If you thought London had reached peak tequila, think again. This September, The Perception Bar at W London is putting agave firmly at the heart of its new cocktail menu, with tequila and mezcal joined by a much wider world of agave spirits from Mexico and further afield.
The new menu is part of a bigger plan to turn The Perception into one of London’s most interesting places to explore agave, whether you already know your reposado from your añejo or are simply wondering what else there is beyond the Margarita. It is divided into four chapters: Reimagined Classics, Agave Exploration, Signature Palomas and Alcohol-Free Favourites, with plenty to discover along the way.
Familiar Cocktails, Reimagined With Agave
The first place to begin is Reimagined Classics, where the team has taken cocktails we already know and given them an agave makeover.
The Lavender Affair takes its cue from the Martini, combining tequila with lavender-infused vermouth and orange bitters, while the Chimichurri Royale heads in a more herbaceous direction with chimichurri fat-washed tequila and sweet lime foam.
The Sotol Solstice reworks the French 75 with sotol, pisco and basil-hibiscus syrup. Then there is the Velvet Agave, inspired by the Margarita but heading somewhere altogether richer with tequila, kumquat liqueur, Irish cream and chocolate-banana foam.
There Is Much More to Agave Than Tequila
Where the menu delves deeper is Agave Exploration. It is split into Global Exploration, The Agave List, House Infusions and Discovery Flights, allowing you to taste different styles and production methods rather than simply working your way through a list of tequilas.
Global Exploration is a reminder that agave spirits are no longer exclusively a Mexican story. The collection includes Winchester Distillery Agave Reposado from England, Agave Australis Rested Agave Spirit from Australia, Leonista Karoo Agave Spirit from South Africa and Maya Pistola Agavepura Añejo from India.
Mexico will, of course, remain central to the collection, but I love the idea of being able to taste what happens when producers elsewhere in the world work with agave and their own local conditions and traditions. The Perception plans to keep expanding this part of the list as new producers emerge.
House Infusions and Agave Flights
The bar team gets to have a little fun with House Infusions, creating small-batch agave infusions that are served as 30ml pours. There is Smoked Chilli & Cacao, a mezcal infusion intended for a Negroni-style serve, while Orange & Vanilla takes things in an Old Fashioned direction and is served over ice. Lemon Peel & Thyme is brighter and more aromatic, appearing in a French 75-style serve, and there will also be a changing seasonal infusion.
For anyone who would rather taste their way through the category, the Discovery Flights offer three 25ml pours alongside palate cleansers.
As Pedro Branco, Director of Food & Beverage at W London, explains: “We’re excited to begin this next chapter for The Perception Bar with a renewed focus on agave spirits. As interest in tequila, mezcal and agave-led cocktails continues to grow, the new agave focus is a natural evolution for the venue. Our ambition is to create Soho’s leading destination for agave discovery, with an ever-growing collection that showcases the diversity and innovation of the category today.”
Five Ways With the Paloma
No agave menu would be complete without a Paloma, so The Perception has given Mexico’s much-loved cocktail an entire collection of its own. There are five interpretations, including the Ruby Paloma, pairing reposado tequila with grapefruit meringue foam, and the Sierra Brava, which is clarified with charred pineapple, grapefruit and agave.
The Soho Heatwave sounds particularly suited to its name, combining tequila with citrus, basil and jalapeño before being topped with grapefruit soda.
The menu also includes a selection of Alcohol-Free Favourites, giving those skipping alcohol something more interesting to drink than the usual afterthought.
Tacos Were Inevitable
Once you have built an agave menu of this size, tacos seem almost compulsory. The kitchen has looked to the flavours of Central and South America for a food menu designed to sit alongside the drinks.
Six signature tacos include the Slow-Cooked Birria Beef Taco, with chilli-braised beef and coriander relish, the Baja Fish Taco, with citrus slaw and roasted habanero salsa, and a Roasted Pork Taco with crispy pork belly and pineapple salsa.
There is even a W Burger Taco, inspired by one of W London’s most popular dishes, while the Trio of Crab Tostadas brings together Cornish crab, brown crab mousse, sesame seeds and coriander cress.
Launching in September, Soho’s Home of Agave feels less like the arrival of another tequila menu and more like an attempt to show just how large the world of agave has become. With spirits coming from England, Australia, South Africa and India alongside the great Mexican producers, plus cocktails, infusions and tasting flights, there should be plenty here to keep even the most dedicated agave drinker exploring.
W London – theperceptionbar.com/
Opening Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 11am – 12am
- Friday -Saturday:11am –1am