A Mini Martini Experience
We work hard to bring you the latest and best in Scottish Gin and Scottish Hospitality. Sometimes that even involves accepting Monday lunch-time invitations to a cocktail adventure…
The Martini Experience offered by Bar Manager Alessandro Borelli and his team takes place in the magnificent setting of DINE, situated above the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh’s west end.
It’s a novel experience, a masterclass where you will have 5 varieties of the iconic Martini personally made for you as part of a small group. Each version takes you on a step along the rich history of the drink and Alessandro’s knowledge of bar-tending history is only surpassed by his obvious passion for Martinis.
The Martini Experience begins with a classic Martinez; a rich and sweet blend of Martini Rosso, Old Tom gin and a few dashes of orange and Angostura bitters. This is stirred over ice and served in a classic martini glass with a fragrant twist of orange.
I can tell you now that one of us (I won’t say which) entered the bar with a mild dislike for martinis – having only sampled a dirty martini in the past and been quite put off. However, one sip of an expertly-crafted Martinez was enough to convert the sceptic and left The Scottish Gin Society team eager to learn (and taste) more.
On the full Martini Experience, guests enjoy over 2 hours learning about and tasting a range of perfectly-made Martinis – from the Martinez and a classic Gin Martini to a shaken-not-stirred James Bond Martini.
Guests then have the chance to create and name their very own signature cocktail using their new-found knowledge. The experience is fuelled by tasty snacks and plenty of iced water.
We won’t go into all the details of our mini Martini Experience, as we’re planning some very exciting future content in collaboration with Alessandro, but we can say that whether or not you’re a fan of the world’s best-known cocktail, you will find this masterclass a hugely rewarding and entertaining experience.
To round off our adventure, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch at DINE prepared by award-winning chef Stuart Muir and his team. We can highly recommend a visit before or after your Martini Experience!
The Martini Experience is available from Monday to Saturday over 3 sessions: 12-2pm, 2-4pm and 4-6pm. It costs an incredibly reasonable £30 pp and you can find out more HERE.
