logo
Big shot: Belfast hotel launches ‘life-changing' £1,000 cocktail

Big shot: Belfast hotel launches ‘life-changing' £1,000 cocktail

The Guardian12-02-2025

Spending a grand on an unforgettable experience might not feel extreme for people keen to shake up their routines. But what if it doesn't involve falling through the skies, or even going outside at all?
'A life-changing experience' is the promise of one Belfast hotel's £1,000-pound cocktail, launched as part of a new drinks menu.
According to the Merchant hotel, the cocktail is a 'masterpiece Irish whiskey, aged in rare French Tronçais oak casks, delivering elegant notes of honey, toasted almonds and delicate spice'.
Its main ingredient is Midleton's rare Irish whiskey Forêt de Tronçais, that costs £4,000 a bottle. To keep the flavours light and showcase the Midleton, it is served with Antica Formula red vermouth and Dubonnet, a fortified wine.
The Merchant bar's general manager, Aaron Dugan, said 'What makes it special is that there are only 1,000 of these bottles of whiskey made and very few were available to buy … we were invited down to taste it, which is really rare, normally you don't get to taste things that are so expensive.
'It's between 13 and 37 years old so it's very, very old whiskey. You are going to get a lot of oak wood, cacao and deep vanilla flavours.'
A £750 mai tai previously earned the decorated city centre hotel the title of world's most expensive cocktail, according to Guinness World Records. That was later taken over by a cocktail sold for £8,583 in Melbourne, Australia.
The new menu also includes a collection made with rare whiskeys by Midleton and Michter's, and a Macallan whisky, which start at £785 and go up to £1,000.
Dugan said: 'These exceptional drinks have been crafted to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences to be savoured. The lucky few that get to try these drinks will get to relish something truly special.
'For those that find the price tag too rich, we have also created an exceptional collection of 21 cocktails, inspired by timeless classics, but with a unique Merchant twist,' he added. 'Named according to their flavour profile, the menu has been designed to help customers match their preferred flavour profiles to their choices. There truly is something to suit every taste.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Maura Higgins' new reality TV gig REVEALED after she was replaced on Love Island USA
Maura Higgins' new reality TV gig REVEALED after she was replaced on Love Island USA

Scottish Sun

time29 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

Maura Higgins' new reality TV gig REVEALED after she was replaced on Love Island USA

Scroll down to see how the star has reacted to the news MAURA'S NEW ROLE Maura Higgins' new reality TV gig REVEALED after she was replaced on Love Island USA Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOVE Island star Maura Higgins toasts the news she has a spot on The Traitors USA with a cuppa as she basks on a Grecian holiday. The Sun can reveal the Irish model, 34, will join the A-list cast as her stock blooms Stateside. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Love Island star Maura Higgins toasts the news she has a spot on The Traitors USA with a cuppa as she enjoys a break on a Greek Island 3 Maura had been relaxing on a break on Mykonos Credit: Instagram 3 Talking about Maura's new US-based role, a pal said: 'The future is bright — and has stars and stripes' Credit: Getty A source said: 'Maura is becoming a huge star across the pond and her slot on The Traitors is just part of that. 'The future is bright — and has stars and stripes.' Rumours swirled she had joined the US version of the TV mystery game — which always has a celeb cast — when she stepped aside from hosting Love Island USA's sister show Aftersun. But in an announcement video this week, she told Aussie replacement Sophie Monk: 'Don't get too comfy, I'm coming back.' Maura has just become a global ambassador for L'Oreal and is fresh from a posh brand trip with Space NK to Mykonos, where she posed in her bikini. She was joined by fellow Love Islander Amber Gill, looking red hot in a sparkly mini dress. The star was previously said to be 'relieved' to have been offered work from L'Oreal, who have offered her six-figures having been impressed with her shoot for MAC cosmetics. The Traitors USA role should put an even bigger smile on the Irish model's face. Maura Higgins reveals Love Island USA return - just hours after being 'replaced' by new Aftersun host Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.

