Review: Mermaid Bar and Isle of Wight Distillery

from Style of Wight Issue 76 May/June

by Style of Wight

Style speaks: to Mhairi Macaulay

Review: Mermaid Bar, Isle of Wight Distillery

By Hannah Wilson Pictures by Christian Warren

Situated on Pondwell Hill, nestled in picturesque countryside, you’ll find Isle of Wight Distillery’s Mermaid Bar — home of Mermaid Gin. Sample their collection and watch the stills in action, before heading onto the terrace for a Mermaid & Tonic or stepping inside by the log fire to browse their perfectly mixed cocktails. We expected some rather special creative recipes from Mermaid Gin’s very own bar, and we were certainly not disappointed. Head mixologist Ash Worcester treated us to an array of classic flavours and wild-foraged ingredients – here’s a selection of our favourites: Ash’s Mermaid’s Kiss:

A fresh and slightly floral mix of Mermaid Gin, elderflower cordial, lemongrass syrup, lemon juice, coriander, and lemongrass. This carefully crafted, short cocktail uses the botanicals from their dry gin. Ginacolada:

A creamy, sweet, and delightful take on the classic Pina Colada using Mermaid Gin, coconut syrup, milk, pineapple, and lime. Bramble:

A fruity, sweet, and sour mix of Mermaid Pink Gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and crème de Mure, garnished with a lemon slice and blackberry. We also had the pleasure of meeting Head Chef Josh Buckle and sampling the dinner menu. For our starter we enjoyed delicious garlic mushrooms on sourdough bruschetta and baked camembert with a wedge of crusty bread. The main courses consisted of the show-stopping Mermaid Burger, an 8oz steak burger topped with cheese, bacon, and large crispy onion rings served in a soft brioche bun with tomato, lettuce, and a generous handful of over-turned fries. Not forgetting the delicious classic French shellfish dish, Moules Mariniére, served in a creamy garlic and wine sauce. We can see that the Mermaid Bar is set to be a popular hot-spot for expertly mixed cocktails and high-quality dining this summer — the Style of Wight team are certainly looking forward to returning.