In designing the menu for Sweeties, what were some themes that guided your process?
Playfulness, connection between guests, colour and scent were key points that I pinned the creation of the Sweeties cocktails around. Each drink needed to feed into a moment in time for the guests and become a little marker or creator of a mood in a sense. That then opened up a dialogue to be playful with flavour in the space.
Give a little personality to three of your drinks—
Let’s Go
- Favourite artist: Warhol
- Constant mood: Proactive
- Coveted accessory: An address book, to keep in touch with everyone to tell them where the parties at.
Kiss Me
- Favourite artist: Henri Matisse
- Constant mood: Harmonious
- Coveted accessory: A perfume that once perceived holds your attention, such as La Tulipe by Byredo
Hot Lips
- Favourite artist: Bridget Riley
- Constant mood: Bold
- Coveted accessory: A wrist full of bangles, the kind that announces an entrance with their sound.
How did you find your love for mixology?
It was while I was working at a small artisanal chocolate company in London that I discovered the potential for a cocktail to deliver a full flavour experience. I was intrigued by how you could encapsulate a variety of different ingredients into a single, perfectly balanced liquid and create a unique experience for guests. The opportunities felt endless and the more I explored with less-traditional flavours, aromas and unconventional combinations, the more fascinated I became.
What was your first favourite cocktail?
The Martinez, a precursor to the Martini, was one of my first loves. At this point, my palate wasn’t quite accustomed to stronger cocktails such as the Martini. The Martinez is made from London dry gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino and bitters, so it gave an elevated gin cocktail experience but with a touch of sweetness and a warmer flavour profile. Plus I love cherry!
What’s your go-to cocktail for…
- Pre-drinks before a night of dancing: a Champagne cocktail, any sort, it just needs to fizz!
- A romantic dinner with your lover: a Martini, my preference being gin and an olive. Though I always ask guests their preference and make to-order.
- Lazy Sunday evenings at home; Sake, as its light and clean flavour profile, as well as the ritual of choosing a cup to drink from, creates a subtle and relaxed moment.
About Zoe Burgess
Zoe Burgess, founder of independent drinks consultancy Atelier Pip, is one of the UK’s most renowned flavour experts and author of the acclaimed cocktail book, ‘The Cocktail Cabinet: The art, science and pleasure of mixing the perfect drink’.
Recently appointed as beverage consultant at the iconic hotel, The Standard, London, Zoe will oversee the property's cocktail offering across the site’s five venues. For its 10th-floor cocktail bar Sweeties, Zoe’s reimagined the concept, paying close attention to the sensory experience and has created a signature cocktail list which launched January 2023.
Zoe’s achievements this year will be further accentuated with the opening of Resonance by Heston Blumenthal at the much anticipated Atlantis The Royal, Dubai. Resonance by Heston Blumenthal will be a fully immersive cocktail experience like never before and the first of its kind for the group. Zoe worked with the Heston Blumenthal creative team to create and bring this concept to life.
With a career spanning over 10 years and founding partner of one of east London’s most unique and creative cocktail bars, Untitled. She’s developed groundbreaking cocktail menus for giants of the hospitality industry including renowned Michelin-starred chefs and collaborated with some of the world’s most respected sensory scientists, including Oxford University’s Charles Spence.
Her passion is pushing the boundaries within the sensory- and flavour-led sectors to help improve consumers’ drinking experience. She has worked with clients such as SOMA Soho and Be-oom tea rooms to help these unique venues discover their cocktail style.
Autumn 2022 saw the release of Zoe’s debut cocktail book entitled ‘The Cocktail Cabinet: The art, science and pleasure of mixing the perfect drink’, which is published by Octopus books.
About Atelier Pip
Atelier Pip is a London-based drinks consultancy that goes beyond creating flavours and cocktails. We use flavour as a form of communication and create tastes that connect with people in a unique, meaningful way to deliver lasting experiences - be it in a bar, restaurant or at home.
Atelier Pip’s approach to creating flavours is just as personal as the customer experience delivered. We keep an open and honest approach to be able to learn your language, and your story, style, and vision.
As well as drinks development and experimental concepts, Atelier Pip focuses on contributing to a person's sensory understanding and experience – no matter where they are. In this way, flavour transcends being a liquid, but tells a story and makes the familiar, unfamiliar.
Atelier Pip has an insatiable hunger to keep on learning and to explore what the future holds for flavour in liquid form.
