The best way to celebrate an Olympic victory is with a drink, but your regular beer just don’t do. We scoured London to find its most expensive cocktails so you can toast wins — or any other big occasion — properly.
Magie Noir ($525). Head to Umbaba Nightclub, a swanky African-themed spot just off Carnaby Street near Oxford Circus, for the Magie Noir (French for “black magic”). For $525 (£333), you’ll get a drink that blends one shot of Richard Hennessy cognac, a measure of Dom Pérignon vintage champagne, a dash of Crème de Mure blackberry liqueur, fresh lemongrass, lychees and yohimbe bark extract. Topping it off is a 24-karat white-gold cocktail pin made by Tom Binns, jewelry designer for the stars.
Diamond Martini ($1,500-$6,000). Piano Bar at Sheraton Park Tower has been serving up the most glamorous cocktail in London since 2005, giving new meaning to the phrase “on the rocks.” The Diamond Martini’s ingredients are relatively simple: Rémy Martin Louis XIII cognac, champagne and Angostura bitters. The treat is the diamond that settles on the bottom of your glass. Choose a stone ranging from 0.24 carats to one carat. If you need more flash, commission larger stones or customize jewelry in advance with in-house designer Pacha. The price tag ranges from $1,500 to $6,000 (£1,000 to £4,000), depending on the size of the stone.
Flawless ($54,914). The most expensive cocktail in London comes with its own security detail. The Flawless libation at Movida nightclub in Oxford Circus is mixed to the tune of $54,914 (£35,000). The extravagance is not in the Louis XIII cognac, half a bottle of Cristal Rosé champagne, brown sugar, Angostura bitters or 24-carat edible gold leaf flakes that make up the drink but in the 11-carat white diamond ring that’s placed on the glass’ bottom. The club dispatches two security guards to watch over the proceedings so the crowd won’t become bothersome while you patiently wait to hear the answer to “Will you marry me?”
Photo courtesy of Sheraton Park Tower
