Over two centuries ago, when the full-skirted, full-sleeved cream of society still graced the floors at grand balls and barons and baronesses still discussed the marriage prospects of their daughters, there was a sacred drink that captured the imagination of the European bourgeoisie.
Crafted from all-natural elements, most notably attar of rose (rose petal oil), this potion bore the colour of a blushing sky at sunset, and in all its cerise decadence, Lanique, as it came to be known, fast became the elixir of opulence, of the noble, the elite, the titled.
And then, just like that, it fell off the map. In the lead up to World War II, this regal spirit evaporated from liquor cabinets, and for more than 60 years, it remained a long-lost secret that seemed destined to become merely a mysterious relic of times gone by.
In the 1990s though, artisans in hidden corners of Europe began unearthing the old recipe for the liqueur, and years later, in a Michelin-starred bar on the island of Jersey, it finally came to the attention of successful restaurateur Lawrence Huggler, who was so bewitched by the liquid’s hue and flavour that he decided to formally reintroduce it to the world. He took over the brand, rebottled it and re-launched it in September 2014, first in London and then, owing to a friendship between himself and South African entrepreneur Nigel Price, in our very own Cape Town.
And so Lanique Bar in De Waterkant came to be. Now, from its spot at the back of the charming Cape Quarter Piazza a stone’s throw from several other vibey lounges and hotspots (think Manhattan, Ragu’ and The Piano Bar), the intimate venue is giving Mother City dwellers the privilege of sampling a drink that’s not only wrapped in historical allure but also a complete anomaly.
Directions to Lanique
Old Cape Quarter
72 Waterkant Street
Green Point
Cape Town
021 820 3591
