Absent Ear, which was named as Cocktail Bar of the Year at the recent Scottish Licensed Trade News Awards, has unveiled a ‘revolutionary’ new menu, its first in two years.
Described as ‘more than just drinks’, the secretive Glasgow speakeasy’s new menu promises to blend ‘cutting-edge mixology with immersive Scottish art’ to deliver a one-of-a-kind cocktail experience.
Two years in the making, chief creative Liam Grogan has paired minimalist precision with maximalist indulgence to offer guests a multisensory drink adventure.
Absent Ear’s Fragola-Rama cocktail is inspired by bespoke artwork by Glasgow artist Sophie Rowan (@so.rowann), and is a tribute to strawberry in its most refined forms, with Diplomatico Planas Rum, Manzanilla Sherry, and the Ear’s own Strawberry ingredient, which utilises the fruit in three different ways, including cryo-concentration and lacto-fermentation, to extract extra layers of flavour.
Also on the menu, Two & a Choux is described as a ‘luxurious libation’ featuring the Ear’s own Coconut essence, coffee, birch caramel, and a decadent pastry cream foam, inspired by Glasgow artist Rory Kennedy’s piece, Coffee.
Grogan, who is general manager and head of drinks development at Absent Ear, said: “This menu is the culmination of everything we’ve been working toward as a team.
“Absent Ear has always been about bold, creative flavours, and this time we’ve pushed ourselves to make drinks that aren’t just great cocktails – they’re experiences.
“Whether it’s a minimalist creation like Fragola-Rama or a maximalist spectacle like Roobarb & Custard, this menu represents the absolute best of what we do.”
In the years since opening in 2021, Absent Ear has won Scotland’s Best Cocktail Bar at both the Scottish Licensed Trade Awards 2024 and 2023, and the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2024, and become a regular on the prestigious UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars list (2022, 2023, 2024), where it is currently listed at No.35 in the UK.
Head of operations at Absent Ear, Alex Riches, said: “These accolades are a testament to the unmatched talent, creativity, and dedication of our team, whose hard work continues to set new standards in both Scotland and the UK’s cocktail scene.
“Our new menu represents the pinnacle of what we’ve been striving towards at Absent Ear, and we couldn’t be prouder of what the team has achieved.
“Absent Ear’s mission is to elevate Glasgow hospitality, push drink boundaries, and cement Absent Ear’s reputation as an award-winning cocktail destination.”
