We all know how impressive the Liverpool bar scene is, with mixologists in the city creating unreal concoctions to knock your socks off (or knock you off your stool), but we now have even greater confirmation just how brilliant the city’s cocktail bars are. Announcing the winners yesterday evening (February 1), Top 50 Cocktail Bars revealed a number of Liverpool cocktail bars had made the cut as some of the best in the UK.
According to the Top 50 Cocktail Bars, the list is compiled by the bar industry, making it a unique list of venues those in the know like to visit. The organisers recruit over 100 industry experts which make up the voting academy, from bartenders and owners, to drinks writers and influencers in order to curate an extra special list which has something for every type of drinker.
Despite the list mainly being dominated by London bars, popular Liverpool haunt, Berry & Rye, managed to knock a few of the capital’s bars down a peg or two by coming in at 28th place. Hidden in plain sight on Berry Street, the Liverpool bar is described as “a prohibition-themed Scouse bar put together with great attention to detail” and once you find it “you’ll discover a bar filled with jazz, blues and more gin cocktails than you can shake a stick at.”
The awards team also mentioned that Berry & Rye is “comfortable, relaxed, stylish and plush, so perfect for a special celebration, a quiet drink or a catch up.” Adding, “the bartenders dress smart, are knowledgeable and have an envious stash of cocktail recipes stored in their minds.”
Berry & Rye was shortly followed by the go-to bar, Present Company, who came 43rd in the list. Top 50 Cocktail Bars described Present Company as having “a simple concept – serving world-class cocktails in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with some great music.”
Some notable serves by Present Company according to the top 50 list included the Paridisi, made with Finland Grapefruit Vodka, umeshu and Aperol; the Biscoff Old Fashioned, made with buttered Woodford Reserve, Biscoff and bitters; and the Penicillin, made with Benraich Ten and Benraich Smoky, lemon, honey and ginger.
For the full list head to the Top 50 Cocktail Bars website here.