In the Class Bar Awards' new Best Bar in Scotland & Northern Ireland category (sponsored by The Busker), Glasgow and Edinburgh fought it out, with Hey Palu taking the honours.
Alex Palumbo’s stylish Edinburgh cocktail haunt, which launched in 2019, presents a modern take on Italian aperitivo culture, with classic cocktails, warm hospitality and amaro and vermouth aplenty.
Negronis are one of the chief pulls here, with classical or spun options available. The latest is the Wild Strawberry Negroni (Scottish gin, bitter bianco, wild strawberry vermouth, orange bitter), while other refreshing aperitivo include Blood Orange Sgroppino (blood orange sorbet, amaro, vanilla, prosecco, black lava salt).
Ingredient-led embellishments of classics are the thing here, so look out for the Yuzu Magarita, Banana Jungle Bird, Nutella Old Fashioned and Sherry Paper Plane. If they sound delicious, in the hands of Plaumbo, they probably are.
Finalists: Lucky Liquor Co, Edinburgh; The Gate, Glasgow; Panda & Sons, Edinburgh