔基州 is the name of the best drink of the night
• Ginger and plum infusion with yuzu juice and energy kicking
• The other favourites drinks of the night were the Scouts Honour
• A few others we were served off menu
• It is always a test of a good bartender if they can come up with the goods when you go off piste
• From the cocktails I tried I would say some of the drinks here are more style over substance
• I was already very familiar with this space when it was but the '&
• Co' part of Central and Co it was my and my best friend's go to cocktail joint that we always seemed to get a seat at
• Even though it's busier than it ever was when I went before
• Reading through the cocktail menu is where the fun begins
• My friend had a 'Delicious Sour' made with calvados and peach wine which was indeed delicious and also very pretty
• I had the aforementioned Tu Whit Tu Whoo Woo which was a Frankenstein version of a woo woo
• So that the flavours were a little muted
• I loved the owl it came in and the candy floss it was adorned with
• On my second visit I finally chose a Scout's Honour which was served in a tin cup and came with a ration tin wedged on top and some toasted marshmallows to complement the smoked marshmallow syrup
• (Marshmallows are really only any good when set alight to some degree
• The cocktail rested atop a plot of grass/hay and with a little hand beside it (I think it was meant to be poking out of the ground)
• Even if it was only half full
• Even though it's busier than it ever was when I went previously
• Ve always viewed this as a bit of a summer drink though and Aperol are on a mission to change that and make Aperol a year round tipple and so they&rsquo
• Ve invited us to the Cocktail Trading Co to get a crash course in how to make this drink and show us just how easy drinking it is year round
• Drink presentations were very fancy
• Bartenders were really nice and they explained the drinks well
• The cocktails are inventive and presented really well
• The atmosphere is cosy and service is really friendly
• I would recommend it to anyone who's in the area and is looking for a relaxed place to have a drink
• Filling in for Chris while he bounds around the US and Europe is Alexandra Kalinowski
• My day job is pretty glamorous
• M often out and about drinking with bartenders as I interview them for a gin bar blog series

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