The drinks menu at the Forbína bar is built not only on technical precision, but also on a well-thought-out philosophy, storytelling, and respect for the theatrical context. Every cocktail has its own story – and this is doubly true of the special Extempore menu. It always relates to a single theatre author and consists of a trio of drinks, for which the bartenders allow themselves a little more courage, imagination, and surprising flavour combinations – the kind that, without exaggeration, you would never have thought of even in your wildest dreams.
“The word extempore means something surprising or unplanned. And that’s exactly what our special drinks are. Just like the regular drinks menu, they relate to the theatre environment and always reflect one author, his play, and the building in which the performance was staged,” explains Honza Budil, bartender and author of the Extempore concept. He adds that the menu also serves as a natural impulse for regular guests – an opportunity to taste something new, different, and unexpected.
From literary research to the bar counter
Budil studied English language and literature and brought his relationship with theatre from the amateur scene he was involved in during his studies. When a new menu is created, he becomes a researcher after his shift: he studies historical contexts, looks for small fragments from the lives of authors, symbols, and seemingly marginal details that ultimately find their way into the recipe. The summer Extempore naturally related to William Shakespeare – during the Prague Shakespeare Festival. Forbína’s birthday, on the other hand, belonged to the giants of Czech theatre, the geniuses Jiří Voskovec and Jan Werich.
The winter season brought a powerful theme in the form of Václav Havel. “He came to mind in connection with the November anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. We took several fragments from his life and creatively incorporated them into the menu,” Budil says. When Havel was banned from dramatic activity, he worked as a cooper in a brewery, which is why beer foam and malt distillate appear in the drink. His lifelong passion for smoking is represented by Lapsang Souchong tea with its typical smoky aroma, while cherry liqueur symbolises his opposition to communism. The drink also has a smaller volume, a so-called “shorter” serve – a subtle reference to Havel’s iconic ankle-length trousers. Most of these ideas originate in Budil’s head and are then refined together with the entire Forbína team.
Molière at Forbína
The first Extempore of this winter season belongs to Molière, one of the most important French playwrights. His life was full of twists, turns, and contrasts – and this is exactly the kind of “theatre” played out by the flavours of the drink of the same name, Molière. Bacardi 8 rum is complemented by Dolin Rouge vermouth, sweet Dubonnet, and bittersweet Picon Amer. The resulting flavour is rounded off with butter.
Tartuffe is a drink whose deception you will gladly succumb to. Just as in the original story about false piety, reality and illusion intertwine here: Patrón Reposado tequila is combined with pear liqueur and sage soda to create a subtly captivating combination.
The third drink is Théâtre du Palais-Royal, named after Molière’s main Parisian stage. It evokes a decadent era in which intrigue was a daily part of life. Macallan 12 whisky and French Pinot Noir wine play with the taste of Lillet Rouge aperitif wine, all complemented by vanilla and lemon verbena.
Unconventional combinations, subliminal stories, and surprising connections. This is Extempore at the Forbína bar – a menu that changes every two to three months and sensitively complements the permanent cocktail menu on Národní třída.
