Cocktail bars are getting
in on the action too, with
bartenders forced to
develop RTDs quick-fire.
Agave-specialist bar Hacha
is offering free delivery of
its award-winning Mirror
Margarita cocktail, served
in 500ml bottles (judging by
its Insta stories orders are
ramping up), while Scout has
announced it is working hard
on building its online shop
so people can access their
cocktails in bottles. online classroom via Zoom.
Doctor Ink’s Curiosities in
Exeter will be going one step
further, launching a weekly
ingredient box alongside
online masterclasses so that
people can learn how to mix
during ‘World War C’. The
team will also be sharing
a series of posts including:
‘Using household ingredients
to make cocktails’ and ‘How
to make ice at home like your
favourite bar.’ They will also be extending
payment plans. While before
courses were payable via
monthly payment plans that
lasted four to fi ve months,
those who are self-funded
can extend the payment
terms to eight or 10 months
to help spread costs.
The delivery of content is
also on the agenda. Education
provider The Mixing Class
announced that it will be
offerings its usual classroom
courses online via Zoom. In
a Facebook post, director
Hannah Lanfear wrote: ‘From
the beginning of April (and as
long as travel presents a risk
to public health) The Mixing
Class’ WSET courses will be
taught remotely through an
‘You will receive your 30
or 60 tasting samples along
with your study pack in the
post ahead of your course
at no extra cost, and on
classroom days we’ll all login
for a school day... Courses
will be followed by exams
held in all participating cities
with the ambition to make
WSET Spirits courses even
MORE accessible around the
country than they are now.’
Stock drop
While pub doors are closing,
brewers are coming up with
ingenious ways to keep stocks
moving. Surrey-based Hogs
Back Brewery has introduced
a drive-through service for its
draught, bottled and canned
beers with customers about
to drive up to the brewery
shop, place their order (from
a distance) and have their
beer loaded into their boot.
Customers can also ‘click
and collect’ or have orders
of over £40 delivered to
their door.
‘One of the benefi ts of being
a small brewer is that we
can act quickly,’ said Hogs
Back Brewery owner Rupert
Thompson. ‘We launched our
Drive-Through service the
day after the government’s
announcement on social
distancing…
We are of course unhappy
that pubs look set to be a
casualty of the pandemic
when they are often an
important community hub…
In the meantime, we’re
delighted with the response
from our customers, who
have embraced the Drive
Through and home delivery
options to enjoy their
favourite Hogs Back beers
during these diffi cult times.’
Brew Dog is also thinking
about those who are still
able to get out and about.
Brew Dog Drive-Thru will
allow customers to click and
collect beer, food and spirits
from their nearest Brew Dog
bar and the team will bring it
their care. The offer includes
bottles, can and draft beer
poured into growlers, as
well as bottles of wine and
spirits, Hawkes cider and
even glassware.
Gift that keeps on
giving
In an effort to maintain
an income while out of
operation, some venues have
introduced gift vouchers for
customers to buy now and
use when they reopen.
Opium in Chinatown is
offering food and drinks
vouchers for £25, as well
as some for its cocktail
masterclasses, while Mr
Lyan’s Lyaness is offering the
same monetary vouchers, as
well as some for its afternoon
tea.
Fine-dining restaurants such
as Roganic and Aulis are also
advertising gift vouchers for
tasting menus, set lunches and
private dining experiences in
a bid to maintain an income
while they shut their kitchens.
H o w e v e r,
other
establishments such as The
Drapers Arms is discouraging
guests from buying their
vouchers in a bid to instead
encourage people to donate
to the welfare pot. ‘Many of
you have very kindly asked
if you can buy vouchers to
support the business. Please
don’t!!,’ the team wrote in an
Instagram post. ‘In the absence
of any clear government
support (which may yet be
forthcoming...) I will be looking
into setting up a Drapers
staff GoFundMe or similar
welfare pot... This would
just be a route to accepting
the generosity people have
offered and appreciation for
my lovely employees at a time
of hardship.’
Millie Milliken has been
writing about food and drink
ever since her post-uni career
hunt thrust her very quickly
into working in the hospitality
industry. Since then, she’s
written for vintage, theatre
and events magazines – while
eating and drinking her way
around the country.
Source: https://imbibe.com/news/how-the-drinks-on-trade-is-
adapting-during-the-coronavirus-crisis/
Drink Asia
15
March-April 2020