Elysium Beach Club needed a bar menu that would appeal to a global audience while promoting Nigerian flavors. We created a varied menu featuring classic twists, original creations, and signature drinks including the popular Elysium Spice Bomb inspired by men's fragrances. The menu proved so successful that guests began asking to take bottled versions home.
Client
Elysium Beach Club
Duration
4 weeks
Location
Lagos, Nigeria
Team Size
3
Project Goals
Design a diverse bar menu that appeals to different types of customers.
Create signature cocktails that blend classic techniques with Nigerian flavors.
Develop signature cocktails with creative, conversation-starting inspirations.
Train the bar team to deliver consistent quality and explain the unique concept.
Set up bar operations and promotions to boost sales and customer interest.
My Approach
Research & Inspiration
We started by researching different flavor inspirations for our signature drinks. For one cocktail, we explored what makes men's fragrances distinctive and which scent elements could work in drinks. This was something we'd been curious about for a while. We experimented with different ingredients that shared similar aromatic profiles to popular fragrances to create something truly unique.
Concept Creation
We developed a versatile menu with multiple drink inspirations. For the Elysium Spice Bomb, we asked: "What would a man's cologne taste like?" We noticed how guests are drawn to unique stories behind drinks, and having creative inspirations like this gave us something nobody else in Lagos was doing. These distinctive angles helped the place stand out.
Ingredient Exploration
Each cocktail had its own ingredient focus. For the Elysium Spice Bomb, we selected aromatic components like vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, and rhodiola syrup that feature in men's colognes. Getting the balance right took some trial and error these ingredients needed to provide the fragrance connection while still making a delicious drink people would order again.
Menu Development
We developed a diverse range of signature cocktails, each with its own story and appeal. Among our standout creations was the Napolitan Negroni, our twist on the classic that uses sparkling wine instead of vermouth, which we discovered during our Naples research. The Elysium Spice Bomb featured cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla to capture the essence of men's cologne notes in drink form. Our 1930s Tequila Sunrise revived the original recipe using creme de cassis, tequila, and club soda instead of the orange juice and grenadine found in modern versions. These represent just a few highlights from our full menu, with each drink designed to offer something unique to our diverse clientele.
Staff Training
We spent time with the bar team making sure they could both make the drinks consistently and tell the stories behind them. When staff understand and get excited about the concept, it shows in how they present the drinks. This was especially important for explaining the cologne-inspired drinks to guests who might be curious but skeptical.
Menu Highlights Gallery
Napolitan Negroni
Elysium Spice Bomb
1930s Tequila Sunrise
Menu Highlights
Napolitan Negroni
Top Ingredients
Flavor Profile
Alcohol
Elysium Spice Bomb
Top Ingredients
Flavor Profile
Alcohol
1930s Tequila Sunrise
Top Ingredients
Flavor Profile
Alcohol
Results
Guests loved our menu for successfully blending international cocktail styles with bold Nigerian flavors
The unique stories behind each cocktail became real conversation starters at the bar.
Regulars began bringing friends to experience our creative approach to cocktails.
We created such a following that guests started asking if they could buy bottled versions to take home.
The bar gained a reputation for doing something different in Lagos' competitive scene.