World's Best Bar lands at The Dorchester

The Dorchester’s Vesper Bar is partnering with Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico, recently named World’s Best Bar 2024, for an exclusive Día de los Muertos event.

The evening will see the two bar teams come together to create an evening of cocktails and celebration – Vesper Bar’s bar manager Lucia Montanelli will join forces with the Handshake Speakeasy team for the night, in partnership with Tequila Enemigo.

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrating the deceased and remembering their lives, for the one day a year the heavens are said to be open. For the occasion, Handshake Speakeasy’s bartenders, Brandon and Miguel, will travel from Mexico City to join the team at Vesper Bar.

True to its name, Handshake Speakeasy’s confidential location is difficult to find, but those who discover the Mexico City lounge are rewarded with a stellar cocktail experience. Hidden in the hip Colonia Juarez neighbourhood, bar director Eric van Beek delights in employing molecular mixology to create a liquid dialectic. Van Beek’s synthesis is a drink list that appears classic to the eye, but reveals unexpected, layered flavours to the palate.

Meanwhile, Tequila Enemigo plans to redefine the world of ultra-premium tequila with its expressions crafted in the heart of Jalisco, Mexico. Enemigo’s approach blends traditional Mexican craftsmanship with European luxury and offer a refined, additive-free experience.

On the night, a selection of handcrafted cocktails inspired by Handshake Speakeasy and Tequila Enemigo will be served alongside a menu of dishes influenced by Mexican flavours. These unique cocktails are to be sipped in the gilded setting of The Dorchester’s Vesper Bar, designed by designer Martin Brudnizki, featuring soft velvet interiors and a Palladium leaf ceiling.

Alongside the bar team, there will be a Mariaci band and DJ on hand to bring the evening of Día de los Muertos into the night.