Saturday 19th March sees a self-guided trail of Edinburgh’s leading independent bars and restaurants, each offering a brand-new climate-themed cocktail all under the name of Toast to Gaia. Presented by Edinburgh Science Festival (ESF), the trail aims to highlight the important work the Scottish drinks industry undertakes to help fight the climate crisis.
Seventeen bars and restaurants, Palms, Voodoo Rooms, Joseph Pearce, Victoria, Vesta, Nauticus, Panda & Sons, Leith Depot, Little Rascals Wine, The Green Room, Bellfield Taproom, Hoot the Redeemer, Bramble Bar, Smoke and Mirrors, Last Word Saloon, Lucky Liquor and Uno Mas, two of which were recently voted best in the UK are involved.
Adult audiences are invited to sample the new cocktails at their leisure and talk to the bartenders about the story behind their creation. From using sustainable ingredients to managing waste, e.g. fermenting cucumbers leftover from gin cocktails, using beer from cleaning the draught lines or making cordial from discarded citrus husks.
Some of the cocktails include Temperance from Smoke & Mirrors which includes Fair quinoa vodka with grapefruit liqueur, pineapple and vanilla, The Lovelock at Paradise Palms which includes Avallen Calvados, Flor de Cana 7, tea syrup, citric acid, apple juice, peach bitters, raspberries, Oscar the Highball from The Last Word which features Avallen calvados or Portobello Road gin, IPA & citrus husk cordial, orange bitters, soda and Quite Contrary from Bramble which includes Seawolf rum, garden peas, fermented cucumber, honey.
Director of Development at ESF Hannah Schlesinger said “We are excited about the opportunity to work with and support some of Scotland’s leading bars and restaurants through Toast to Gaia, a unique trail not only showcasing the vibrant cocktail and bar scene in Edinburgh capital but, more importantly, the fantastic work the Edinburgh hospitality industry is undertaking to help tackle the climate emergency. We are so excited to share this, along with the Sociable Science events within our 2022 programme, with our adult audience who can look forward to immersive, hands-on and science-based events that are sure to inspire.”
Toast to Gaia is part of Sociable Science strand at this year’s ESF which also features Climate Cocktails, a special event exploring how the drinks industry can create an innovative tipple without it costing the Earth; Phenomenal Fungi delving deep into the world of the delicious, dangerous and vital to life on Earth fungi; The Material World looking at the history of fabric – and including a botanical hand-dying experience – and Sensational Stories of Science; an evening of fantastic science discoveries and feats of genius, hosted by Susan Morrison. As in previous years, Science Festival Late takes over the City Art Centre for one evening of fun while at the National Museum of Scotland, the interactive exhibition about big data, DataSphere, transforms into Data After Dark, including DJs, bars and new activities.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 