A Princes Street bar has relaunched its food and drink offering in collaboration with a celebrated local chef and an international mixology studio.
The 1820 Rooftop Bar at The Johnnie Walker Experience has launched a revamped menu featuring seasonal sharing plates and globally inspired cocktails. The relaunch includes a new weekend live music programme showcasing emerging Scottish talent.
Chef Scott Smith, formerly of the Broughton Street restaurant Fhior, has designed an ever-changing menu of sharing plates, snacks, and desserts. Dishes include Carlingford oysters with jalapeño and kelp hot sauce, and whole lemon sole with chanterelles and kombu butter.
The cocktail menu was developed in partnership with Mr Lyan Studio, founded by Ryan Chetiyawardana. The drinks draw inspiration from Johnnie Walker’s historical global distribution, which began from John Walker’s grocery shop in 1820.
Highlights of the new cocktail list include the Rollerskate Sour and the Flinted Godfather, which pairs 18-year-old whisky with volcanic amaretto and tonka bean.
Alongside the menu changes, the Princes Street venue has introduced new staff uniforms designed by Edinburgh-based menswear brand Kestin.
Scott Smith said: “1820 is a different kind of venture for me: the cocktail menu is adventurous and exciting in its ingredients and storytelling, so I wanted to make sure the food menu not only harmonised with it, but stood on its own, while still being approachable.
“It’s pushed me to think differently about how I approach menu development.”
Anastasia Graham, head of The Johnnie Walker Experience, said: “1820 has always offered one of the best views in Edinburgh. This next chapter is about making what’s in the glass, on the plate and around the bar just as memorable.”
Ryan Chetiyawardana, founder of Mr Lyan Studio, said: “Working with The Johnnie Walker Experience and archive teams to explore the stories behind the brand gave us an incredible creative springboard.
“From inventive advertising to some wonderfully unexpected moments from Johnnie Walker’s history, those stories have inspired each cocktail on the 1820 menu, giving guests the opportunity to discover not only unique flavours, but the stories that inspired them.”
