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It’s tough following the network’s hot bar trends, but someone’s
got to do it. Thismonth our secret drinks columnist hits Ibiza
BARCHICK
It’s a little bit bohemian andmore than a little bit
naughty – just perfect for Ibiza, youmight say
IBIZA IS UNDOUBTABLY
the
world’s hedonism capital – that’s
why us BarChicks have a residency
there most summers. And, boy,
do we have a few stories to tell…
Like the time my friend ended up
making out with the cute gardener
from
Desperate Housewives,
or
the evening we found ourselves on
happening this season. “Cocktails
on the island are traditionally
oversweet, fruit versions of
caipirinhas and mojitos,” says Chris
Edwards, head bartender at the
awesome Aura (
auraibiza.com
),
which is, ahem, shaking things up
by recognising the importance of
fresh, local ingredients and new
Shaking up the
White Isle
Puffy’s boat for an after-party. It
was certainly interesting hanging
with a world-famous rapper,
though I do have a word of advice:
leave
before
they set sail.
It proves one thing: whatever
your vice, you can find it in Ibiza.
The clubbing is mega (obviously),
the beaches beautiful and
this year the island has some
healthy new additions. Pacha’s
taking on Ushuaïa Beach Hotel
(
ushuaiabeachhotel.com
) with
its own club-cum-resort, The
One; we’ll be eating at the
world-famous Italian Cipriani
(
cipriani.com
), opening this season;
and for our culture hit, we’ve heard
rumours Cirque du Soleil is coming.
The only complaint is that it’s been
tough to get a
really
good cocktail.
Sure, we love the beach bars – El
Chiringuito (
elchiringuitoibiza.com
)
in particular – but there’s room for
improvement. And, thankfully, it’s
influences. “It’s about time that
people learned how cocktails
should actually taste.” Chris has
given his a twist: a strawberry and
balsamic mojito with black pepper,
to help encourage people to
experiment. We did and we like.
Flushed with success, Chris is
opening his own bar this month,
called Hidden. It’s set in a garden
50m from the beach in Cala San
Vicente. It’s basically a playground:
the size of a football pitch, with
crazy golf, English tapas and, of
course, great cocktails.
For serious cocktail appreciation,
look to legendary French barman
Charles Vexenat, who opened
1805 (
bar1805ibiza.com
) in May. It’s
inspired by absinthe and you can
enjoy all manner of concoctions
there based on that green beast of
a spirit. It’s a little bit bohemian and
more than a little bit naughty – just
perfect for Ibiza, you might say.