The Black Cat, our top floor bar, has been gaining a reputation as one of Manchester’s most special and stylish drinks venues since we opened. With an innovative and perfectly executed drinks list, superb staff, and a gorgeous space topped off with our unique retractable roof, The Black Cat has quickly become the place to enjoy perfectly mixed cocktails.

Just a couple of months after the doors opened Cocktails in the City gave our team a chance to show off their creative talents to the wider world: their Lady Luck was voted the best drink on the opening night and they came second in the city overall.

On Wednesday our head bartender, Will Meredith, won the regional heat of Buffalo Trace Bourbon’s ‘Mystery Migration‘ competition, after his creation New Orleans Fizz turned heads and became the best-selling drink this weekend. He’s off to Kentucky in October and we can’t wait to see (and savour) what inspires him on his travels. Coming on the back of his Bobby’s Gin win this spring, and a trip to Schiedam, our jetsetting head bartender is on a roll.

However our biggest drinks news involves us taking part in the inaugural Manchester Loves Cocktails festival, which runs 8-14th August across the city. There are over forty events during the week, and The Black Cat will be leading the experience. We’ll be serving an exclusive array of gin cocktails all week, featuring Portobello Road Gin and based on the world-famous Savoy Cocktail Book. The six specials on our #MLC16 menu are:

• Copernicus (Portobello Road Gin, Dolin Rouge, Maraska Maraschino, Orange)
• El Gato Gin & Tonic (Our own special batch El Gato Negro Gin and In-House Tonic)
• Nahuatl Snap (Avocado Oil washed Gin, Beetroot, Rosemary & Red Pepper Puree, Celeriac, Lemon, Montelobos Mezcal, Garnacha, Spice)
• PBR Martini (Portobello Road Gin, Kamm & Sons, Lillet Blanc, Cardamom)
• Fragaria (Portobello Road Gin, Strawberry & Thyme syrup, Manzanilla Sherry, Lemon, Cava)
• Cabbage Patch (Portobello Road Gin, Sureau, Lemon, Aqua ava, Corrective Cabbage Juice, Basil)

The week culminates in “The Ginaissance: An evolution of the Gin Cocktail”, with a takeover by The American Bar at The Savoy and Portobello Road Gin on Thursday 11 August. We’re thrilled at to be hosting this, having a chance to demonstrate our bar skills and imagination alongside the specialists from The Savoy and PRG.

To gain entry to all the events, including ‘The Ginaissance’, and buy cocktails at the discounted price of £4.50, attendees must buy Manchester Loves Cocktails wristbands for £10. Wristbands can be bought from www.lovescocktails.co.uk. Even if you can’t make the whole week’s events, be sure to call in during the week and enjoy one of our special #MLC16 creations at the normal bar price. Remember to drink better, not more.

The Black Cat never stands still: keep an eye out for more exciting new developments this summer!