The Lucky Pig

The Lucky Pig

www.theluckypig.co.uk

5 Clipstone St, London W1W 6BB

Discovering Fitzrovia/Warren Street area, I once again come across a very soho style comfy basement bar. Complete with an old piano, old type writer and very cosy little alcoves of sitting areas with soft leather seats. Lighting is low and candles keep the mood romantic yet rustic, bringing out the outlines of the objects dotted around the room, as if you were in a Sherlock Holmes or Indiana Jones room of findings.

The Lucky Pig is very friendly and welcoming, even when there are no seats available to accommodate me and my mystery date. We seat ourselves just by the bar counter and check through the menu to awake our tastebuds. Even the menu looks like either Sherlock Holmes or Indiana Jones artefact finder map that has become almost like an antique. 

We start with a twist on the classic Mojito and the classic Bellini - something more dusky! 

Citrus Paradisi: Charcoal filtered Ketel 1 Vodka, Grapefruit, Honey, Mint. It is also referred to as a Grapefruit Julep. It reminds me a lot of the classic Mojito as it is also mixed with mint and served with crushed ice. I am not usually a fan of this cocktail so am surprised to find that the honey has softened the citrus feel of a usual Mojito and the Grapefruit has made the main taste of the drink much more refreshing and mysterious. I really enjoy this refreshing icy cocktail, like it was a hot spring day and I was thirsty and the first cold drink that touches my lips is this Citrus Paradisi - I feel like I could transform myself into a dream of a Paradisi if I closed my eyes. An enjoyable first drink when you have come from work and haven't had a sip of drink for a little while. Great starting drink and separator of work and play time.

Her Majesty's Fizz: Prosecco, Hendricks Gin, Elderflower, Chopped Cucumber. This fizzy number, served in a blue coloured flute, felt like a picnic in the park. Very garden or rooftop party feel to it as cucumber mixed with elderflower make such a subtle yet fresh mix that together with the Prosecco bubble make the drink feel almost innocent. This is the drink you could probably carry on drinking throughout the night without getting enough of it.

For the second round we tried the following, stronger drinks:

Cosa Nostraccino: Italian Nardini Grappa, Coffee, Amaretto, Toffee, Hazelnut & White Chocolate. Don't let the description of the drink carry you away with the dream of a sweet milkshake-like drink dream. This drink's main taste carrier is the Italian Nardini Grappa with it's distinct and intense flavour of grapes darkened with the Amaretto and coffee flavour and softened again with toffee and white chocolate. I felt like this was perhaps a twist on a Martini-like cocktail to make it more acceptable for the whiskey friends. It was beautifully presented with a frothy top but remained too intense of a flavour for me. I would definitely recommend this to those who normally enjoy a strong bourbon mixed cocktail as this was more towards that taste yet the sweet ingredients you see listed are not as sweet as you would expect but instead quite dulled out so blend into the whole experience of the cocktail. 

Cherry Humble Pie: Ketel 1 Citroen, Cherry Heeling Liquor, Martini Extra Dry  Sourmix. The Lucky Pig have hit the spot with this Cherry Pie crumble pie flavoured drink! Where has this drink been all my life? This cocktail will perk you up after your first sip of the drink and bring out the dessert queen/king in you. The Lucky Pig have added Toffee and Lemon Tart Syrup for the sweet kick in the drink. The only words to describe this drink are: Cherry Crumble Pie! There is no other way around it. Perhaps I can try..imagine Amaretto like it never has existed yet upon its launch its flavour would be like cherry pie instead of the marzipan/almond flavour it carries, you would get close. In fact, I think this should be made into a liquor of its own. This drink will make any dessert lover feel warm inside for it is such a perfect drink. Cannot get enough of it.

The Lucky Pig has been a great little discovery in a quieter end of Fitzrovia. The place is great for meeting with friends as it is fun, friendly and cozy and full of drink surprises. It is great for dates as the setting is already complete when you step through the door. The buzz created by the crowds arriving later into evening creates a lovely fun atmosphere. And I wouldn't be surprised if that Cherry Humble Pie had anything to do with this! Aphrodisiac in a glass!

  Cocktails Rating 9 out of 10          Venue Rating 10 out of 10  

The Blind Pig at the Social Eating House

The Blind Pig

at the Social Eating House

http://www.socialeatinghouse.com/social-bar/mixed-drinks
58 Poland St, London W1F 7NR

Walking past the Social Eating House twice a day for the past 12 months, I never realised the door next to it, humorously labelled 'Opticians' was the entrance to a dark, glowing and subtly uplifting cocktail bar with a great, filling snack menu - The Blind Pig.

