The Making of Lila29's Summer Cocktails

Discover the creative process behind this season's cocktail menu, crafted by Lila29's bartender Ruben. Most recently, he competed in LVMH’s Hennessy My Way competition in which he reached the Regional Finals in Amsterdam.

A good cocktail involves finding the perfect balance between flavours, sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and everything in between, whilst keeping a simple elegance that’s easy to understand and appreciate. 

First, I have a look at what is available in our partner brands and decide which spirit I want to work with. Then, I try and find a sort of story behind the name and/or behind a drink. When creating a cocktail, you always want to ensure you have different styles of cocktails so there’s something for everyone’s taste. 

At times, inspiration might come from something as simple as cutting ingredients at home whilst cooking something completely unrelated and getting a sudden flash of inspiration. 

Finally, I try to come up with a silly name usually whilst having a laugh with colleagues or customers.

Its design makes it a very open and welcoming place that tries to cater to everyone.

The view from Lila29 is definitely one of the best ones I’ve seen personally. The terrace is very well designed and spacious enough for everyone to find a nice place to have a good time. Even on the inside, the decor and setting of the restaurant is made to cater for intimate settings as much as groups. 

I love working with fresh products as much as possible and I’m also an avid tequila enthusiast. I’m not difficult when it comes to cocktails. I always love to play around with different techniques such as sous vide cooking, fermentation, clarification, etc. and try new things. To me, every new cocktail is a new adventure.

Belgium is starting to turn their page on cocktails, shifting from drinking a more exclusive mix of wine and beer, and becoming more curious about cocktails. Until now, it’s been left quite unexplored. I want to help those customers as well as clients from abroad try new flavours and discover new things.

I hope that clients can have a good time and each find their own personal favourites from the menu I’ve created. The point of it all in the end is always to have the most fun possible.

It would undoubtedly have to be a Spicy Paloma with Mezcal. It’s not on the menu but it’s my favourite drink ever.

If anyone wants to have a shot at making some at home I’ve left the recipe for you below:

Ingredients:

-      15ml Mezcal 

-      45ml tequila 

-      10ml Campari

-      4 drops chili tincture 

-      30ml grapefruit juice 

-      3 slices of cucumber 

Once you’ve added it all together, shake well and top off your final mix with soda water. If you’re feeling creative at home you can try adding a tajin and sea salt mix to the rim of the glass.

Lila29 is open daily, so book a table to try one of Ruben’s creations. If you come between 4-6pm before September 1st, your second drink’s on us!