Copita and Barrica founder to open traditional Sherry tavern Drakes Tabanco
Drakes Tabanco, as it will be known, will open in Windmill Street, Fitzrovia in October and serve a selection of Sherries from the barrel, wines and beers alongside a food menu featuring Andalusian-inspired dishes.
As is the tradition with a tabanco, drinkers will be able to sample Sherries direct from the barrel, such as the Rare Old India - a blend of long-aged Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez and a 30-year-old Antique Palo Cortado to drink in for £2.90 and upwards, or take home.
Diners wishing to sample more than Sherries can dine in the 50-cover restaurant, situated at the back of the bar. The menu will include charcuterie and cured meats; Iberico pork tongue and goose rillettes, and a seafood board which will include air-dried mojama (tuna), smoked scallops and gravadlax. Larger dishes such as octopus stew, lamb breast and pork cheek will also be available, with prices starting from £4 per dish.
Drakes will also offer a ‘Sherry matching’ tasting menu from a U-shaped bar, available for groups to reserve.
Education
Luther and Howell went on numerous trips to Jerez, the home of Sherry, while planning their new venture and took inspiration from its bodegas and tabancos.
They said their aim was to re-educate British drinkers about the wonders of Sherry, which they said was often misunderstood, with Drakes, which is named after Sir Francis Drake, the man who first introduced Sherry to the British in the 16th Century.
"We’ve visited Jerez many times, and when you taste sherry from barrel in the top bodegas in Spain you realise what you’ve been missing," said Luther. "To help educate people to appreciate sherry we want to create as close a bodega experience as possible.
"We spoke to the people running the top bodegas to make sure we could deliver the quality we had experienced from barrel over there, straight from barrel over here. The wines will develop in barrel over here like they would in Jerez, but we will be unique in that we are ageing the sherry in London. Perfectly paired with great food.
"Our desire to open Drakes Tabanco came from a sheer passion for these often misunderstood wines. We hope that like Drake, we are able to reignite the Brits thirst for the great drink that is Sherry - but this time with the full cooperation of our Spanish friends."
