Bars and ballet

New cocktail launched to celebrate Birmingham Royal ballet milestone.

Popular Birmingham bar The Botanist is set to launch a limited edition cocktail to celebrate Birmingham Royal Ballet’s 25th anniversary.

Swapping the barre for the bar, Principal Dancer Jenna Roberts and Soloist Steven Monteith plus members of Birmingham Royal Ballet staff chose the commemorative cocktail from a choice of three exclusive recipes designed by The Botanist’s experienced mixologists.

The winning cocktail will be on sale from Monday 28th September to Sunday 11th October, as the ballet Company takes to the stage for its opening night of Swan Lake at Birmingham Hippodrome until Tuesday 6th October. Birmingham Royal Ballet will also present a triple bill of three different ballets titled Variations from Thursday 8th to Saturday 10th October. The programme includes George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, the first piece the Company ever performed in Birmingham.

The stunning ballet-inspired cocktail is an enchanting mix of cherries, Sailor Jerry Rum, Amaretto, lime and pineapple – topped off with an eye-catching rose garnish. The name of the drink has yet to be decided, as The Botanist and Birmingham Royal Ballet are calling on the public to come up with a suitable ballet-themed name.

Emma Burgess, Business Development Manager at The Botanist said: “It is an honour to create this limited edition drink for Birmingham Royal Ballet in its 25th year. As the Company has such a celebrated heritage and prominence in the city, we want the people of Birmingham to decide on a name for the cocktail we have created.”

To suggest a name for the cocktail, people simply need to send their suggestion to [email protected]. The person to come up with the winning name will win two of the limited edition cocktails.

Ben Wooldridge, Media and PR Officer at Birmingham Royal Ballet said: “The Company are so pleased and excited to be celebrating our 25th anniversary with The Botanist in such a unique way. We hope that our audiences and The Botanist customers will enjoy naming and tasting the cocktail whilst raising a glass to our 25th year in this great city”.

Emma added: “We are thrilled to be working with Birmingham Royal Ballet in what is set to be a very special year and can’t wait for people to try the cocktail.”