Housed within the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce’s 250-year-old Georgian town house behind the Strand, the bar will spotlight sustainable agriculture, local provenance and rewilding projects with a collection of ‘wild distillates’, while drawing inspiration from the RSA’s regenerative Design for Life Mission.
The RSA has helped shape society since the Enlightenment and has been at the forefront of significant social impact since it was founded in the location in 1754.
Dzelzainis, consultant and founder of Idyll drinks, has held role at the likes of Quo Vadis, 69 Colebrook Row, Zetter Townhouse, Satan’s Whiskers, Dandelyan (now Lyaness), Sager + Wilde, Corinthia and Christina’s.
With a dedicated entrance for access, the ground-floor Muse is designed to have a “relaxed... private members club feel”, with artwork adorning the walls and a granite bar as the centrepiece.
The bar’s offering is in collaboration with Company of Cooks and Dzelzainis’ Idyll Drinks, while head bartender Kevin Price Houghton will lead the bar team.
The menu will include eight core serves which will renew yearly, in addition to four ‘wild cocktails', exploring speciality ingredients, wild botanicals and smaller scale producers.
Cocktails on the core menu include Crimson & Clover, a blend of gin, Aker English Rose Vermouth, Capreolus Raspberry Eaux de Vie, rhubarb and lemon, while The Blackadder (pictured top) is with Vault Aperitivo Bitter, Hepple Sloe & Hawthorn Gin, sour cherry, lemon and almond with a couple of dashes of Devil’s Botany Absinthe.
Among the wild serves is the Myrica Gale Daiquiri, with light 'rum’ and Oaxacan Rum, sourced in Mexico, while the Wild Carrot Margarita (pictured centre, bottom) is a vegetal take on the favourite.
Muse at RSA House (18 Adam St, London WC2N 6AA) will open in November from Monday-Friday, 4pm-11pm.
