4 minute read
Mixing it up
MEET MYLES KNIGHT, FOUNDER OF THE MOUNTAIN MIXOLOGIST. HIS LUXURY COCKTAIL SERVICE IN THE FRENCH ALPS AND CÔTE D’AZUR SPECIALISES IN PROVIDING WORLD-CLASS BESPOKE COCKTAILS TO GUESTS IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR CHALETS
Like so many before him, Myles came to Méribel in 2012 to do a ski season and ended up falling in love with the mountains. And after working in cocktail bars during his first year of university 12 years ago, he has thrived in that industry ever since.
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Myles had a leading role in the initial concept and setup of the brand ‘Copiña’, a luxury cocktail and tapas bar in Méribel and a restaurant in Courchevel Moriond. It was there where he enjoyed the platform to get creative and grow into the mixologist he is today.
The idea behind The Mountain Mixologist stemmed from the amazing food that holiday companies like Consensio offer in their chalets.
Consensio and other hosts attract some of the best chefs in the world, serving truly some of the finest food available. But as far as drinks were concerned, especially cocktails, Myles felt the chalet service could benefit even further from his expertise, and he now offers an incredible cocktail bar experience to these guests.
He tells us: “We took the model that most top bars around the world adopt – make almost everything in-house.”
Myles is at the forefront of cocktail development in the world. From simple things like flavoured sugar syrups and alcohol infusions to the weird and wonderful ‘fat washing’ spirits and ‘shrubs’ (drinking vinegars), everything the team use at Mountain Mixologist is made by them and so is completely unique.
Now the Mountain Mixologist service offers guests an opportunity to experience cocktails of a standard often seen in the top bars in London and the Alps, without ever leaving their chalet.
Over the winter, Myles and his team are based in Méribel, the heart of the Trois Vallées, and serve almost every resort in the French Alps.
“Méribel and Courchevel really are stunning resorts with so much to offer and are the reason I have lived in the Alps for almost 10 years now,” he reveals.
Image: © Gemma Ward - The Wardette Studio
“The skiing is some of the best you will find anywhere, and it’s the largest skiable area in the world, so there is always something new to find or another run that you haven’t discovered yet.”
In the summer Myles and his team move to Cannes in the South of France to serve the whole of the Côte d’Azur from Saint-Tropez to Monaco. From private events, weddings and yacht parties to corporate events and masterclasses, they are busy all year round.
As well as creating a bespoke cocktail menu to suit each event and set of guests, Myles also makes sure at least half of every menu can be made alcohol-free, as quite often the children of guests want to get involved, or some people choose not to drink. Because of this, the team have an almost equally large list of ‘mocktails’ as they do cocktails.
Explaining how a typical evening might work, Myles says: “My favourite gig was in Chalet Le Grenier in Méribel. We set up the bar right next to the enormous roaring fire in the middle of the room and served into the sitting area, which has an amazing-looking comfy seating section where people tend to congregate. I have done a couple of pre-dinner cocktail sessions in there and it works so well.
“People have a couple of hours of cocktails with me in the sumptuous living room and then move round to the other side of the fireplace to the dining area, ready to be served dinner from the big open kitchen, where their chef creates magic.”
Myles Knight
Le Grenier is a stunning chalet in the heart of Méribel. Located a very short distance from the slopes, it is the perfect ski-in/ski-out family chalet, and the Consensio bespoke service provides guests with an unforgettable stay.
Featuring triple-height windows and panoramic mountain views, the chalet is large and imposing and exquisitely designed. It accommodates up to 12 guests and features an indoor sunken family-size Jacuzzi alongside a massage room, sauna and gym.
It is also home to a library/study, which is very handy for keeping in touch with work or for teenagers who need to study. Alternatively, those who want to unwind can head upstairs to find the games room/snug, complete with a snooker table, TV, PlayStation 4 and comfy seating.
Chalet Le Grenier is the ideal destination to relax with a complimentary glass of on-tap Champagne or an incredible hand-crafted cocktail by Myles.
Due to their great success in the Alps, The Mountain Mixologist team is expanding and retraining rapidly to keep up with demand and ever-evolving trends.
By way of explanation, Myles comments: “Cocktails are always changing, so our aim is to stay at the absolute forefront of the change. People’s tastes change and things come in and out of fashion, so it is almost a full-time job just keeping up with that, but we love it!”
To book The Mountain Mixologist on your next Consensio holiday, or to discover more about Chalet Le Grenier, please get in touch: sales@consensiochalets.co.uk www.themountainmixologist.com
