The UK steak restaurant group has invested heavily in R&D to produce a cocktail list that muses Latin America for 20 sensational serves

Today, Gaucho reveals its all-new cocktail list, The Spirit of Argentina. This series of 20 groundbreaking drinks are rooted in classic cocktails made using ultra-high-spec modern mixology equipment. The menu is inspired by the eating and drinking culture of Latin America and the cocktails are plotted on ‘flavour matrix’ to help guests select their serve, a first for UK restaurant groups.

It’s the first Gaucho menu to be designed by former The World’s 50 Best Bars director Mark Sansom and Theo Konstantopoulos, Gaucho bar operations manager​​​. Sansom left 50 Best for the Rare Restaurant group in September 2023 and the menu has been in progress for the past nine months.

Sansom says: “When I first sat down with Theo to talk about cocktail craft, I could tell we were immediately aligned. We wanted to create a list founded in classic serves, but informed by the wealth of eating and drinking traditions found across Latin America. What he has created is nothing short of mind-blowing. Having tasted the very best drinks from across the globe in my time at 50 Best Bars, I have no doubt that these cocktails are the finest from any restaurant group in the UK.”

To support the cocktail list, Gaucho has invested in a bespoke research and development facility in London, with equipment including 18 centrifuges, dehydrators and homogenizers to support the menu’s roll-out across Gaucho’s 20-restaurant estate.

Menu highlights include:

• Wagyu Martini with Burnt Lemon Oil, Gaucho’s steak-forward take on a Vesper, with a blend of Renais Gin and Ketel One Vodka washed with wagyu fat and split with scorched lemon bitters.
• Clarified Bloody Mary, which takes seasonal cherry tomatoes and clarifies them using a centrifuge before blending with Belvedere Vodka and Laphroaig 10 whisky.
• Yerba Maté Jasmin Fizz, which fuses the indigenous Argentinian plant drunk as a morning infusion with Bombay Sapphire Gin, MUYU Jasmine liqueur with Chandon NV sparkling wine
• The Alfajores, a liquid representation of Alfajores, a traditional Argentinian cookie filled with dulce de leche and sprinkled with coconut. Gaucho blends and mix of Hennessy VS cognac and Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky with a clarified milk punch made from shortbread biscuit and dulce de leche liqueur to recreate the flavour.
• Margarita with Chimichurri Salt takes a blend of El Jimador Blanco Tequila and Quiquiriqui Espadin Mezcal and mixes it with a savoury red pepper cordial for a take on the legendary Latin American drink. It’s rimmed with housemade chimichurri salt for a taste of Argentina.

Gaucho Flavour Matrix

About Gaucho

Gaucho began its story with a deep admiration for Argentina: its vibrant people, captivating lifestyle, rich culture and renowned culinary heritage. Inspired by the enchanting gaucho (Argentine cowboy) way of life and the desire to bring the essence of modern Argentina to London, the first Gaucho opened its doors in the West End’s Piccadilly, 30 years ago. Since then, the restaurant group has made a name for itself by serving the world’s finest, carbon-neutral steaks alongside Latin American cuisine and the UK’s most extensive selection of indigenous Malbec wines. With 20 restaurants in total, the group now has 12 outposts in London and eight more in vibrant cities across the UK.

Explore more at gauchorestaurants.com