One of the leaders of the Czechoslovak cocktail scene, the pioneering Mirror Bar, which has been nominated for several industry awards this year, reveals its new cocktail menu in the form of an 88-page printed Cocktail Book 2024.
For Mirror Bar, a glamorous cocktail bar with a charismatic concept in the heart of Bratislava, its first inclusion in the expanded list of The 50 Best Bars, a ranking of the world's best bars in 2023, was naturally a huge milestone. But for the ambassador of this great bar, Stanislav Harcinik, and his team, this recognition was a huge step on the way to their dream of putting Bratislava firmly on the cocktail map.
For the past five years, Harciník and bar manager Peter Marcina have focused on perfecting the experience at Mirror Bar, where their work has now resulted in an approach to hospitality inspired by Japanese omotenashi, which is widely regarded as the highest possible level of hospitality. In their new cocktail book, which also serves as this year's eagerly anticipated bar menu, their commitment to excellence is taken one step further once again.
The Mirror Bar team has dedicated all of their menus—past and present—to Slovakia, highlighting exceptional local ingredients, aromatic herbs, local wines, and liqueurs. The team collaborated with more than 24 Slovak artists, producers, writers, and designers, including local florists, ceramicists, architects, and perfumers, to create The Mirror Bar Cocktail Book 2024. In addition to a spectrum of production techniques such as lacto-fermentation, enzymatic clarification, fat washing, and sous-vide, one section of cocktails was conceived with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). In the spirit of the proliferation of AI technology and the future of cocktail culture, the Design section of the menu features one cocktail that has been completely invented using AI, including its ingredients, production processes, and presentation. In addition, each of the illustrations in this section of the menu was also created with AI technology.
Have fun, get inspired, and keep going
The Mirror Bar Cocktail Book 2024 features 35 cocktails divided into four main cocktail categories: Classy, Highlights, Design, Sharing, and Non-Alcoholic:
Classy: Each cocktail is a celebration of the timeless elegance of classic cocktails with a modern twist, paying homage to the iconic personalities and famous faces who have visited the Radisson Blu Carlton. The Classy category features 12 cocktails, including Thomas Edison's Negroni made with Tanqueray Export Gin, Campari, Sweet Vermouth, and Mirabelle Plum Eau de Vie. This cocktail is a tribute to the inventor Edison, as the Negroni was created around the same time he visited the hotel. This variation lightens up the popular classic with a little touch of bubbles through the carbonation process, where the bubbles lift the aromatic molecules to enhance the flavor.
Highlights: The Highlights collection offers a nostalgic journey through past Mirror Bar menus. For each of the eight "Highlights" cocktails, guests can enjoy impressive, spectacular visual presentations, such as the Orbital made with Absolut Elyx vodka, spiced coffee kombucha, peach acid solution, paragon cordial, and activated charcoal. The drink is served in a blue-lit frame inspired by galactic light.
Design: The Design cocktail collection pushes the boundaries of their presentation and presents drinks that are true works of art. The five "Design" cocktails are incredibly intricate and presented in 3D handcrafted creations. The first in this category is the Cerebro of AI, which is made with Brugal 1888 rum, smoked horchata maple syrup, Mirror bitter citrus, and oat milk. In its preparation, bartenders use a complex protein clarification process. The Mirror Bar team commissioned AI to create the full story of the cocktail and offer inspiration for the overall recipe. They also tasked the AI to define the rules that the AI itself would follow. This collaboration resulted in the six commandments that are engraved on the artwork.
Sharing: For example, the Tea Ceremony drink featuring Nikka Days whiskey, Pierre Ferrand Yuzu liqueur, Paragon vetiver, and clear apple juice is inspired by the revered Japanese tradition of the tea ceremony and offers a harmonious blend that reflects the grace, serenity, and elegance of Japanese culture.
Non-Alcoholic: The non-alcoholic category offers five cocktails for those who prefer just the non-alcoholic drink options. Highlights include Bubbles without Troubles with Blå sparkling tea, pineapple and star anise bitters, and Champagne solution, a combination of three teas enhanced with bitters and bubbles. Bartenders recommend this second cocktail as an ideal alternative for champagne lovers.
A platform for other creative personalities
"We strive to push boundaries and create unexpected, uplifting experiences for our guests," says Stanislav Harcinik, Global Bar Ambassador. "By incorporating modern and forgotten techniques and new technologies into the preparation of our cocktails, The Mirror Cocktail Book 2024 celebrates the history and future of cocktail culture. At the same time, we've taken great care to enlist the best local product designers, artists, and artisans to bring our ideas to life. It has been a real privilege to work with them and provide them with another platform to showcase their work in this way."
With Mirror Bar recently receiving two nominations for Tales of the Cocktail's Spirited Awards and a new list of the World's 50 Best Bars to be published in October, The Mirror Bar Cocktail Book 2024 is much more than just a cocktail menu. We will most likely catch up with the potential of The Mirror Cocktail Book 2024 in the second half of this year.
