Red, white and rosé wine cocktails at the Grand Hotel Bar!

If there is one place you need to go in Bordeaux if you really fancy cocktails, it is at the Grand Hotel bar, the only 5* palace hotel in Bordeaux. On Thursday we went there to discover more about wine cocktail and who better than the Bar manager, Sebastien Grosse, to talk to us about it.

Our very friendly host took us through the extensive cocktail list, the largest in Bordeaux, and explained us how wine was playing its part in this list. Like in most cocktail bars, Champagne and brandy were by far the most represented grape based alcohol. Apart from large champagne cocktail list there was also a 240€ cocktail with Louis XIII cognac and a Margarita Sauternes (tequila aged in Sauternes barrel). As there were no still wine cocktails on the list, Sebastien invited us to taste 3 cocktails he personally created, 3 cocktails for white, rosé and red wine. And here they are:

White wine cocktail, dry Sauternes Martini:

Vodka Pyla, Sauternes, twist

Not for the faint hearted! Dry martini are amongst the strongest cocktails, using the traditional recipe, Sebastien replaced the vermouth by a Sauternes and served it with a lemon twist.

For those who like martinis it is an excellent alternative, the Sauternes adds body and honey aromas while the lemon gives a touch of acidity.

Rosé cocktail:

Rosé cotes de Provence, pear liqueur, gin, lemon

This is the perfect summer drink: Fresh, fruity and zesty! Perfect balance with sugar (pear liqueur), acidity (lemon) and bitterness (gin) complemented by a fruity rosé. Definitely one of our favourite and could be a big summer hit.

Red wine cocktail:

Pessac Léognan, cranberry juice, raspberry pure, amaretto liqueur (almond)

This was the hardest tasks, the red wine cocktail. And the result is most pleasantly surprising!

The tannins and austerity of red wine is cut by the cranberry juice and raspberry purée, the red fruit character in the wine is enhanced and the almonds notes are revealed at the end.

This is the first red wine cocktail we have seen so it rightfully deserves the prize of innovation and creativity!

The next cocktail hotspot opens in June on the Grand Hotel terrace !

A new open air bar on top of the Grand Hotel will open in June, Sebastien took us there. There is a breathtaking view overlooking all of Bordeaux, there will be weekly concerts and it's very likely to be the next hotspot for cocktails and night entertainment. Entirely renovated with comfy sofas, creative decoration, a music stage and a bar, the atmosphere will be trendy, young and exciting! so keep in touch with the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ghbordeaux.spa to receive updates on the upcoming opening.