ThekeytounderstandingBarcelona’scocktailculturecanbefound
ina glassofvermouth.InBarcelona,vermouth—orvermut,asit’s
knowninCatalan—ismuchmorethana meresupportingcomponent
ina martini,it’sa wayoflife.Tosipthedrinkinoneofthecity’sscores
ofvermouthbarsistopartakeina communalritualthatpunctuates
theday,wherelocalspausetosharea drinkanda bitetogether.In
Barcelonalocalssimplycallit living.Anda visitortothecitywould
dowellbyimitatingthem.MorroFiintheEixampleneighbourhood
istheplatonicidealofa vermouthbar:tiny,lowkey,andobsessivein
itscommitmenttotheform.
Hereyouwillgeta glassofherbaceousandcomplexvermouthrojo
ontherocks,possiblywitha sliceoforangeora skeweredolive.It’s
lowalcoholenoughthatyouwon’tgetdrunkif youhavemorethanone.
You’llfindthedrinktobealmostsavoryandthatassuchit goeswell
withthetapasonofferlikepickledvegetables,brinyanchovies,and
friedpotatoes.Canmixologybemindful?Barcelona’svermouthbars
are where such questions are best contemplated. Come evening, theartistryofdrinkinginBarcelonaisexpressedinthecity’songoinglove
affairwiththeginandtonic.AtbarslikeBobbyGinandElephanta,
theG&Tisnota speedycocktailtoorderwhenyou’renotfeeling
especiallyadventurous,buta multifaceteddrinkwithnearinfinite
variations.Inbarsacrossthecity,varyingbrandsofartisanaltonics
arepairedwithjusttherightgins,garnishedtoemphasizethef lavour
profilesoftheirconstituentcomponents,andoftenservedinoversized
goblets.Allthebettertointensifythearomaofthebotanicalstherein.
LikemanygreatEuropeancitiesBarcelonahasfounditselfswept
upinthespeakeasyrevivalthatgotitsstartintheStates.Paradisois
thecity’sstandoutspeakeasyknownforitssecretentrancebehinda
refrigeratordoorina sandwichshopcalledPastramiBar.Gimmicks
aside,it’sa fine,elegantlyappointedbar,inwhichbartendersmake
stunninglypresentedworldclasscocktails:smokingpipes,teaservice
sets,andtakeawaycontainersserveasglasswareforconcoctions
thatusesuperpremiumspiritsandfreshjuices,andaresometimes
finishedwithanincendiarygarnish.Formoretraditionalcocktailians,
OldFashioned—GinTonic&CocktailBar,truetoitsname,bridges
thedominantstylesofBarcelonadrinking:fromobscurelysourced
ginandtonicsservedinoversizedgobletstomultiplevariationson
theBloodyMary.Asyoufinishyourday,raisea glass — goblet, pipe,
or otherwise — to this unparalleled drinking city.TRAVEL
CLOCKWISE(FROMTOPLEFT):ThebarwithinEl Cincorestaurant,ledbychefJosepArmenteros.Trytheincredibleartisanalvermouthat MorroFi,in a
welcoming space designed by CRÜ studio’s Clàudia Raurell with Gustavo Paternina. Pastrami and exquisite cocktails are on order at the refreshingly unique Paradiso
FromexperimentalG&Tstoa vermouthbarrevival,
a roundupofthecity’srichandvariedcocktail cultureBarcelona, Drink by Drink