We step into the intriguing world of the Neon Moon Burlesque and Cabaret Club, enjoy a tipple and find out about the next outings for Cambridge’s most glamorous party (All photos courtesy of Samantha Adamson, www.blackcravat.co.uk )
A little while ago The Neon Moon Burlesque and Cabaret Club set out on a unique journey with cocktail veterans La Raza to create a drink that embodied the famously decadent Neon Moon nights. The idea behind the events themselves was to create a glamorous show that was powerful and mysterious, like the pull of the moon, with an electrifying twist. The spectacular shows and neon artwork of Las Vegas were the initial inspiration for what Neon Moon should become.
But how to encapsulate this in a drink? In the years that this event has been running, the eclectic shows have covered themes from the mystery of the Orient to a garden of unearthly delights.
In the end the team settled on three core ideas. It should be refreshing, a real palate cleanser to remove all traces of everything else out there. It should be powerful, leaving a lasting impression on the drinker. And it should most definitely be intoxicating!
“We wanted to create a drink to embody the famously decadent Neon Moon nights”
With this in mind, renowned mixologist Sean created a completely unique drink, and we were amazed at what he came up with first time. Whirling the bottles around in some kind of alcoholic alchemy, with a flourish he produced a delicious drink in a vintage martini glass that looked like someone had poured moonlight into a glass, so soft was its gentle glow.
We couldn’t believe our eyes – but that was nothing compared to the taste. With notes of gin, lychee and elderflower, it went down remarkably smoothly. It was only after the second or third glass that we started to realise the true potency of this delicious tipple.
So what goes into a Neon Moon? We asked La Raza to help us look at this delicious concoction through the eyes of a cocktail expert.
“We used Beefeater because it is an exceptionally clean, bold gin whose extravagant juniper character is balanced with strong citric notes,” Sean told us. “When it is mixed together with the crisp apple and lychee juice it will produce an amazing taste on the palette with the elderflower coming through right at the end.
“By using vitamin B and quinine, the drink glows under ultraviolet light. Quinine is mostly used in small amounts as a bittering agent (such as in tonic water). The vitamin B helps bring the fluorescent out creating the magical Neon Moon glow.”
La Raza on Rose Crescent will be featuring the Neon Moon Cocktail as its December cocktail of the month – but if you’d like the full Neon Moon experience, then don’t miss out on the upcoming shows in December. New Year’s Eve is promising to be one of the most spectacular yet featuring the amazing Violet Blaze and Orissa Kelly who performed at the recent MOBO Awards.
Coming up…
Magical Winter Ball
5 December, 8pm-2am, £28.50 adv
Step into the gorgeous, glitter-doused world of Neon Moon this month at the Magical Winter Ball on 5 December. Promising traditional style with a hint of Russian kitsch, this glamorous festive knees-up takes place at the Cambridge Union Society and features internationally acclaimed burlesque and cabaret acts. Dance until the small hours of the morning to vintage tunes from the 50s, 60s and 70s, and browse beautiful clothing, trinkets and curios whilst enjoying a cocktail or two – and most importantly, dress to impress!
If you’re looking for an authentic outfit, we recommend heading to The Old Chemist Antique Shop on Mill Road to discover Vintage Home & Wear. You’ll find a huge array of vintage clothing and accessories to buy or hire, from dresses and suits, to fascinators and top hats!
New Year’s Eve Spectacular
31 December, 8pm-2am, £50 adv
Roll up, roll up for the Neon Moon new year party, The Midnight Circus. Once again taking place in the Guildhall, the event will see this historic building transformed into a bawdy vintage circus, filled with decadent delights. Expect sweeties, candyfloss, death-defying stunts and a magical surprise around every corner. Entertainment on the night includes burlesque queen Violet Blaze, ‘boylesque’ pole dance artiste Sir Midnight Blue, and the body bending, hand standing, bow shooting Orissa Kelly.
RECIPE
Of course, you can always make your own magic at home. Here’s the Neon Moon recipe so you can try for yourself!
Step 1: Dress up in your most outrageous finery.
Step 2: Arrange for international burlesque and cabaret acts to entertain you while drinking.
Step 3: Mix a large measure of Beefeater gin together with apple and lychee juice, elderflower cordial, lime juice, vitamin B and quinine.
Step 4: Pour into a vintage martini glass and decorate with a moon shaped piece of apple on the rim.
Step 5: Use a UV light to bring out the glow in your drink, while you enjoy the performers.
Step 6: Clean up the copious amounts of glitter left by the burlesque performers.
Step 7: Realise it’s much easier and more pleasant to have someone else do all this for you and buy tickets to the next show!
All photos courtesy of Samantha Adamson, www.blackcravat.co.uk
