GUIDE – A good cocktail menu should be inviting, not intimidating. Yet many of us still hesitate when opening the cocktail menu wondering if we’re “bitter”, “sour”, “fruity” or “spirit-led”.
The truth is most cocktails fall in to a handful of recognisable styles which is useful to know when selecting your drink. A cocktail is usually north of £10 so you want to get it right. Once you understand the basic families, the choice becomes easier.
The Westwood Restaurant’s list is a strong example: twenty cocktails, each neatly built around classic structures, with a few house flourishes. Below is a simple guide to reading the menu with confidence — and choosing the right drink for your taste rather than guessing.
1. Strong and Stirred — for people who want the alcohol to lead
If you prefer drinks that are spirit-forward, minimal and bitter-leaning, balanced by a subtle underlying sweetness, this is the section of the menu that speaks your language.
Negroni
Gin, vermouth and Campari. Bitter, clean, grown-up.
Negroni Sbagliato
A softer variation with Prosecco, still unmistakably a Negroni but less severe.
Old Fashioned
Bourbon, bitters and sugar. Warm and steady — ideal if you lean towards whisky.
Rum Old Fashioned
Aged rum and orange bitters give this one a rounder, slightly tropical edge.
These suit anyone who wants clarity and structure rather than fruit or pure sweetness.
2. Shaken, Citrusy and Fresh — for brightness rather than sweetness
These drinks are crisp, lifted and good with food.
Apple Martini
Crisp and lightly tart from apple vodka and lemon.
Classic Cosmopolitan
Cranberry and citrus cut through the vodka, making it refreshing rather than sweet.
Rhubarb Sour
Sharp, confident and very well balanced.
Paloma
Tequila with pink grapefruit soda and lime. Simple, bright and highly drinkable.
These appeal to people who want energy and definition in a drink.
3. Fruity and Crowd-Pleaser Cocktails — easy, familiar and unfussy
These cocktails feel instantly approachable and rarely miss the mark.
French Martini
Raspberry, pineapple and vodka. Smooth and rounded.
Passion Fruit Martini
A national favourite — bright, full of flavour and reliably popular.
Mai Tai
Rum, citrus and almond syrup. Tropical without tipping into dessert territory.
Bramble
Gin with blackberries. Fresh, vivid and quietly sophisticated.
Ideal for anyone unsure of their preferences or looking for something reliable.
4. Champagne and Sparkling Cocktails — polished, festive and lighter to drink
The sparkling drinks at The Westwood are some of the most elegant on the menu, and none more so than their standout classic.
Classic Champagne Cocktail
This is one of the oldest cocktails still in regular service, and The Westwood delivers it exactly as it should be: a bitters-soaked sugar cube at the base of the glass, touched with cognac, then lifted by a generous pour of Champagne. The result is surprisingly complex for something with so few ingredients. The sugar cube dissolves slowly, giving the drink a gentle rise in sweetness as you go, while the cognac anchors the whole thing with warmth and depth. It is celebratory without being showy, indulgent without being heavy, and remains one of the most convincing arguments for starting a meal with something sparkling.
Westwood 75
A lighter, rosé-based twist on the French 75. Bright and refreshing.
White Peach Bellini
Soft and peachy, easy to drink and ideal before food.
These suit people who normally enjoy wine or prefer lighter, more delicate cocktails.
5. Rich, Indulgent, After-Dinner — dessert in a glass
Shorter, stronger and often lightly sweet.
Espresso Martini
Coffee, vodka and liqueur. The definitive after-dinner choice.
Amaretto & Bourbon Sour
A deeper, warmer take on the classic sour.
The Fox Tail
Brandy, gin and maple syrup — complex and best sipped slowly.
Perfect for those who like something with weight and warmth after a meal.
6. Alcohol-Free Cocktails — proper alternatives, not compromises
The Westwood’s zero-alcohol drinks are well-made and don’t feel like stand-ins.
French 57
A sparkling option using zero-ABV gin.
Elderflower Spritz
Light, floral and straightforward.
Virgin Bellini
Balanced peach and ginger ale.
Pentire Spritz
Herbal and structured — a convincingly grown-up non-alcoholic option.
A cocktail menu becomes far clearer when you stop reading it as a list of ingredients and start thinking in categories: strong, citrusy, fruity, sparkling, indulgent or alcohol-free. Once you know which direction suits your taste, The Westwood’s menu falls neatly into place. And the variety shows a bar confident in its fundamentals, offering a drink for every type of evening.
The W Bar
Above all, don’t forget to explore The W Bar, upstairs at The Westwood. It’s not just a lounge it’s where the cocktails truly come alive. A polished, relaxed space serving all the drinks, wines, beers and champagnes, The W Bar is ideal either for a pre-meal aperitif or a quiet digestif after dinner. Whether you’re settling in for conversation or simply enjoying a well-crafted drink, it elevates the cocktail-menu experience from a list to the moment itself
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