Marrying the finest of both city and sea, Barcelona’s Hotel Arts delivers in views, ambiance, amenities, luxury, refined dining- and more importantly, unique cocktails crafted by master mixologist Diego Baud.
I’m sure it’s pretty obvious by now, we’re drawn to beautiful hotels... but you might not know that we’re also incredibly drawn to amazing cocktails and amazing food. We might have been known to travel to a city, only because there was an incredible bar we heard about, or a locals only type restaurant...Yup we will travel for food and drink. And for us Barcelona always stands out as a place where new restaurants are being born, old restaurants are doing something different and delicious, and bars are becoming more interesting and inventive. So for us, we take every opportunity we can to visit this city!
One of our favorite hotels in the city, Hotel Arts, always impresses us with their food choices and bar style ...I can’t think of another place where I can dine on a tasting menu by 2 Michelin Star Chef Paco Perez, and then head down to bar to finish the night with a perfectly mixed negroni by Diego Baud, all in front of the ocean. So when we had a chance to go back to Barcelona, we knew we where we were staying!
This trip, we were particularly curious about what master mixologist Diego Baud was up to at his bar, P41, (he is the winner of the Essence Century Cocktail Competition in 2015 as well as the distinctions of Top 7 Negroni and Top 5 Gin and Tonic in Spain!). On our first night, as soon as Axel was fast asleep, we went a few floors down to P41 to try Diego's newest project, Liquid Journey. Now let me take a step back really quickly...if you know us, you know that we appreciate a great drink- but that doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be over the top and riddled with novel ingredients. As long as they taste good, we’re happy (bonus points if they’re interesting and beautiful!) Knowing that Diego has an intense passion for crafting a good cocktail and how much he likes to infuse spirits and create really interesting drinks, we were so eager to try his Liquid Journey project.
So what is Liquid Journey? In its simplest description, Liquid Journey is a masterclass for cocktail enthusiasts. It’s an event where Diego shares his knowledge and passion and teaches you how to recreate some of his cocktails at home. We’re talking way more that just learning how to make a negroni at home, we’re talking about how to combine unlikely ingredients that will eventually create a really great cocktail. It’s impressive. We played with unique ingredients such as mushroom infused tequila, corn salt, and even used coasters made from the leftover ginger from Diego's homemade ginger syrup. And, this was just the beginning.
“Liquid Journey is a masterclass for cocktail enthusiasts. It’s an event where Hotel Arts Barcelona master mixologist, Diego Baud shares his knowledge and passion and teaches you how to recreate some of his cocktails at home. ”
Embarking on Your Liquid Journey
While the cocktails are sure to impress, Diego Baud takes it a step further. Instead of ordering a drink off the menu (all of which are incredible), you can choose to embark on a more immersive experience called Liquid Journey. Here, the restaurant transforms into a liquid laboratory of sorts, complete with fine spirits, spices, books and various complementary ingredients. Liquid Journey gives guests a front-row seat to the creative process behind inventing cocktails for P41. For Diego, sipping a cocktail has a ritualistic aspect, allowing you to slow down and appreciate where you are and take in what nature has to offer. In this course, Diego takes you down a journey of his favorite alcohols and spirits, highlighting some of his favorite menu concoctions. But, for anyone who knows Diego, this isn’t enough. He aims to give guests a taste of something they never knew they wanted. So, for his grand finale, he asks questions to get to know the people in the class. For example, “What’s your favorite season?” “How do you take your coffee?” “What is your favorite spirit?” Then, the gears in his brain get to work to create a customized drink just for you- of course with an extravagant presentation.
We of course couldn’t pass up on this opportunity, so we took part in the Liquid Journey and got to work, tasting and learning. My favorite cocktail was Home Sweet Corn! Or, what I like to call “Corn 4 Ways”. The cocktail includes bourbon with brown butter (the smell is amazing) and corn in liquid form, with dehydrated corn sprinkled on top, served alongside popcorn and corn on the cob!
“My favorite cocktail was Home Sweet Corn! The cocktail includes bourbon with brown butter (the smell is amazing) and corn in liquid form, with dehydrated corn sprinkled on top, served alongside popcorn and corn on the cob!”
P41, A Bar Without Borders
The concept behind P41 is to embark your palette on a trip around the world. The name, short for Parallel 41 degrees, pays homage to the city’s latitude, and the menu is representative of other cities with the same latitude around the world. Highlighting ingredients from cities that share the same latitude is what sets them apart. Or, as Baud explains it, a bar without borders.Their unique decor, aromas, and elaborate presentation engages your senses and promotes a feeling of being in another country, not just a place to unwind and grab a bite. Wherever your passport can take you, the flavors are available to you- much like a liquid tasting map.
Really driving this point home, the menu consists of a series of drinks from boarding passes to locations all over the world. For example, Taoxian, China’s drink is the Smokin’ Razz, which highlights Lapsang Souchong, the most prevalent tea in Chinese haute cuisine. Diego uses the tea to create a smoky simple syrup, which is then mixed with locally produced GinRaw, fresh lime juice, egg white, and fresh raspberries, as described by The Upsider’s Vicki Denig’s review of P41. Or, if you’re a fan of more earthy flavors and nuanced presentation, Diego created My Heart Beets For You, which combines Japanese gin with ginger, patchouli, beetroot juice, complete with a fresh oyster perched on top. Baud celebrates the ingredients native to the country and creates cocktails that take your tastebuds on a vacation. Plus I’m pretty sure he’s the only bartender we know that has mastered the cocktail snack combo, most of his drinks come with an equally appealing snack :)
“If you’re a fan of more earthy flavors and nuanced presentation, Diego created My Heart Beets For You, which combines Japanese gin with ginger, patchouli, beetroot juice, complete with a fresh oyster perched on top. ”
Not only can you expect a divine drink and meal at P41, but you can become acquainted with the flavors and aromas of Barcelona and beyond. If you’re in the city, be sure to check out this gorgeous hotel, which is a work of art in itself, for an engaging and unforgettable experience. It’s an ideal spot for a romantic getaway, a friends’ trip, or even a solo tour. Who knows, you just might learn and taste something new.
“Not only can you expect a divine drink and meal at P41, but you can become acquainted with the flavors and aromas of Barcelona and beyond. ”
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