Once associated with homes in the 1950s and 1960s and established European restaurants, the bar cart is making a comeback.
With the growing trend of people making cocktails at home, the drinks trolley is making a resurgence in home décor adding a sense of class and sophistication to the home drinking experience.
According to Jamie Jones, Group Bar Executive for Jason Atherton’s Group, the return of the bar cart is a growing worldwide trend. Think a gin and tonic trolley with various herbs and garnishes, a Bloody Mary cocktail trolley, a pork pie trolley with a selection of mustards – he’s even created an entire cocktail menu on a trolley for a venue in Singapore. In Sydney, he recently introduced a world first drink trolley of its kind: the Espresso Martini trolley at Kensington Street Social.
The Espresso Martini trolley has everything needed to make the cocktail: Mr Black Coffee Liqueur, a selection of spirits such as vodka, gin, tequila, and aromatic spices such as star anise, nutmeg and cardamom which are added into the Chemex before the cocktail is prepared, shaken and served at the table. Every Sunday for brunch, the trolley is wheeled to the guests’ table for an interactive and entertaining experience.
Elsewhere, the bar cart is becoming a key feature of new restaurants. Manjit’s at the Wharf has a bar cart full of predominantly Indian whisky. Upstairs in the dining room at Harpoon Harry in Sydney, the bourbon trolley is wheeled to guests after dinner where they can choose from Sazerac Straight Rye to Pappy Van Winkle 20yr served from a silver tray with cut crystal glasses. In Melbourne’s Bar Liberty, aperitifs are served in a roaming old-fashioned globe bar trolley offering a selection of wines, sparkling, vermouths, including Bar Liberty’s Bespoke Blend, a sherry-style aperitif.
It’s not just restaurants that are embracing the return of the bar cart. At The Roosevelt in Sydney, the liquid nitrogen trolley has been a main feature since the day the bar opened. It now serves as a second bar for the preparation of liquid nitrogen cocktails such as The Calamity Jane where the drink is nitro-frozen to the consistency of a slushy, and The Continental, a martini style drink with pre-added dilution chilled with liquid nitrogen for the ultimate temperature. Refer to how to calculate dilution here.
Whether in a restaurant or a home bar, the resurgence of the bar cart has made a noticeable impact into the pages of home style magazines. With the rise of the home bartender and the “hometainment” trend, having a mobile bar in your own home certainly has appeal. Imagine rolling a stylish bar cart into the living room and mixing a classic Martini or Manhattan. The experience undoubtedly adds a sense of style and elegance to any party.
Photo Credit: Kensington Street Social, used with permission.