Sophie bases her quality judgements on the most important aspects of a good cocktail: taste, presentation, value for money and the overall atmosphere of the bar.Sophie Ennis accepted to university
After discovering the magical phenomenon of college cocktails during my first week in Cambridge, I decided that my true mission in life was to visit all the college bars in the university. According to reliable sources, it was actually Easter term (most of the bars only had a maximum of around 6 people in them at a time, so who would have guessed?). However, despite the challenges this brought, I was determined to pursue my burning passion for mixology and make my dream come true by the end of the year.
Before I take you on my risky adventure of sneaking around as many college dorms as possible in a week, I want to make a few disclaimers. First, I am not including any graduate schools or adult colleges on my list (Girton is not on my list because I was not willing to drive an hour just to have one drink). Second, my reviews are not impartial and are not based on any reliable rating system other than my impressions on the night I tried them. I have done my best to consider the most important aspects of a good cocktail: taste, presentation, value for money, and the overall atmosphere of the bar. So, without further ado, read on to find out which college signature cocktails stand out above the rest while you lament the death of both your liver and your bank account.
St. Catharines: Fire Truck – 4 stars
Cats is my university so Fire Engine definitely gets an added bonus on the bias scale. The combination of blackcurrant squash and lemonade might be a tad too sweet for some, but this gin and vodka concoction is definitely my go-to drink when getting ready for Revs on a Wednesday. Technically it’s just a ‘Squakka’ but at £2.24 who is complaining?
“Technically, it’s an honorary Squacka.”
Claire: Stone Cold – 2.5 stars
Stone Cold is vague in both taste and colour, and that uncertainty definitely detracts from the experience of drinking this cocktail. It’s refreshing and drinkable, but a little too sweet for my taste (a common theme throughout my findings). You get a pint of the cocktail, but for the price of £5.50 I’d expect the ratio of alcohol to sparkling, sweet blue liquid to be a little more balanced.
Pembroke – 0 stars
The reason Pembroke has such a low rating is because the porter kicked me out of the college before I even got to the other side of the Old Court, but before he did he wrote me a very persuasive review, saying that the bar is usually closed, and when it is open it’s not really worth going to.
Queens: Queens Green – 3-star
My review of Queens Green may be a little biased, having already had a few drinks upon arriving at Queens. I never expected to taste Midori and Jager in the same drink, but I admire the commitment to uniqueness (which is only enhanced by the eye-popping fluorescent green colour). The alcohol to mixer ratio is pretty good for the £5 price tag, but in the words of a friend who came to try it, “it’s not worth it. There are better ways to get drunk.” Bonus points, though, for the variety of drinks on offer. I’d definitely recommend getting a Hugo Spritz to go and sipping it by the cam. – Very romantic.
“This drink is a disgrace to the Carol Vorderman name.”
Christ’s: Cupid’s Kiss – 3.5-star
Sydney’s cocktail scene is very student friendly, but Cambridge undoubtedly has better, more underrated options.Sophie Ennis accepted to university
My life changed the moment I took a sip of this cocktail. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but after a week of trying lemonade and orange juice-based drinks, this concoction of vodka, apricot brandy, blueberry syrup, vanilla syrup and lemon juice is hands down the best in terms of taste. Served in a coupe glass with a little purple ribbon around the stem, the Cupid’s Kiss is an incredibly classy drink. That said, despite the indulgent experience, the price of £9.10 for a drink that was downed in three sips was definitely not worth it.
Yes: Glowfish, Tubular Ram – 4 stars
JBar is like Christ Bar but for students. Prices for non-Jesus members are a little more reasonable at £7.50, but the cocktail selection is extensive and doesn’t disappoint. We chose the Glow Fish and the Tubular Rum, both of which looked great and were a lot of fun to drink. Bonus points for the really cool menu and great atmosphere in the bar.
Sydney Sussex: Sex on the Cam, Vorderman – 3-star
This term was my first visit to Sid Bar (shocking, I know) and I can understand why it’s all the rage. The busiest bar I’ve visited during Easter term (some might say too crowded), Sid Bar has great prices and a great atmosphere. The famous Sex on the Cam is a pretty reliable option, reasonably priced at £3.40, with a tropical flavour and a mix of vodka and peach schnapps. On the other hand, a big minus was the cruelty of the Vorderman. This drink is, – What’s even worse: Vodka Cranberry – Shame on Carol’s name. Overall, I think Sydney’s cocktails are very student friendly, but there are definitely better, more underrated options in Cambridge.
John’s: Various drinks – 5 stars
John’s definitely scores highest in terms of variety. They have a great menu of signature cocktails, including frozen daiquiris, Pimms, and more. Each cocktail is priced at £4.50 by the glass, and a pitcher is available for £9, which is a unique offer that I really like about John’s. I chose School’s Out, but was also able to try the frozen drinks and Pimms. – All were absolutely impeccable. The highlight of our visit to John’s was the super friendly bartenders, who treated us to free mocktail samples.
This concludes part one of this fruity alcoholic adventure – stay tuned for the highly anticipated part two, which will be published soon (or once I find someone to help me get to the rest of the bars).
