Scarfes Bar, Holborn: New Heroes & Villains cocktail menu tasted — including an ‘Iron Lady’ tipple that almost made us forgive Margaret Thatcher

The Rosewood Hotel’s Scarfes Bar needs no introduction — it’s simply one of the best cocktail bars in the capital, nestled near the entrance to the luxury bolthole for many a visiting celebrity. As if you ever needed a reason to find yourself propping up the bar, its new menu — celebrating the good, bad, naughty and nice of British celebrity and drinking culture — is the perfect excuse.

The ‘Heroes and Villains’ menu offers 20 newly-concocted signature serves, each reflecting a public figure at their nicest, or naughtiest, as well as inspiring brand new creations and fresh spins on the trashier cocktails that mixologists dare not otherwise serve. It's all accompanied by illustrations from English caricaturist Gerald Scarfe, the bar's namesake, via works from the artist's 2003 'Heroes & Villains' exhibition.

Six months in the making, overseen by the Rosewood’s Director of Bars Andrew Loudon, it’s a sensational selection. Shortlist hit Scarfes for the menu’s launch event — and from what we remember of the extravagantly boozy night, these are the three drinks you should be ordering first.

Our three favourite Scarfe’s Bar Heroes & Villains cocktails

Not that Shortlist’s moral compass was ever in question, but our three favourite sips from the new menu all come from the ‘Heroes’ side of the list, and all ended up whisky-based:

• Hot-Air Balloon — The Macallan 12, Palo Santo & Earl Grey Sherry, Peated Almond (£24): The ‘Heroes’ homage to Richard Branson, this Old-Fashioned-alike is smoothly sweet and dangerously easy to drink. Up there with the best cocktails we’ve ever had, to be honest.
• Iron Lady — Glenfiddich 12, Chocolate Wine, Fig Leaf, Clarified Citrus (£22): The only ‘heroic’ thing Margaret Thatcher may have ever done was inspiring the cocktail named after her nickname. A lighter whiskey sip, it’s a slightly sharper, citrus-forward alternative to the Hot-Air Balloon.
• Natural Selection — Glenturret Triple Wood, Carbonated Raspberries, Evaporated Carrot, Fino Sherry (£22): A tribute to Darwin’s groundbreaking theory, this lightly carbonated sling will be a perfectly refreshing punch when the summer truly kicks in.

The best of the rest of the menu

It’s an adventurous and creative menu throughout with no truly weak links, and there’s fun to be had pairing the celeb with their naughty-or-nice cocktail counterparts.

Oscar Wilde is represented by the gin-based High Society and mezcal-led Temptation, the later with an intriguing sherbet and aubergine combo.

Branson’s duology is finished with the villainous Public Stunts, a sprightly rum and mint sip.

Ninety 3rd honours David Beckham’s immortal 2001 World Cup goal with a spin on a classic Pornstar Martini, while Diva represents his other half, Victoria, with a floral Lychee Cosmopolitan finished with a fun lollipop garnish.

You can find the full 20-drink menu at the Scarfes Bar website.

Just make sure you’re making a visit on payday — they’re exceptional cocktails, with a price tag to match, meaning you won’t find any cheaper than £20.

The Heroes & Villains cocktail menu is available now at Scarfe’s Bar, which can be found at the Rosewood Hotel 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN

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