That Sparkling Journey

FEATURE:
THAT SPARKLING JOURNEY

A GLEAMING TWILIGHT, A REFRESHING FIZZ, A SLOW FADE INTO AN EFFERVESCENT EVENING. Summer has come and in no other time of the year has cocktail hour been so glorious, so exhilarating. In Europe, particularly, the culture of aperitivo or apéritif is as much tradition as it is trend, with roots going back at least a century, and with drinks finding themselves more and more creative over the years. From Latin aperire or "to open", the pre-dinner tradition not only serves to stimulate one's appetite but also to provide one an opportunity to open up and socialize.

This 2014, Le Meridien gives the traditional cocktail hour a modern twist and a little extra fizz. Aptly entitled "Le Méridien Sparkling", the program ushers in a new range of sparkling and fizzy cocktails, accompanied by an exhibit of dreamy photographs by artist Khaled Youssef. Featuring bubbles masterfully snapped against iconic locations in London, Paris, Nice, Monaco, El Vendrell and our very own Barcelona, the images perfect a recipe that is one-part skill and another part magic.

To launch Le Méridien Sparkling in Barcelona, Le Méridien hosted a bubble workshop with Khaled himself, which proved the great amount of skill required in creating and capturing the bubbles. The workshop culminated at dusk, followed by a sparkling cocktail hour offering such delights as: a chili-pepper-infused Gin Mare Gin Tonic, a fresh fruit and cava Sangria de Cava, as well as a non-alcoholic Quasi Mojito del Maresme. The drinks are made with cava from Catalunya's Penedès region, with locally-sourced Gin Mare Mediterranean gin, and garnishes from Barcelona's famed Boqueria.

Le Méridien Sparkling runs through the summer, with Khaled Youssef's photographs on exhibit at Le Méridien Barcelona until the end of September. Visit the hotel along Rambla for a dose of summer sparkle, or if you happen to find yourself in London, Paris, Nice, Monaco or El Vendrell, visit lemeridiensparkling.com for dates and details.

See you at sunset!

Still and moving images captured from Le Meridien Presents: Travel Through the Lens of a Bubble, lemeridiensparkling.com Animated GIFs developed by Lady San Pedro.