Emma Mykytyn Elements Launches Summer 4/4/4 Dining Experience with Downpour Gin and Rum
Michelin-recommended Bearsden restaurant teams up with North Uist Distillery for a summer of food and cocktails
Bearsden restaurant Elements has announced a new summer collaboration with North Uist Distillery, creators of the award-winning Downpour Gin and Rum range.
Launching on Friday 3 July, the Michelin-recommended restaurant’s popular 4/4/4 dining experience returns with a seasonal twist, pairing four dishes from chef-owner Gary Townsend’s menu with four specially created cocktails showcasing Downpour spirits inspired by Scotland’s coastline, islands and wild landscapes.
Priced at £79 per person, the experience includes two snacks, a small plate, a large plate and four cocktails, offering diners a relaxed way to experience Elements’ seasonal Scottish cooking alongside its acclaimed cocktail programme.
The menu and drinks pairing will evolve throughout the summer, making the most of Scotland’s finest seasonal produce while highlighting the distinctive character of the Downpour range.
A Cocktail Journey Through Scotland
The experience begins with The Machair Martini, a coastal-inspired aperitif featuring Downpour Coast & Croft Gin, dry vermouth and a seaweed-infused pickled onion brine.
Served alongside the opening snacks is West Coast Sunset, a sparkling cocktail inspired by Scotland’s dramatic summer evenings, combining Downpour Sloe & Bramble Gin with apricot liqueur and sparkling wine.
The small plate course is paired with Hyper Hebridean, a tropical highball showcasing Downpour Hebridean Spiced Rum alongside pineapple, mango, toasted coconut and lime.
Completing the experience is the Baleshare Sour, inspired by the famous white sands of North Uist. The cocktail combines Downpour Scottish Dry Gin with white balsamic, genmaicha-infused vermouth, umeshu and fresh lemon.
Guests can also enjoy an additional seasonal cocktail, available separately, for those wishing to continue their tasting journey.
Celebrating Scottish Produce and Spirits
Gary Townsend, chef-owner of Elements, said:
“The 4/4/4 has always been about bringing together great food, great drinks and great hospitality in a relaxed and approachable way. It gives guests the opportunity to experience a number of dishes from our seasonal menu while exploring some really creative cocktails.
“Downpour is producing some of the most exciting spirits in Scotland and this collaboration has given us the opportunity to showcase them in a really creative way. We think guests are going to love the cocktails and we’re looking forward to sharing the experience throughout the summer.”
Jonny Ingledew, founder of North Uist Distillery, added:
“Elements’ ethos of sourcing local ingredients and using them in seasonal menus really chimes with our own commitment to using wild Hebridean botanicals across the Downpour range. Gary and the team’s mastery of balancing flavours really shines through in these cocktails and we can’t wait for others to enjoy them alongside some incredible food.”
Exclusive Downpour Pop-Up Event
As part of the partnership, Elements will also host a special Downpour Pop-Up Event on Friday 24 July from 2pm to 5pm.
The ticketed event will feature guided tastings of the Downpour range, a cocktail from the new 4/4/4 collection and a selection of canapés prepared by the Elements kitchen.
Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase bottles and miniatures, including the new Hebridean Spiced Rum, which is not yet widely available within Scotland’s on-trade sector.
Representatives from North Uist Distillery will be on hand throughout the afternoon to guide guests through the range and share the stories behind the award-winning spirits.
