A Steak Cocktail? Now That Is A-moo-sing!

Steak and cocktails sounds like the perfect match to me. I love to chew on a mouth-wateringly tender bit of rib-eye while sipping a martini. However, one bar in Manchester has taken this pairing a step further.

Introducing, the Whisky Steak Cocktail and the Rosemary Gin Steaktini.

The MacDonald Manchester Hotel & Spa recently re-launched its Scottish Steak Club Restaurant. The four star establishment wanted to create a unique drink that would complement the menu and excite its diners. The Whisky Steak Cocktail is made of Monkey Shoulder Scotch Whisky, homemade rosemary syrup and seasoned with freshly ground black pepper. It is garnished with a slice of 21-day aged Scottish beef sirloin steak. The steak is dipped into the drink, or left to soak.

The drink was created to pay homage to the hotel chain’s Scottish heritage. The Scottish steak and Scotch whisky were the perfect choice for this. The combination of the two has created an unusual drink that guests will love. The salty flavor of the steak works beautifully with the sweetness of the whisky.

Alongside the short cocktail, they have also created a Rosemary Gin Steaktini, which is designed to cleanse the palate in preparation for a steak meal. The original creation combines Tanqueray Gin, Dry Vermouth and rosemary syrup.

The Steaktini can be tasted in either the Steak Club Restaurant or in the hotel’s bar. However, the Whisky Steak Cocktail is only available as an aperitif in the restaurant.

Manager of the bar, Paul Bayliss, insists that savoury cocktails have become more popular recently. It is certainly not the first bar to test the combination of meat and spirits. In 2012, JW Steakhouse created a selection of cocktails, which all included Jack Daniels bourbon and bacon. The Shaka Zulu in London also introduced a menu of meaty cocktails, which contained bacon, chorizo and salmon. The owner of the Shaku Zulu believes that London was the perfect place to experiment with food-based cocktails due to the open-mindedness of the drinkers.

The winner of the meatiest cocktail, however, has to be the Checkmate Caesar at Score on Davie in Canada. Launched earlier this year, the cocktail is topped with a burger, a hot-dog and roast chicken skewers. The owner of the bar, Jesse Ritchie, defended the 5000 calorie drink by saying it was a drink to be shared with friends. It is so popular that the bar sells around a dozen a day, more at the weekends.

Chicken-politan anyone? How about a Lamb Island Iced Tea?

Both recipes can be found in our database:

Whiskey Steak Cocktail
Rosemary Gin Steaktini