Amid the hustle and bustle of the busy Tortola Pier Park, Botella (pronounced Bot-ay-ya) is a calm and inviting oasis - a little sanctuary and escape from the Caribbean heat where guests can gather to sample craft cocktails and specialty liquors.
The heavy glass doors with Botella’s stylish gold logo open to reveal a sleek granite bar and tall tables with elegant chalkboards and menus, inviting you to stop and try a couple of their inventive craft cocktails.
The cool temperature inside is a welcome respite. The bar’s chic dark green walls are accented with large mirrors and wood shelves that display jars of botanicals and spices alongside bright copper stills. Large glass pendant lights hang down over the bar with Edison bulbs providing a wonderfully warm light, which reflects beautifully off all the glass and bottles.
In the fridges, perfectly chilled amber lagers and IPAs sit alongside effervescent bottles of mixers and seltzers in their vibrant jewel-toned packaging. More shelves are lined with shapely wine bottles – a wall of pale pink rosés, ruby reds and sophisticated white wines, alongside a curated mix of spirits and liqueurs that you won’t find anywhere else.
Botella supports locally owned businesses and heavily features BVI GIN and BVI VODKA alongside draft beer from Cooper Island Brewing Co., and other familiar Caribbean breweries. In addition Botella imports craft beers, spirits and liqueurs from around the world. Browse the selection of wines and spirits while you enjoy your cocktail (or mocktail) and maybe buy a few for later. The knowledgeable staff can advise on all their specialty lines and make considered recommendations based on your likes, dislikes and what you’re looking for.
The team behind Botella are passionate about quality drinks and have aimed to create a uniquely high-end drinking and retail experience. The chic industrial space with the exposed pipework and copper stills would not be out of place in Brooklyn, Downtown Miami, East London or any sophisticated urban setting. The premium ingredients they bring and the craft cocktails they mix transport you to the chicest of locations.
The idea behind Botella was to create something unique, new and different in the Territory; something you may not have tried before. And they have certainly succeeded in bringing a modern drinking experience to Road Town.
Their expert mixologists will create your preferred cocktail using the finest local and international ingredients with fresh herbs and inventive garnishes. Each cocktail perfectly highlights the flavour profiles in the carefully selected small batch spirits used. The drinks menu features prohibition-era classic cocktails, such as the Aviation, alongside more modern creations such as the signature Botella Sour. Also served are an innovative range of BVI GIN & Tonics, such as the Pomegranate and Basil G&T showcasing BVI GIN Classic with Double Dutch Pomegranate and Basil Mixer, garnished with fresh pomegranate seeds. The Double Dutch range of mixers come in an array of tantalising flavours and are great on their own or as a mixer with a variety of spirits and liqueurs.
Whether escaping for a drink with friends, a quiet date night or a lively birthday celebration, Botella is the perfect space to congregate and while away a few hours. The beautiful venue also lends itself to intimate private events. Host a wine or whisky tasting, cocktail and mixology class, or a bespoke gin-making experience.
At the gin-making class each guest selects their own botanicals and leaves with a bottle of gin that they made, tailored to the individual with the choice of flavours they love. The staff can also cater for private functions with food, such as a cheese board and charcuterie to pair with wines, or freshly rolled sushi.
As the sun sets and the light outside fades, the glass windows turn to black with the warm gold logo shining – burnished by the light from table lamps inside, the glow from the bar reflecting back.
Now, as well as their retail selection of wines and spirits, you can take a taste of the cocktail experience home with you, with Botella soon to offer a selection of their most popular cocktails to go with their small batch Botella-at-home line of drinks. Enjoy some of your favourites, pre-mixed and bottled for a little of that Botella magic back at your place. The available cocktails will keep changing, so you can discover new flavours and combinations.
Botella’s opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am until close. To host an event at Botella – email [email protected] or visit their Facebook page.
