From Fitzgerald to The Future at Fortnum’s

Cocktail enthusiasts around the world should raise a glass to one F. Scott Fitzgerald, for his The Great Gatsby not only sent the cocktail into the stratosphere of popularity with it's glamorous depiction of 1920s America but also proved the catalyst for a global obsession so powerful it spawned an entire industry, extending from cocktail parties, cocktail dresses and cocktail hour to the shakers and jiggers we recognise today.

Fortnum's creative approach to cocktails has not only endured since the 1920s but, with the relaunch Fortnum's 3’6 Bar last spring, looks firmly ahead. A thrilling space defined by its speakeasy intimacy, pioneering cocktails and exceptional art and design from some of the world’s leading creatives, 3'6 Bar is the bar of the future in more ways than one. From the use of renewable and circular materials to liqueurs and syrups made using surplus fruit, we are constantly challenging ourselves to find new ways to think outside the box. Or rather, the cocktail glass.

Here are 3 ways Fortnum's 3'6 Bar is shaking it up:

1. A wave of innovation. French architect Arthur Mamou-Mani is responsible for 3'6 Bar's incredible 3D installation, The Wavery, a name that mixes 'waves' and 'reverie' and translates as 'dreaming' in French.

Did You Know?

1. Cocktails were originally inspired by British 'punches' popular in the 1800s which contained a mix of spirits, juices, herbs, spices and were served from large bowls with a ladle.

2. Fortnum’s has been selling pre-mixed cocktails since 1914 and had an entire department devoted to cocktail party planning for London society throughout the early 1900s.

3. The most popular cocktail in Britain is the Margarita is Britain’s top cocktail of choice, followed by the Martini and the Mojito.