Food

Double Dutch Speak Easy Review

In 2016, I attended the Double Dutch Mixers Launch Party and fell in love with the gorgeous mixers. Since then Double Dutch has gone from strength to strength, developing unique recipes that present unexpected and creative combinations to pair with a range of spirits or to enjoy on their own. The brand was founded by twin co-founders Joyce & Raissa in 2015 whilst at university and is now stocked in over 24 countries and can be found in over 4000 UK bars. They have produced over 10 million bottles to date and the mixers are naturally low in calories with no artificial flavourings, colourings or preservatives. Double Dutch are now even award winning with first and fourth place in the 2018 CLASS Bartenders Awards, the Casual Dining Innovation Awards and the Foodtalk Innovative Drinks Award for popular flavours Cucumber & Watermelon and Pomegranate & Basil.

So with this in mind, it was no wonder I was excited to visit Double Dutch’s Speakeasy in Westfield’s Stratford City. The bar plays host to top bartenders Chris Dennis and Jo St Clair-Ford, formerly of Sovereign Loss, Disrepute, Callooh Callay & Zettertownhouse have specially curated a bespoke menu of non-alcoholic cocktails. Infused with superfoods such as turmeric & ginger, as well as the botanical flavours of lavender, coriander and earl grey, guests can sip away completely guilt-free if you’re participating in Dry January. The orange-is-the-new-black was my friend’s choice of the evening but she added some gin to hers.

Behind the black cat door, the hidden bar is tucked away at the back of the Double Dutch craft-gin shop. The password to experience it all, ‘Show me the Hi-vag-ide A-vag-wa-vag-ay’ – ‘hideaway’ in Double Dutch. It’s pretty cool way to enter a secret speakeasy. We loved the gorgeous speak easy and not to mention the extensive range of craft gins with our favouorite Double Dutch mixers including Pomegranate and Basil and the Cranberry and Ginger Tonic.The Ginger Ale is also just as delicious.

The main shop area at the front will also be open to the public, with a selection of craft gins sourced both locally and from around the world, open daily to try. I even decided to buy a bottle of Cotswold’s Gin that I hadn’t had the pleasure of trying before. Until February 2019, Double Dutch will also be holding a host of events in the speakeasy bar, including ‘Drinks at Home Masterclasses’. From Tom Collins to Martinis, attendees will be taught everything they need to know about making cocktails at home, by an award winning bartender. This was great fun on the evening and we can definitely recommend participating in them.

For more details visit: www.doubledutchdrinks.com

Double Dutch is available from Ocado, Fortnum & Masons, 31Dover, Gin Foundary, Nectar and Amazon.

Written by Tegan LeBon.