(Posted 23rd April 2024)
oneworld®, one of the world’s major airline alliance, has raised the bar in partnership with The Connaught in London by serving up a new, signature cocktail to mark its 25th anniversary.
The tasty new tipple – called ‘The 25’ – was poured for the first time inside the Soho Lounge, part of the American Airlines and British Airways Joint Premium Lounges at John F. Kennedy International Airport, which is available for oneworld Emerald and First Class customers travelling on oneworld member airlines. JFK, Terminal 8 is home to nine oneworld member airlines – American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian.
Created especially for oneworld’s 25th anniversary by Ago Perrone, the world-renowned Director of Mixology at The Connaught Bar in Mayfair, London, ‘The 25’ cocktail is a subtle blend of London Dry Gin, Sweet Vermouth, Bitter, Mezcal, and a unique oneworld and The Connaught Orange Grove essential oil. Similar to a Negroni, it mixes a timeless Mediterranean character with a Mexican touch to produce a bright spirit and gentle blend with a globetrotting essence.
Also unveiled was a specially curated refreshing mocktail version of ‘The 25’, blending faraway allures and surprising flavours, thanks to a mix of non-alcoholic London Dry Gin, Cranberry Juice, Mediterranean Tonic, and the unique oneworld and The Connaught Orange Grove essential oil.
Both the cocktail and the mocktail will be served in participating First Class lounges across the oneworld network globally, as well as in the new oneworld branded lounges at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Incheon International Airport, Seoul, in May-June 2024.
To kick off the launch of the first oneworld signature cocktail and mocktail, oneworld will also release a special digital edition of a collection of oneworld member airlines’ signature cocktails and mocktails, from around the world, for customers to enjoy and take part in the alliance’s 25th birthday celebrations.
Nat Pieper, oneworld CEO, said: “We’re raising a glass to our 25th anniversary milestone with these unique mixes for oneworld premium customers. We believe ‘The 25’ captures the spirit of adventure which has defined oneworld’s impressive growth over the last quarter of a century. We’re excited about celebrating in style with our loyal customers in our branded oneworld and First Class lounges around the world. Inspired by the finest ingredients, ‘The 25’ embodies the essence of oneworld’s commitment to excellence, shared vision, and true collaboration across oneworld member airlines.”
Both the new oneworld cocktail and mocktail created by award winning mixologist Ago Perrone, who has headed up the stylish Connaught Bar in London’s world-famous Connaught hotel since 2008, will also be served to The Connaught Bar guests on request.
Ago Perrone, said: “It was important to create a cocktail which caught the essence of travel and blended with the personality of the oneworld alliance passengers. Travel is often a source of inspiration for me, and on this occasion it guided me in the creation of the oneworld cocktail – ‘The 25’ – using a subtle blend of London Dry Gin, Sweet Vermouth, Bitter, Mezcal and The Connaught Orange Grove essential oil, conveying both elegance and sophistication through iconic ingredients of some of the countries that are close to my heart. Just one sip of it takes you on a journey that starts from the Mediterranean before landing in Mexico, then going through London to the US, making ‘The 25’ a flavoursome cocktail to savour and celebrate.”
Italian-born Ago moved to London in 2003 and made a name for himself across some of the most creative independent bars in London at the time, before leading the opening of The Connaught Bar in 2008. This move, and the innovative approach to five-star hotel mixology Ago brought to the hotel bar scene, sealed his reputation as one of the world’s leading mixologists. The Connaught Bar’s legacy established by Ago over the last 16 years is still broadly celebrated around the world.
2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the oneworld alliance, founded in 1999 by American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas.
Earlier this year, oneworld opened its first ever dedicated branded lounge at Incheon International Airport in South Korea, followed one month later by a second lounge – its first in Europe – at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in The Netherlands.
The new lounges broke new ground in premium benefits and luxury air travel, in partnership with global aviation ground services provider Swissport and the team behind its award-winning ASPIRE Airport Lounges. They feature a wide choice of distinct zones and spacious comfortable seating areas with relaxing, private or more sociable spaces in which customers can unwind, work or dine.
oneworld is the only global alliance to provide eligible customers with access to First Class lounges, irrespective of the oneworld member airline they fly*.
Airline alliance members can continue to access more than 600 airport lounges around the world via their oneworld Priority Tier Benefits.