TikTok creating more than 500 new British jobs as UK users top 30 million
TikTok creating more than 500 new British jobs as UK users top 30 million

Leader Live

time3 hours ago

  • Leader Live

TikTok creating more than 500 new British jobs as UK users top 30 million

The Chinese-owned social media firm said its UK workforce would expand to 3,000 this year as part of its 'deep commitment' to the UK. It will also open a new 135,000sq ft office in London's Barbican, which is set to open early next year. The group already has its UK headquarters in Farringdon, London, which were opened in 2022. TikTok unveiled the plans as it said it now has more than 30 million regular users in the UK each month, which makes the market is biggest user community in Europe. Adam Presser, director of TikTok UK and global head of operations and trust and safety, said: 'Whether through direct investment in jobs and innovation, or the wider economic contribution from millions of British businesses on TikTok, we're pleased to be increasing our investment and presence here in the UK, an important hub for TikTok.' But it comes after Cabinet minister Pete Kyle signalled he was looking at measures to restrict the amount of time children spend on their phones, including through a possible 10pm curfew. Mr Kyle was asked on Sunday morning whether he would look at limiting the time children spend on social media to two hours per app after the Sunday People and Mirror reported the measure was being considered by ministers. The Online Safety Act has passed into law, and from this year will require tech platforms to follow new Ofcom-issued codes of practice to keep users safe online, particularly children. Hefty fines and site blockages are among the penalties for those caught breaking the rules, but many critics have argued the approach gives tech firms too much scope to regulate themselves. TikTok's Mr Presser said that, as well as its UK expansion plans, the group also invests 'significantly' in safety. He said: 'What underpins our continued growth is our deep commitment to safety and to creating an enjoyable and secure digital space to sustainably support creators, entrepreneurs and the wider economy, which is why we also invest significantly in safety.' TikTok first launched its UK operations in 2018 and is financially incorporated in Britain. The group was fined 530 million euro (£446 million) by the Irish data protection watchdog last month for breaching EU privacy rules around transferring user data to China. The video-sharing app was also sanctioned for not being transparent with users about where personal data was being sent and ordered the platform to comply with data protection rules within six months. TikTok said it would appeal against the decision. The social media giant, which is owned by China-based ByteDance, has been under scrutiny from regulators around the world over how it handles personal data, and is also facing a ban in the United States over its China links, which the US government has said is a national security issue.

TikTok creating more than 500 new British jobs as UK users top 30 million
TikTok creating more than 500 new British jobs as UK users top 30 million

North Wales Chronicle

time6 hours ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

TikTok creating more than 500 new British jobs as UK users top 30 million

The Chinese-owned social media firm said its UK workforce would expand to 3,000 this year as part of its 'deep commitment' to the UK. It will also open a new 135,000sq ft office in London's Barbican, which is set to open early next year. The group already has its UK headquarters in Farringdon, London, which were opened in 2022. TikTok unveiled the plans as it said it now has more than 30 million regular users in the UK each month, which makes the market is biggest user community in Europe. Adam Presser, director of TikTok UK and global head of operations and trust and safety, said: 'Whether through direct investment in jobs and innovation, or the wider economic contribution from millions of British businesses on TikTok, we're pleased to be increasing our investment and presence here in the UK, an important hub for TikTok.' But it comes after Cabinet minister Pete Kyle signalled he was looking at measures to restrict the amount of time children spend on their phones, including through a possible 10pm curfew. Mr Kyle was asked on Sunday morning whether he would look at limiting the time children spend on social media to two hours per app after the Sunday People and Mirror reported the measure was being considered by ministers. The Online Safety Act has passed into law, and from this year will require tech platforms to follow new Ofcom-issued codes of practice to keep users safe online, particularly children. Hefty fines and site blockages are among the penalties for those caught breaking the rules, but many critics have argued the approach gives tech firms too much scope to regulate themselves. TikTok's Mr Presser said that, as well as its UK expansion plans, the group also invests 'significantly' in safety. He said: 'What underpins our continued growth is our deep commitment to safety and to creating an enjoyable and secure digital space to sustainably support creators, entrepreneurs and the wider economy, which is why we also invest significantly in safety.' TikTok first launched its UK operations in 2018 and is financially incorporated in Britain. The group was fined 530 million euro (£446 million) by the Irish data protection watchdog last month for breaching EU privacy rules around transferring user data to China. The video-sharing app was also sanctioned for not being transparent with users about where personal data was being sent and ordered the platform to comply with data protection rules within six months. TikTok said it would appeal against the decision. The social media giant, which is owned by China-based ByteDance, has been under scrutiny from regulators around the world over how it handles personal data, and is also facing a ban in the United States over its China links, which the US government has said is a national security issue.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store