Cocktail Day: What’s Your Tipple?

It’s Cocktail Day and to celebrate, we take a look at how cocktails can enhance your work life (please drink responsibly).

Getting together with colleagues after a long day at work to let off steam over a drink is a great way to boost your mood. Not only does it help you build connections with your colleagues, relieve tension and promote trust and respect, research shows a lot of business deals and promotions can come from that post-work bonding.

‘Cocktails have the power to elevate any evening out,’ says Maurice Lawrence, expert mixologist at Middle Eight, a five-star hotel in London's Covent Garden. ‘The right ingredients for a cocktail can not only relax someone, but lift their mood after a stressful day.’

Opting for a bar with an experienced bartender is a smart choice for after-work drinks because it means there’s an option for everyone. Lawrence agrees: ‘Whether you like something strong, fruity, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, speak to the bartender and peruse the menu – you should find a drink that is perfect for you.’

Lawrence's favourite cocktail – and a popular post-office drink of choice – is the Tropic Tommy, a mezcal tequila-based version of the Tropic Margarita, a mix of vanilla, habanero and thyme-infused tequila, mezcal, lime juice and pineapple juice. It’s great for adding a certain finesse to a night out.

Lawrence can make cocktails to cater to any taste, even those who prefer a low-or-no cocktail. ‘With the rise in non-alcoholic spirits, more and more of our guests are requesting non-alcohol cocktails,’ he says, ‘and a delicious concoction in a fancy glass with a great garnish is superior to a glass of lemonade or orange juice. It makes the non-drinker feel part of the group and equally elevates their mood.’

So grab the opportunity to head out after work to build that bond with your colleagues, and embrace the evening with a cocktail, or, if you prefer to entertain at home, Lawrence shares a selection of cocktails below from Middle Eight’s delicious menu and how to make them.

Address: Middle Eight, 66 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5BX
Website: middleeight.com