As more people look to re-create the experience of their favourite cocktails at home during the extended lockdown, cocktail bar Mother Mercy has launched a special hotline to help the public get to grips with a makeshift shaker and a kitchen spoon, inspiring them to create cocktails from drink trolley favourites, store cupboard essentials and corner shop staples.
The Mother Knows Best initiative is led by two experienced bartenders and the co-owners of recently launched Mother Mercy Bar in Newcastle. Neil Donachie, brand manager for Fentimans was previously senior bartender at The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar, while Luke Comer is one of the founders of Liverpool’s Present Company and the market manager of Samson & Surrey. Both bring their industry expertise, but also a broad knowledge of making flavours work, and creating drinks from a home environment, to help their customers make beautiful cocktails from what they have in the house or what they can easily get from their nearby shops. No special equipment, complicated ingredients or cutting edge techniques needed.
Following the government’s announcement that the national lockdown is set to continue for at least another 3 weeks, and with bars and restaurants not likely to open until at least July, many people around the country have been using this time to make their own cocktails at home, often for the first time. ‘Mother Knows Best’ can answer any drinks questions within 30 minutes; from classic cocktail recipes, ingredient tips and cocktail trivia, to helping with the best supermarket wine to pair with a meal. Customers can even text a list of ingredients in their fridge and kitchen cupboards and Neil and Luke will come up with a bespoke cocktail recipe.
Whilst there are a huge number of professional drinks tutorials and videos available online, ‘Mother Knows Best’ is the only service that is personalised, but is accessible to all, and can be used simply via WhatsApp. This gives cocktail beginners the opportunity to have their questions answered one-to-one by an expert mixologist on a familiar and friendly platform, so they can get back to making the drinks and enjoying their evening in lockdown.
Donachie says: Whilst the Coronavirus closure is set to have a devastating impact on the hospitality industry, it has been inspiring to see lots of people gaining the confidence to be creative with cocktails at home. We wanted to help by providing a fun and innovative way to answer any of those questions you’d usually have to opportunity to ask the bartender at your favourite bar!
Customers can drop ‘Mother Knows Best’ a Whatsapp Messenger message on +44 (0) 7592 094930, from 11am-11pm every day, and they’ll come straight back to you with all the answers.
