Here at Viva we say a great cocktail is an artform in itself. A perfectly made pre-dinner negroni on a warm summer's evening? It's perfection.
The latest art-fuelled pop-up venture from Bombay Sapphire, The Living Gallery, promises to heighten this experience further with unique gin cocktails that celebrate a sensory element be it taste, sight or smell. The artistry component comes courtesy of the creative cocktails served at interactive drink stations, as well as an evolving mural centrepiece created by artist-in-residence Harris Keenen.
In charge of the drinks are four of the country’s best bars: Parasol & Swing, Bedford Soda & Liquor, Yonder in Queenstown and Forresters Lane in Wellington.
Each mixologist had one of the senses top of mind when crafting their drink. Parasol & Swing’s Richard Stonehouse focused on “taste” with a savoury Tuscan martini made from gin, Italian wine, balsamic and black pepper to be garnished with a bespoke Italian-inspired chocolate. To evoke the sense of smell, Andrew Pollard of Yonder crafted a gimlet with pine sherbet and lemon, to be served under an aromatic bell jar, to transport you to a New Zealand pine forest.
The pop-up is the first event housed at the new Glasshouse building in the Morningside Precinct a greenhouse-style dome filled with plants and trees of all description creating an avant-garde art gallery meets botanical wonderland.
• Bombay Sapphire’s The Living Gallery, November 21-25. The Glasshouse, 18 McDonald St, Morningside Precinct. Ticket includes a customised gin and tonic, and two signature cocktails, $45pp from Iticket.co.nz
