Last week, Bacardi showed they can party with the best of them, when they co-hosted the after-party for the jewel of the British music world – The Brit Awards.
A collaboration between Bacardi, Soho House and Universal Music, they transformed the Tate Modern into a luxurious cocktail haunt mimicking Soho House’s signature style – a sort of ‘Soho House Pop-Up’, if you like.
The event was only one of many unique and inspired parties that Bacardi will be hosting across the world this year (including 150 in the UK alone), in honour of its 150th Anniversary. And, with an idea to help this award-winning rum celebrate its centenary-and-a-half birthday, what better way than at an award-winning museum, with award-winning musicians and (hopefully) award-winning guests?
A 100m walk from the red carpet entrance (where this journo was, unsurprisingly, wholly and utterly ignored by the swarming paparazzi) to the bar was thirsty work, but with four bars scattered throughout, it was no problem getting a drink, and pronto.
A mix of Soho House and Bacardi staff were shaking, stirring or muddling Daiquiris, Cuba Libres and Bacardi 1862s, a cocktail created especially for the evening. Named after the year Bacardi was created, it is a mix of Bacardi Superior, Bacardi 8, tropical juices, passion fruit and vanilla, so it happily counts as one of your five-a-day.
The Daiquiris were especially good, and of a standard one would normally expect in a cocktail bar, lovingly made by a bartender-who-cares and not at an event that is catering for 500-plus people and doesn’t kick off until after 11pm. I know because I had four(teen?) before I decided, sensibly, to stop counting.
But, cocktails aside, it wouldn’t be a music awards after-party without a gaggle of musos.
And they didn’t let us down with Jessie J, Nicole Scherzinger, Dizzee Rascal, Tinie Tempah, Tinchy Stryder, Pixie Lott and the Rizzle Kicks. The ultimate moment was when Will.i.am from The Black Eyed Peas took to the decks (you’d recognise that hair anywhere), and was later joined by the lovely Florence Welch.
The after-party sponsorship comes on the back of Bacardi and Soho House’s recent partnership, and if this evening is anything to go on, they will make one hell of a team.
1862
- 15ml Bacardi Superior
- 15ml Bacardi 8
- 3 parts Pineapple juice
- 1 part Lime juice
- ½ part Passion fruit syrup
- ½ part Vanilla syrup
- Dash Angostura bitters
Pour Bacardi into a glass and top with the punch over ice. Garnish with lime.