Hotel cocktails with a poignant story will benefit veterans

A prestigious Edinburgh hotel has created cocktails to honour its staff who lost their lives in the First World War – which will benefit charity.

Ahead of the final year of the centenary of World War I in 2018, Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh has launched a new cocktail menu to celebrate its rich history and pay homage to its team members who sadly lost their lives in the war.

In 2015, the hotel’s concierge team discovered the Roll of Honour, a document highlighting all of the staff who had served in World War I, with a star marked next to those who tragically didn’t return home.

Found hidden amongst other photos and memorabilia on the fourth floor of the hotel, the framed memorial was lovingly restored and now takes pride of place in Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh’s iconic Peacock Alley.

The new menu features four cocktails named after employees who lost their lives in the battle – The Watson Fizz, The Kay Gin Fashioned, The Cooper Sour and The Henderson Daquiri. For every cocktail sold, the hotel will donate £1 to charities supporting veterans.

Waldorf Astoria staff in Edinburgh in front of the restored Roll of Honour, with cocktails which will raise funds for veterans’ charities

The new menu also includes a selection of railway-themed cocktails in a nod to The Caledonian’s heritage providing weary travellers with much-needed liquid refreshments. The tasty tipples include the Conductor’s Refreshment, Locomotion, Smoky Engine and a mocktail aptly named, The Sober Passenger.

Dale MacPhee, general manager at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh said: ‘Our new cocktail menu is a tribute to our selfless, brave staff members who fought for the country and lost their lives during the war.

‘We treasure our Roll of Honour and showcase it with pride in Peacock Alley so we’re thrilled to be able to go one step further in humbly dedicating our cocktail menu to this important piece of our history, as well as helping veterans today through a charitable donation.’

The new cocktail menu launched this month, with prices starting at £11 each.

Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian, known locally as the Caley, is one of Edinburgh’s most significant landmarks. Standing proudly at the west end of Princes Street, this former Victorian railway building hotel nestles in the shadow of the imposing Edinburgh Castle and its reputation for style and excellence has attracted generations of locals, international visitors and notable personalities for over one hundred years.