I decide to test the grounds with the doorman as I show up at the bar without a booking and ask for some assistance in getting some spectacles as my vision is blurred...Unfortunately, the joke nose-dived as the doorman made no connection with the Opticians joke and the name of the Bar. Professional and polite at all times, he instead checks for availability and luck is with us as we get shown in.

Luckily there was space for me and my date to pop in for a few drinks and we managed to secure a table at last minute's notice. We walk upstairs to the bar and find ourselves in a very social yet not overly loud Social bar. The lights are dim but it doesn't look dark - lots of small round tables are all lit up in comfortable small candle light, creating little social circles all over the venue. The pleasant quiet chatter of these little circles really gives the place the feeling of somewhere very welcoming and warm. 

We settle down at our own small round social table, in a warming candle light and observe the menu. As we skim through the menu we notice the music playing and are surprised it isn't the usual 'background' or commercial music you often find at cocktail bars. The music sounded like a good mix of oldskool hiphop/funk and so sounded very uplifting yet not loud enough for it to intervene with your conversations.

I spot the word 'Vesper' on cocktail menu and immediately make that drink my default choice. I then calm down a bit to look through the rest of the menu, picking out all the choices taking my fancy. I feel like I am getting greedy with trying all the inviting choices in one order but soon realise that would be very impractical. In the end we opt for the following favourites:

- Vitamin C Vesper: 3 citrus infused Absolut Elyx vodka, Langley's no 8 gin, Cocchi Americano, lemon oils

- McBandaq: Germana cachaca, banana, fresh lime, aged vanilla, root beer syrup, condensed milk, takeaway cup

- Kindergarten Cup: Skittles washed Ketel One, Aperol, lemon, egg white, 'Wham Bar' syrup, bitters logo

 Vitamin C Vesper - all I'm thinking is 'Martini cocktail' in disguise and I haven't had a good fruity Martini in a while so I am very excited about this choice. And it seems best things come in the most ordinary disguises! I always look at citrus drinks and think I already know what they will taste like. This cocktail was a pleasant surprise and really enjoyable. The taste was clean, fresh and sharp at first and when you release your sip and let the drink swirl around your mouth, you taste the bitter-sweetness of the citrus infused spirit, the mix of honey-like Cocchi Americano and the smooth texture of Langley's gin. The two words lingering in my tastebuds and memory are sweet and fresh. If there is anyone out there that doesn't like Martini cocktails then this drink would win them over  - sophisticated, young and fresh!

 McBandaq - the sight of the takeaway drink cup brings back memories of milkshakes and days out at fun fares. I am bursting in anticipation of the banana and condensed milk taste and that's exactly what I taste first when I take a sip. Then, the real taste of the cocktail comes fore: the oaky maturity of the Germana cachaca really comes through the banana milkshake and only after a few sips I understand the great combination of the banana and sugar cane lands that the cachaca has originated from. I do feel that this drink should have surprised a bit more with not-so-closely-linked flavours as banana is a tough one to blend flavours with in a drink but being a heavy fruit, it allows the base of the cocktail to really shine and surprise you as the lasting end flavour and experience.

 Kindergarten Cup - Beautifully vibrant presentation and candy sweet taste. It took me a while to really taste the mixed skittles as there simply isn't any other way to describe this flavour but also because the taste is not vague but like a full bag of skittles. I did think that this was similar to the all-time-favourite Pornstar Martini many places have but with a more unique taste and the egg white made sure the presentation is still up there with the more serious drinks. There has been much talk about the skittles flavoured vodka yet not once have I come across it actually being sold in a nice bar like this. It was a treat in a cocktail glass!

Overall, this was definitely a great experience of flavours and awakened my fun side of cocktail tastes. I found something for every taste need in just a few cocktails. All I have to say is - I must return to try the rest of the menu and make sure I taste the ever inviting Duck Fat Chips with Curry Aioli! 

The Blind Pig left me in a great mood: relaxed but buzzing and with the feeling like I have just had a chat about my memories as the music and drinks kept reminding me of things I really love and should have more of.

Great place for a romantic and fun date, great place for getting together with friends and a great place to relax after a hard day's work. Guaranteed mood uplift and cocktail satisfaction.

MM Rating 9 out of 10     Cocktails Rating 9 out of 10          Venue Rating 10 out of 10